Meleonoma tianmushana, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4838 (3), pp. 331-357 : 339-341

Meleonoma tianmushana sp. nov.

( Figs. 9 , 25 )

Type material. CHINA, Zhejiang: Holotype ♂, Qianjiangyuan (30.39°N, 119.49°E), Mt. Tianmu , 866 m, 12.VIII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., slide No. YAH15512 . Paratypes (5♂): 1♂, Qianjiangyuan, Mt. Tianmu , 866 m, 8.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al .; 1♂, Xiguan, Mt. Tianmu , 566 m, 18.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., slide No. YAH15173 ; 1♂, Sanmuping, Mt. Tianmu , 789 m, 13.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al .; 1♂, Lao’an, Mt. Tianmu , 555 m, 14.VII.2015, leg. AH Yin et al .; 1♂, Yanping, Mt. Jiulong , 530 m, 4.VII.2013, leg. AH Yin & XC Wang.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having a fine annular gnathos anteromedially exceeding anterior margin of the tegumen, a valva with a papillary process near the base of the ventral margin, a transtilla produced to a triangular process dorsally, and a sacculus bifurcate from about basal 2/5 and forming two large distal processes in the male genitalia. It is similar to M. longiprocessa sp. nov. in the forewing pattern, and the differences between the two species are stated in the diagnosis of the preceding species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 9 ). Forewing length 4.8–5.0 mm.

Head yellow, vertex sparsely mixed with greyish brown scales, occiput with greyish brown scales medially. Labial palpus yellow; first and second segments mixed with blackish brown scales on outer surface, second segment with a blackish brown ring apically; third segment shorter than second segment, blackish brown medially. Antenna yellow; scape mixed with blackish brown scales basally; flagellum annulated with blackish brown on dorsal surface except basal flagellomeres yellow.

Thorax yellow; tegula yellow, mixed with blackish brown scales. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex narrowly rounded; ground color yellow, with scattered blackish brown scales, with a blackish brown diffusion along basal 1/3 of costal margin; costal spot blackish brown, semicircular; apical patch black, from apex diffused along termen to tornus; discal and plical spots black; discocellular spots black, distinct; fringe blackish brown, with a yellow basal line. Hindwing and fringe pale grey. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, fore coxa as well as femora of fore- and midlegs mixed with blackish brown scales, tibiae of fore- and midlegs blackish brown except yellow apically, all tarsi blackish brown except yellow at apices of basal two tarsomeres.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ). Uncus clavate, straight, wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex. Gnathos finely annular, weakly sclerotized, exceeding anterior margin of tegumen medially. Tegumen inverted V shaped, middle twice as width as lateral arm; lateral arm uniform to rounded anterior margin, heavily sclerotized along inner margin. Valva elongate, blade-shaped, wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex; ventral margin with a papillary process near base, densely setose in distal 3/4; costa banded, reaching beyond middle of dorsal margin; transtilla dorsally produced to an apically setose triangular process before middle, narrowed and beak-shaped distally. Sacculus separated from near base of valva, heavily sclerotized on ventral margin; distal 3/5 bifurcate, forming two lobes: dorsal lobe wide at base, narrowed to middle, then slightly curved and extending horizontally to pointed apex; ventral lobe slender, straight, with dense short setae, weakly serrate basally on dorsal margin. Saccus broad, sub-triangular, rounded at apex; about 1.2 times as long as uncus. Juxta V-shaped. Aedeagus 1.5 times as long as valva, basal 1/4 narrower, evenly wide from basal 1/4 to distal 1/4; distal half with several curved fine belts and irregular sclerites.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the type locality, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang Province.

Figures

FIGURES 9‒12. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 9, M. tianmushana sp. nov., paratype, ♂; 10, M. triacantha sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 11, M. ventrospinosa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 12, M. aridula, ♂. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 25‒28. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 25, M. tianmushana sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15512; 26, M. triacantha sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15369; 27, M. ventrospinosa sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15197; 28, M. aridula, slide No. YAH15165. Scales = 0.2 mm.