Phyllonorycter phallustenuis Kim & Byun, 2024

Kim, Da-Som, Oh, Jae-In & Byun, Bong-Kyu, 2024, The checklist of leaf-mining moths Phyllonorycter Hübner (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) of Korea with description of two new species and nine newly recorded species, Zootaxa 5397 (3), pp. 397-417 : 399-401

1. Phyllonorycter phallustenuis Kim & Byun , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2A11E557-2C1A-4F3D-9C45-D337119B43F0

( Figs 1a , 3a )

Type material. Holotype ♀. [ KOREA] [GW], Daegwallyeong-myeon Pyeongchang-gun , 2 vi 1984 (leg. KT Park), gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5217 -coll. HNUSEL.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. rostrispinosa Kumata, 1963 in wing pattern and color. But, it can be distinguished by the male genitalia with rather narrow valva, not slightly arched, slender and not narrows at distal 1/3 of valva (see De Prins & De Prins 2023). The saccus is short, as long as 1/3 of valva length, and curves approximately half way before the apex, with distal hook around 1/7 as long as the phallus.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 1a ). Forewing length 4.0 mm. Face white; tuft of white scales on yellowish head; antenna covered with brownish scales. Thorax covered with yellowish scales mixed white scales.

Forewing ground color pale golden-ochreous with rather thick whitish markings. First fascia consisting of two short, broad and white streaks and blackish streaks on inner side; second fascia opened and arched to apex with blackish scales inside; third fascia also opened, rather thicker and shorter than another fascia. Blackish blotch on apex extended in wide. Hindwing narrow and pale ochreous.

Male genitalia. ( Fig. 3a ). Tegumen extends as long as valva and tapers to apex; setae concentrated at apex, glabrous surface towards middle. Saccus forms gently U-shaped. Valva asymmetric, being elongated and tapering towards apex, slightly swollen at centra, and adorned with a lengthy, piliform process on both sides; left valva 1.2 times larger than right one; setae densely arranged along costal margin, with base to 1/3 glabrous; a rather long seta present at 2/3 from base, apex relatively rounded; in contrast, right valva slender, featuring setae along costal margin, a short seta at 2/3 from base, and a rather sharp apex. Phallus slender, equivalent in length to valva, with a slight curvature near center; central portion somewhat sclerotized, apex exhibits a slight hooking.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Distribution. Korea (South).

Host plants. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the structure of male genitalia (in Latin: penis (=phallus) + thin (=tenuis)). An adjective in the nominative singular.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adults of Phyllonorycter spp. a, P. phallustenuis sp. n. (Holotype, gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5277); b, P. daehana sp. n. (Holotype, gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5638); c, P. ginnalae (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5633); d, P. jezoniella (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-4037); e, P. lonicerae (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5453); f, P. nigristella (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5655); g, P. ostryae (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5649); h, P. reduncata (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5328). (Scale bars = 2 mm).

FIGURE 3. Male genitalia of Phyllonorycter spp. a, P. phallustenuis sp. n. (Holotype, gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5277); b, P. daehana sp. n. (Holotype, gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5638); c, P. ginnalae (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5633); d, P. jezoniella (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-4037); e, P. lonicerae (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5453); f, P. reduncata (gen. slide no. HNUSEL-5328). (Scale bars = 0.5 mm).