Ethmia transtimacula, Zhu & Wang, 2022

Zhu, Xiaoju & Wang, Shuxia, 2022, Study of the genus Ethmia Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera: Ethmiidae) from China with descriptions of six new species, Zootaxa 5194 (2), pp. 176-192 : 184-185

Ethmia transtimacula sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 17 , 24 )

Type material. CHINA, Zhejiang: Holotype ♂, Qianjiangyuan (30.39ºN, 119.49ºE), Mt. Tianmu , 866 m, 7.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., slide No. ZXJ19660 . Paratypes: 1♂ 1♀, 13–14.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., 4♂, 10–11.VIII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., Sanmuping , Mt. Tianmu , 789 m, slide Nos. ZXJ19659 ♂, ZXJ19658 ♀, ZXJ20142 ♂, HXM14190 ♂ ; 1♀, Xiguan, Mt. Tianmu , 566 m, 17.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., slide No. HXM14237 ; 1♂, Qianqingtang, Qingliangfeng , 1059 m, 29.VII.2014, leg. AH Yin et al., slide No. ZXJ19662 ; Taiwan: 1♂, Mt. Chai, Gaoxiong , 50−100 m, 22.VIII.2006, slide No. WJJ11018 .

Diagnosis. The new species is distinguished by the small spot at the basal 3/5 of the forewing discal cell connected to the tadpole-shaped transverse stripe at the distal 2/5 of the cell. It is similar to E. adunatimacula sp. nov., and the differences between the two species are given in the diagnosis of the preceding species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Wingspan 19.5‒24.5 mm.

Head: Vertex creamy white, frons blackish brown. Labial palpus blackish brown; basal palpomere white on ventral surface; second palpomere mixed with white at inner surface and at base of ventral surface; third palpomere white at base and in distal 1/3. Antenna with scape creamy white, blackish brown along anterior margin; flagellum blackish brown, male flagellum tufted with yellow-grey hairs on posterior margin basally, compressed with creamy white scales at basal 1/4 on posterior margin, in some individuals, without hairs; in female, flagellum greyish brown, greyish white alternating with greyish brown in several basal flagellomeres.

Thorax: Collar creamy white, black basally. Mesonotum and tegula greyish white, mesonotum with a pair of black spots basally and distally, tegula with large black spot at base near outer margin. Forewing grey, overlaid with 14 elongate black markings: costal margin with three elongate stripes in basal half, middle one shortest, diffused to black spot above basal 2/5 of anterior margin of cell; cell with a small spot at basal 3/5 diffused to a tadpole-shaped transverse stripe at distal 2/5; fold with spot at base, at basal 1/3 and 3/5; black rounded spot set near base of wing above fold; small dot between fold and basal 1/4 of dorsum; with three black spots distally, one near costal margin and one near apex elongate; ten marginal dots extending from distal 1/5 of costal margin along termen to tornus; fringe concolourous with wing, greyish brown in distal part of costal margin. Hindwing and fringe pale greyish brown. Legs greyish white; coxa of foreleg black on ventral surface, tarsus black, white at apices on dorsal surface of basal two tarsomeres; femur of midleg mixed with black near base and near apex on dorsal surface, tarsus black, white at base of basal tarsomere and at apex of each tarsomere; tibiae of fore- and midlegs black on dorsal surface, with white spot near base, at middle and at apex; hindleg with tarsus brown distally on ventral surface, brown at base of each tarsomere of distal four tarsomeres on dorsal surface.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 17 ) with uncus quadrate in basal 3/5, bilobed in distal 2/5; lobes thumblike, rounded at apices.Tegumen height nearly as long as uncus. Gnathos slightly shorter than uncus; caudal part narrower, inverted triangular, with long spines on posterior margin; oral part twice as wide as caudal part, semicircular, with teeth, with fine spines anteriorly. Labis as long as gnathos. Valva with stout costa about 1/3 length of valva; sacculus with ventral margin straight in basal half, concave inward beyond middle, with a large ventroapical spine 2/5 length of cucullus; cucullus 4/7 length of valva, narrowly rounded apically. Juxta a narrow band; posterolateral lobes subequal to length of labis, rounded apically. Phallus slender, weakly sclerotized. Female genitalia ( Fig. 24 ) with papillae anales strongly sclerotized, densely covered with long setae. Apophyses posteriores as long as papillae anales; apophyses anteriores short, wider basally, slightly narrowed distally, with an incurved obtuse tip. Antrum sclerotized dorsally, membranous ventrally. Ductus bursae long, coiled. Corpus bursae narrowed medially, rounded posteriorly and anteriorly.

Distribution. China ( Taiwan, Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin trans- and macula, referring to the transverse stripe in the cell of the forewing.

Figures

FIGURES 5–9. Adults of Ethmia spp.5, E. crocosoma, ♂; 6, E. rectiuga sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 7, E. transtimacula sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 8, E. vietmiella, ♀; 9, E. anfracta sp. nov., holotype, ♂. Scales = 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 16–19. Male genitalia of Ethmia spp. 16, E. susa, slide No. ZXJ20134; 17, E. transtimacula sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19660; 18, E. vietmiella, slide No. ZXJ20210; 19, E. anfracta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ20168. Scales = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 24–26. Female genitalia of Ethmia spp.24, E.transtimacula sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19658; 25, E. vietmiella, slide No. ZXJ20206; 26, E. yeni, slide No. ZXJ21025. Scales = 0.5 mm.