Pterophorus attenuatus, Hao, Shulian, Kendrick, Roger C. & Li, Houhun, 2008

Hao, Shulian, Kendrick, Roger C. & Li, Houhun, 2008, Microlepidoptera of Hong Kong: Checklist of Pterophoridae, with description of one new species (Insecta, Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 1821, pp. 37-48 : 38-40

Pterophorus attenuatus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–2 , 18 )

Type material: Holotype: ɗ, CHINA: [Lable 1] “Guangdong, Hainan, Wanning | alt. 10 m; [Lable 2] 12.iv.1960 | Xuezhong Zhang; [Lable 3] HSL02508; [Lable 4] Pterophorus attenuatus | Hao & Li, 2008 ɗ | Holotype \ Wanning County (18º48' N, 110º24' E), deposited in NKU.

Paratypes: CHINA: Fujian Province: 1 Ψ, Sha County (26º24' N, 117º46' E), iii.1973 (NKU); 2 ɗɗ, 1 Ψ, Putian County (24º26' N, 119º01' E), iii.1975 (Guoguang Lin) (NKU); 1 Ψ, idem, 21.xii.1975 ( IZCAS); 1 ɗ, idem, 10.i.1982 ( IZCAS); 1 ɗ, idem, 15.ix.1986 ( IZCAS). Hainan Province: 4 ɗɗ, 2 ΨΨ, same informations as holotype (NKU); 1 ɗ, same locality, 9.iv.1960 (Zhenfu Li) ( IZCAS); 1 ɗ, 2 ΨΨ, Yingba (20º10' N, 110º41' E) ( IZCAS), 6.vii.1960 (Xuezhong Zhang) 1 Ψ, Nada (19º12' N, 109º51' E), iv.1963 (Yao Zhou) ( KFBG) Hong Kong: 1 ɗ, New Territories, Tai Mo Shan (22º15' N, 114º42' E), alt. 490 m, 25.ix.1997 (Roger C. Kendrick) ( KFBG).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Pterophorus flavus Arenberger, 1991 from Nepal, but can be distinguished from it by the following characters: the sacculus is about 2/3 length of the valva, the left sacculus somewhat attenuate distally; the ductus bursae has numerous longitudinal ridges in its anterior part, and the corpus bursae is spherical. In P. flavus Arenberger , the sacculus is about 1/2 length of the valva; the left sacculus is thin and spine-like distally; the ductus bursae lacks the longitudinal ridges; and the corpus bursae is long and thin.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 18 ): Wingspan 12.0–20.0 mm. Head whitish grey. Antenna as long as or longer than 1/2 of forewing; scape slightly expanded, white; flagellum grey or greyish white. Labial palpus upcurved, shorter than eye diameter, white; first segment inconspicuous, second and third segments equal in length, third segment scattered with blackish brown; some erect slender scales dispersed along margin of occiput and cervix. Thorax and tegula white. Forewing cleft from 1/3, both lobes slender, apex acute; ground color white, with scattered greyish yellow, especially at cleft and distal of wing; second lobe with very small brown spot near terminal; fringe white. Hindwing white; cleft from 1/5 and near base respectively, both lobes slender; fringe white. Legs slender, white; spurs and apices of tarsi greyish white.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 1 ): Uncus tapering to pointed apex except slightly expanded near apex, about equal to tegumen in length, with setae. Tegumen simple, arched. Left valva wide at base, gradually narrowed to blunt apex, with setae; sacculus about 2/3 length of valva, simple at base, strongly sclerotized and distally attenuate. Right valva slightly slenderer than left one; sacculus about 2/3 length of valva, simple at base, gradually narrowed to acute tip, curved, heavily sclerotized distally. Vinculum simple. Anellus bilobed, arms fingershaped; right arm slightly longer. Phallus curved, about 2/3 length of valva; basal part membranous, distal part sclerotized, with wrinkles inside medially and a small process terminally; cornutus being thin weakly sclerotized slices, indistinct.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 2 ): Papillae anales short, about 1/2 length of 8th sternite, with setae. Apophyses posteriores slender, about 1.5 times length of 8th sternite. Apophyses anteriores absent. Ostium very large, located at anterior margin of 8th sternum. Antrum asymmetrical: left side nearly straight, right side slightly concave. Ductus bursae nearly as long as corpus bursae, with numerous longitudinal ridges, and with large accessory pouch inserted just anterad of colliculum. Corpus bursae spherical, without signum. 8th sternum with a small notch at middle on posterior margin.

Hostplant. Ipomoea batatas (Linn.) Makino (Convolvulaceae) .

Distribution. China ( Hong Kong, Hainan, Fujian).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin attenuatus = attenuate, indicating the distal part of the left sacculus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Genitalia of Pterophorus attenuatus sp. nov. 1, male genitalia; 2, female genitalia.

FIGURES 11 – 18. Adults of Pterophoridae. 11, Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker); 12, Stenoptilodes taprobanes (Felder & Rogenhofer); 13, Adaina microdactyla (Hübner); 14, Hellinsia lienigiana (Zeller); 15, Hellinsia sichuana Arenberger; 16, Pterophorus maolanensis Li; 17, Pterophorus pentadactylus (Linnaeus); 18, Pterophorus attenuatus sp. nov.