Scythropiodes aculeiformus Wang et Li

Wang, Qingyun & Li, Houhun, 2016, Review of the genus Scythropiodes Matsumura, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae, Oditinae) from China, with a checklist of the world, Zootaxa 4132 (3), pp. 301-329 : 308-309

Scythropiodes aculeiformus Wang et Li , sp. nov.

Figs 8 , 23

Diagnosis. This new species resembles S. jiulianae and S. hamatellus in appearance by having a similar forewing pattern, but can be recognized by the valva with an apical spine, the transtilla with lateral lobes bearing no spines, the juxta with a pair of rod-shaped lateral lobes, and the phallus with a cornutus in the male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). In S. jiulianae , the valva lacks a spine apically, the lateral lobes of the transtilla bear a long slender spine anteriorly and a stout triangular spine posteriorly, the juxta has a pair of papillary lateral lobes, and the phallus has two cornuti in the male genitalia ( Fig. 22 ); in S. hamatellus , the valva has a hooked apical process, the lateral lobes of the transtilla bear an apical spine, the juxta has a pair of digitate lateral processes, and the phallus lacks a cornutus in the male genitalia ( Fig. 21 ).

Type material. CHINA : Sichuan Province: Holotype Ƌ, Mt. Emei (29°35'N, 103°23'E), 830 m, 13.VII.2014, coll. Kaijian Teng et al., genitalia slide no. WQY14226. Paratype: 1 Ƌ, same data as for holotype except dated 14.VII.2014.

Adult ( Fig. 8 ). Wingspan 17.0–17.5 mm. Head white. Antenna with scape white; flagellum white, with pale brown annulations, with dense short cilia ventrally. Labial palpus with second palpomere white except basal 3/4 dark brown on outer surface; third palpomere slightly shorter than second, pointed terminally, white, with a black ring at base. Thorax and tegula white, speckled with pale brown. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex obtuse, termen slightly concave below apex; ground color white, with dense brown scales; costal margin with a dark brown strip from base extending obliquely outward to anterior 1/3; discal and discocellular spots black, subrounded; fold with a smaller black spot at distal 1/4; sub-terminal fascia from below distal 1/3 of costal margin to tornus, greatly arched outwards, consisting of numbers of loosely connected dark brown spots; dark brown dots along termen; cilia white, speckled with brown. Hindwing yellowish white, speckled with pale brown; cilia yellowish white. Foreleg dark brown; midleg yellowish white, except femur brown on outer surface and tarsus speckled with brown; hindleg white, tibia with long hairs.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). Ventral plate of gnathos about three times length of basal arm, heavily sclerotized, pointed terminally. Valva subtriangular, broad at base, narrowed toward apex, produced to an apical spine. Transtilla with lateral lobes stout digitate, about 1/2 length of valva, swollen semiovally at middle. Sacculus broad, about 2/3 width of valva at base, slightly narrowed distally. Juxta membranous, deeply concave medially on posterior margin; lateral lobes long, rod-shaped, about 2/3 length of valva, with setae on distal 1/3. Vinculum narrowly banded, rounded anteriorly. Phallus about 1.5 times longer than valva, basal 4/9 weakly sclerotized, distal 5/9 heavily sclerotized, subparallel from base to 2/3, with a wrinkled endophallus extending from basal 1/4 to 2/3, with a sword-shaped process from distal 1/3 to apex; cornutus needlelike, about half length of phallus, extending from middle exceeding apex of phallus, acute apically.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan) .

Etymology. The name of this species comes from the Latin aculeiformis (needlelike), referring to the needlelike cornutus of the phallus in the male genitalia.

Notes. Park & Wu (1997) identified this species as S. velipotens (Meyrick, 1935) . We find it different from its congeners in characters of male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 11. Adults of Scythropiodes spp. 4, S. approximans (Caradja), ♂; 5, S. tribula (Wu), ♂; 6, S. hamatellus Park et Wu, ♀; 7, S. jiulianae Park et Wu, ♂; 8, S. aculeiformus sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 9, S. barbellatus Park et Wu, ♀; 10, S. gnophus Park et Wu, ♂; 11, S. dorsoprocessus sp. nov., paratype, ♂. (Scale bars = 2.0 mm).

FIGURES 19 – 24. Male genitalia of Scythropiodes spp. 19, S. approximans (Caradja), genitalia slide No. WQY 13030; 20, S. tribula (Wu), genitalia slide No. WQY 14214; 21, S. hamatellus Park et Wu, genitalia slide No. WQY 15033; 22, S. jiulianae Park et Wu, genitalia slide No. WQY 15034; 23, S. aculeiformus sp. nov., holotype, genitalia slide No. WQY 14226; 24, S. barbellatus Park et Wu, genitalia slide No. WQY 14153. (Scale bars = 0.5 mm).