Thecobathra paritetragona Wang, 2023

Liu, Haoyu & Wang, Shuxia, 2023, Taxonomic study of the genus Thecobathra Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in China, with descriptions of eight new species, Zootaxa 5325 (4), pp. 483-508 : 498-500

Thecobathra paritetragona Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 8 , 19 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F4DF268F-C1A1-4922-835B-700B006BE6DC

Type material. CHINA, Sichuan: Holotype ♁, Baozigou (32.91°N, 104.16°E), Wanglang, 2369 m, 20.VII.2017, leg. MJ Qi & XF Yang, slide No. LHY21720.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to T. tetragona Liu, 1983 in male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the dorsoproximal process of the valva with a long spine extending inward and curved at distal 1/3, and the aedeagus with the longer row of teeth running from before middle to apex. In T. tetragona , the dorsoproximal process of the valva has a short straight spine, and the aedeagus has the longer row of teeth running from basal 1/4 to apex ( Liu 1983: 80, fig. 1).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 8 ). Wingspan 18.0 mm.

Head white. Antenna white, flagellum ringed with pale yellow dorsally. Labial palpus white except pale yellow on outer surface of second palpomere.

Thorax and tegula white, patagium greatly developed in male. Forewing white, with dark brown scales; costal margin with basal 1/4 dark brown, distal 1/4 yellowish brown; black stripe oblique outward from beyond basal 2/5 of dorsum to fold; short yellowish brown band formed by dense yellowish brown scales running from end of dorsum to termen; fringe pale grey except distal 1/4 dark brown. Hindwing grey, fringe pale grey. Legs white; femur and tibia of foreleg with dark brown scales ventrally; tarsus of midleg tinged with yellowish brown; tibia of hindleg terminally with a brown dot at each side.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 19 ). Uncus obtusely produced, with a small incision medially. Socius oblique outwards, narrowed to pointed apex; sclerotized spindle-shaped zone near base of socius. Subscaphium parallel-sided. Ventral plate of gnathos small, tongue-shaped, heavily sclerotized. Valva broad basally, parallel-sided and slightly narrower medially, narrowed from distal 1/5 to obtuse apex; dorsoproximal process subquadrate, inner margin concave below middle, with a long spine extending inward to near outer margin of sacculus, slightly curved at distal 1/3; inner process narrow, elongate triangular; basal plate extending along dorsal margin of sacculus, widened medially; costa banded, with a small process before middle. Sacculus subtetragonal, ventral margin heavily sclerotized, shallowly concave at basal 2/5. Saccus Y-shaped, narrowed to obtuse apex. Aedeagus straight, 1.5 times length of saccus, with two rows of dentations: one row along distal 1/4, the other row from before middle to apex, initial two teeth larger.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek par- and tetragona , the name of another species, referring to the similarity of the two species.

Figures

FIGURES 7–10. Adults of Thecobathra spp. 7, T. odontoidea sp. nov., holotype, male, slide No.LHY21068; 8, T. paritetragona sp. nov., holotype, male, slide No. LHY21720; 9, T. pectinacea sp. nov., holotype, male, slide No. LHY21060; 10, T. setulosa sp. nov., holotype, male, slide No. LHY21044. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 19–21. Male genitalia of Thecobathra spp. 19, T. paritetragona sp. nov., holotype, slide No. LHY21720; 20, T. pectinacea sp. nov., holotype, slide No. LHY21060; 21, T. setulosa sp. nov., holotype, slide No. LHY21044. Scales = 0.5 mm.