Epichostis magnimacularis Wang, 2009

Yuan, G. X. & Wang, S. X., 2009, Checklist of the genus Epichostis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) of the world, with descriptions of 11 new species from China, Journal of Natural History 43 (35 - 36), pp. 2141-2165 : 2149-2150

Epichostis magnimacularis Wang , sp. nov.

( Figures 2B , 3B )

Holotype

Male , China: Mengla County (21°29′ N, 101°33′ E), Yunnan Province, 570 m, 13 August 2005, leg. Yingdang Ren, genitalia slide No. YGX07047.

Description

Adult ( Figure 2B ): Wing expanse 17.5 mm. Head yellow-white, grey-brown at middle of posterior area. Antenna with scape deep grey on dorsal surface, light yellow on ventral surface; flagellum lutescent, with fuscous annuli on dorsal surface. Labial palpus white, second segment with basal three-quarters dark brown on outside, diffused with brown scales; third segment yellow, dark brown at base. Thorax grey, yellowwhite posteriorly. Tegula grey, bordered by yellow scales. Fore wing with costal margin gently arched, basal half dark brown, becoming orange yellow to distal end; termen truncate slightly, dark, edged with pale yellow along inner side; an elongate, irregularly triangular black ventral patch widened from base to distal one-seventh, its dorsal margin sinuate and reaching upper border of cell, outer margin edged with yellow-white, protrudent dorsoapically, ventral margin with a small triangular yellowwhite spot at middle; between dorsal margin of black patch and costal margin yellow, somewhat like a longitudinal band with scattered black spine-like scales; from outer margin of dark patch to termen grey-brown; short black stripe placed between R 2 and R 3 distally; cilia pale yellow, with grey tip. Hind wing and cilia deep grey; cilia with a thin grey yellow band at base. Fore leg yellow-white, tibia dark brown on outside, tarsus deep brown on outside basally and bearing pale brown spots distally; midleg yellow-white, deep grey on outside, with dense blackish brown scales; hind leg grey-white to pale yellow, tibia with brown spots, ringed with pale brown distally.

Male genitalia ( Figure 3B )

Uncus with basal two-fifths thick, distal three-fifths gradually narrowed to pointed apex, thorn-like in shape. Gnathos heavily sclerotized, semicircular laterally, V-shaped medially. Valva broad at base, distal one-third narrowed slightly to bluntly rounded apex, densely setose; costa slightly arched, gently concave at base; dorsoproximal process dilated in colliculum, rounded apically. Sacculus broad, heavily sclerotized, of equal length with costa, concave at dorsal three-fifths. Juxta somewhat heart-shaped, lateral lobe narrow and sclerotized. Aedeagus stout, about four-fifths length of valva, dorsoapically protruding to a point; cornutus composed of a bundle of spines.

Female

Unknown.

Diagnosis

This species can be separated from other species of the genus by having one large black patch extending from base to distal one-seventh, with a small triangular yellowwhite spot at middle on its ventral margin.

Etymology

This new name is derived from the Latin prefix magni - (= large) and macularis (= patch), in reference to the large black patch in the fore wing.

Figures

Figure 2. Adults of Epichostis spp. (A) E. wufengensis, sp. nov.; (B) E. magnimacularis, sp. nov.; (C) E. tympanias (Meyrick); (D) E. proximitympanias, sp. nov.; (E) E. termitruncatula, sp. nov.; (F) E. termiprotrusa, sp. nov.

Figure 3. Male genitalia of Epichostis spp. (A) E. wufengensis, sp. nov.; (B) E. magnimacularis, sp. nov.; (C) E. tympanias (Meyrick); (D) E. proximitympanias, sp. nov.; (E) E. termitruncatula, sp. nov.; (F) E. termiprotrusa, sp. nov.