Scaeosopha betrokensis Sinev et Li, 2012

Li, Houhun, Zhang, Zhiwei & Sinev, Sergey Yu., 2012, Review of the genus Scaeosopha Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera, Cosmopterigidae, Scaeosophinae) in the world, with descriptions of sixteen new species, Zootaxa 3322, pp. 1-34 : 14

Scaeosopha betrokensis Sinev et Li sp. nov.

( Figs. 9, 33, 33a, 54)

Description. Adult ( Fig. 9): Wingspan 17.5–20.0 mm. Head whitish yellow. Antenna deep-yellow ringed with deep leaden. Labial palpus grayish-yellow, second segment black at base, third segment with black annulus at base and before apex. Thorax, tegula and forewing grayish-yellow, diffused with leaden scales. Forewing white with black spots on costa at base, 1/6, 1/3 and 3/5, basal one smallest, distal one semicircular and largest, extending posteriad to subcostal vein; black dots at middle of anterior margin, at 2/3 length and end of cell as well as at 3/5 length of fold, the one at end of cell rounded, and largest; a series of black dots ranging from about distal 1/4 of costal margin along termen to tornus; cilia grayish-yellow mixed with leaden. Hindwing gray; cilia gray tinged with yellow. Legs grayish-yellow; fore leg brown, fore tarsus brown and grayish-yellow on ventral surface; mid leg brown and grayish-yellow on outer side.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 33, 33a): Eighth sternum with a strong thorn at middle on posterior margin. Brachia of uncus setose at base, slightly expanded in distal 2/5, narrowly rounded at apex. Valva broad and short, nearly trapezoidal, widened distally; valvella shorter than valva, broad and setose at base, slightly curved downward, convex at 3/5 dorsally, distal 2/5 densely setose, gradually narrowed to roundly pointed apex. Anellus strongly sclerotized, gradually narrowed distally; apex rounded, reaching 4/5 length of tegumen, setose laterally. Phallus membranous at base; cornuti consisting of numerous longitudinal spines distally, forming a large bundle.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 54): Posterior apophysis more than twice as long as anterior apophysis. Sterigma slightly narrowed posteriorly, anterior margin roundly convex, posterior margin slightly concave. Ductus bursae nearly same length as posterior apophysis; ductus seminalis arising from posterior end of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae large, narrow posteriorly, broad anteriorly, same length as posterior apophysis; signa paired, crescented, about 1/3 length of corpus bursae, heavily sclerotized, with numerous toothlike spinules on outer surface.

Type material. Holotype ♂, MADAGASCAR: Betroka [23°16' S, 46°05' E], xi/ xii.1953, E. Diehl, BMNH Microlep. slide no. 32345, Zhiwei Zhang ( BMNH, London).

Paratype: 1 ♀, BMNH Microlep. slide no. 32346, Zhiwei Zhang ( BMNH, London), other same data as for holotype .

Distribution. Madagascar.

Diagnosis. This new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the eighth sternum with a strong thorn at middle on posterior margin in male; the signa crescented and slightly curved, with numerous toothlike spinules on outer surface in female.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Betroka, Madagascar.