Promalactis apiculifera Wang, 2021

Wang, Shuxia & Liu, Chen, 2021, Taxonomic study of the genus Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) X. The commotica species-group, with descriptions of twenty-two new species, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 293-330 : 294-295

Promalactis apiculifera Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 23 )

Type material. CHINA, Guangxi: Holotype ♂, Huaping, 950 m, 7.VIII.2006, leg. WC Li, slide No. DZH11066.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. serpenticapitata Du & Wang, 2013 in the forewing pattern and in the features of the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the sacculus produced into a free distal process that is narrowed to a pointed apex, and the juxta reaching 1/2 the height of the tegumen; in P. serpenticapitata , the distal process of the sacculus is serrate at the apex, and the juxta exceeds the posterior margin of the uncus.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 1 ). Forewing length 5.0 mm.

Head: Vertex bright silvery white, frons bright brown, occiput dark brown. Labial palpus with first and second palpomeres ocherous brown on inner surface, brown mottled with black scales on outer surface; third palpomere black except white at base and apex.Antenna with scape white except dark brown on anterior and posterior margins; flagellum white alternated with black on dorsal surface, dark brown on ventral surface.

Thorax: Dorsum of mesothorax and tegula ocherous brown; collar dark brown. Forewing ocherous brown in basal 3/5, ocherous yellow in distal 2/5; markings silvery white edged with dense black scales: costal spot quadrate, situated at basal 3/5, with dense black scales laterally; cell with a small dot at outer margin below costal spot; basal streak oblique inward to base of fold; antemedian streak from dorsal 2/5 to basal 1/3 of anterior margin of cell; dorsal streak from basal 2/3 extending outward to distal 1/5 of posterior margin of cell; tornal spot small, with black scales diffused to end of dorsal streak; apical spot elliptic, with denser black scales on inner side; fringe ocherous yellow. Hindwing and fringe grey. Fore- and midlegs greyish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibiae with white spot at base and middle respectively, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsi with basal two tarsomere white apically; hindleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). Uncus wide and parallel-sided from base to basal 2/5, narrowed to basal 4/5; distal 1/5 uniformly narrow, with a tooth apically, and a small triangular process near apex ventrally. Gnathos as long as uncus; mesial plate narrowed medially, distal 1/3 roundly dilated, with dense verrucous processes, with a semicircular membrane apical process; basal arms short, triangular, narrowed to mesial plate. Tegumen with posterior 1/4 narrower; lateral arms narrowly rounded at apex. Valvae triangular, triangularly produced and setose distally, with a weakly sclerotized triangular process at base bearing a papillary apical process; costa with indistinct teeth distally; sacculus broad basally, slightly narrower distally, produced to a free setose distal process curved obliquely dorsad, forming an obtuse angle ventrally, pointed at apex. Vinculum narrowly banded; saccus triangular, pointed at apex, approximately 2/3 length of uncus. Juxta a narrow plate, subparallel laterally, with a tuft of spines distally, reaching 1/2 height of tegumen apically; basal lobe conical. Aedeagus stout, 4/5 length of valva, with two cornuti: one hook-like placed apically, the other a straight, stout spine 1/3 length of aedeagus placed medially.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Etymology. The specific epithet of the new species is derived from the Latin apiculus and - fera, referring to the apical tooth of the uncus in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 1‒8. Adults of Promalactis spp. 1, P. apiculifera, holotype, ♂; 2, P. apisetosa, holotype, ♂; 3, P. arcicosta, holotype, ♂; 4, P. baoshana, holotype, ♂; 5, P. bicornuta, holotype, ♂; 6, P. bilobignatha, paratype, ♂; 7, P. binipapillata, paratype, ♀; 8, P. bispina, paratype, ♀. Scales = 2 mm.

FIGURES 23‒28. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 23, P. apiculifera, holotype, slide No. HXM14207; 24, P. apisetosa, holotype, slide No. DZH11066; 25, P. arcicosta, paratype, slide No. LC19399; 26, P. baoshana, holotype, slide No. JYY17588; 27, P. bicornuta, holotype, slide No. DZH10246; 28, P. bilobignatha, paratype, slide No. LC19354, 28a, enlarged aedeagus. Scales = 0.2 mm.