Promalactis scorpioidea, Du, Zhaohui & Wang, Shuxia, 2013

Du, Zhaohui & Wang, Shuxia, 2013, Genus Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Oecophoridae) from China: Descriptions of twelve new species, ZooKeys 285, pp. 23-52 : 34-36

Promalactis scorpioidea sp. n. Figs 72333

Type material.

Holotype ♂ − China, Jiangxi Province: Mt. Lu (26°30'N, 115°58'E), 335 m, 1.VII.1975, coll. Youqiao Liu, genitalia slide No. DZH12188 (IOZ). Paratypes − 1 ♂, same data as holotype; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype except dated 26.VI.1975; 1 ♀, same data as holotype except dated 30.VI.1975; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype except dated 28.VII.1975, genitalia slide Nos. DZH12030 ♂, DZH12187 ♂, DZH12189 ♀, DZH12190 ♀, DZH12191 ♀, DZH12192 ♂ (IOZ).

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Promalactis tridentata Wang & Li, 2004, but can be separated by the sacculus distally curved like a scorpion tail and the cornutus about 1/2 the length of the aedeagus in the male genitalia; and the columniform lamella postvaginalis in the female genitalia. In Promalactis tridentata , the sacculus is nearly straight distally and the cornutus is about 1/3 the length of the aedeagus in the male genitalia; and the lamella postvaginalis is bell shaped in the female genitalia. This species is also similar to Promalactis papillata sp. n. The differences between them are stated under the latter species.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 7). Wingspan 11.5−13.5 mm. Head with vertex shining white, frons yellowish brown, occiput ochreous brown. Labial palpus with basal and second segments ochreous brown on outer surface, basal segment yellowish white on inner surface, second segment yellow on inner surface; third segment dark ochreous brown except white at apex, almost same length as second. Antenna with scape white except dark brown on anterior margin; flagellum white and black on dorsal surface, dark brown on ventral surface. Thorax and tegula ochreous brown. Forewing ochreous brown to ferrugineous, costal margin black along basal 1/4; markings white edged with black scales; a narrow white fascia from costal 2/3 obliquely inwards to end of fold, broadened anteriorly, inner margin with diffused dense black scales anteriorly; two white streaks arising from dorsal margin: basal streak from dorsal 1/5 to above base of fold, second streak parallel with basal streak, from dorsal 2/5 to above basal 1/3 of upper margin of cell, widened; cilia dark orange, dark ochreous brown along distal part of costal margin. Hindwing and cilia dark grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 23). Uncus short, narrow at base, broadened slowly, trilobed distally: lateral lobes digitate, setose, middle lobe thicker and longer than lateral lobes. Gnathos almost same length as uncus, very narrow, scobinate, apex rounded; lateral arm band shaped, broad at base, about 4/5 length of gnathos. Tegumen narrowed posteriorly, branched from posterior 1/3, blunt anteriorly. Valva irregularly rectangular, setose distally, apex blunt; costa slightly concave at base. Sacculus broadened near base, narrowed distally, distal 1/5 free, curved dorsad in a right angle, like tail of a scorpion; slightly asymmetrical: left sacculus with distal 1/3 heavily sclerotized, dentate on dorsal margin, with a large heavily sclerotized subrectangular process at distal 1/3, which directs basad and bears some teeth on dorsal margin; right sacculus with distal 3/10 heavily sclerotized, dentate on dorsal margin, with a heavily sclerotized subtriangular process at distal 3/10, which directs basad and bears large teeth dorsally. Saccus about twice length of uncus, broad at base, slightly narrowed to basal 1/3, distal 2/3 nearly finger-like, rounded at apex. Juxta weakly sclerotized, roughly oval. Aedeagus slightly curved, about twice length of valva, sclerotized distally; cornutus long and curved, spine-like, about 1/2 length of aedeagus.

Female genitalia (Fig. 33). Apophysis anterioris about 1/2 length of apophysis posterioris. Lamella postvaginalis large and heavily sclerotized, columniform, narrowed anteriorly, broadened posteriorly, posterior margin sinuate, anterior margin heavily concave medially and expanded laterally on dorsal surface. Ostium bursae large. Antrum very short. Ductus bursae long and coiled, about four times length of corpus bursae, sclerotized except small membranous posterior and anterior sections, dorsally with a sclerotized quadrate plate bearing five curved long spines on right side at posterior 1/6, ventrally with a cluster of short spines at posterior 1/6; ductus seminalis arising from near posterior end of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae rounded, membranous, with dense granules; signum absent.

Distribution.

China (Jiangxi).

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from Latin scorpioideus(= like tail of a scorpion), referring to the sacculus curved distally like the tail of a scorpion.