Lycophantis mucronata Li, 2016

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2016, Taxonomic study of the genus Lycophantis Meyrick from China (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4084 (1), pp. 105-114 : 112-113

Lycophantis mucronata Li , sp. nov.

Figs. 3d , 4d , 5d

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA: Mt. Longtang [30.09°N, 118.93°E], Zhejiang Province, 520 m, 27.viii.2014, coll. Aihui Yin et al., genitalia slide no. CPX14205.

Paratypes: Zhejiang Province: 16 ♂, 25 ♀, 27–31.viii.2014, other same data as for holotype, genitalia slide no. CPX14084 ♂, CPX14085 ♀, CPX14134 ♂, CPX14135 ♀, CPX14136 ♂, CPX14137 ♀, CPX14138 ♂, CPX14140 ♀, CPX14205 ♂; 1 ♀, Wuyanling, Taishun, 680 m, 2.viii.2005, coll. Yunli Xiao, slide no. CPX14192 ♀; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Qingliangfeng, Linan, 900 m, 11.viii.2005, coll. Yunli Xiao, slide no. CPX14203 ♀, LTT12214 ♂; 1 ♂, Mt. Fengyang, Longquan, 1470 m, 31.vii.2007, coll. Qing Jin, slide no. LTT12215 ♂; 1 ♂, Yulingguan, Qingliangfeng, 220 m, 24.vii.2014, coll. Aihui Yin et al., slide no. CPX14204 ♂; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Mt. Tianmu, 555 m, 18– 19.viii.2014, coll. Aihui Yin et al., slide no. CPX14086 ♂, CPX14139 ♀; Hubei Province: 1 ♀, Muyu, Shennongjia, 1072 m, 8.ix.2012, coll. Jinwei Li, slide no. LTT12209 ♀.

Diagnosis. This species is close to L. moriutii in the male genitalia by the sacculus with a cluster of thick spines. Lycophantis mucronata sp. nov. can be distinguished from the latter in the male genitalia by the valva gradually widened from base to blunt apex, and the saccus 1.3 times the length of the socius; in L. moriutii the valva is widened gradually from base to before broadly rounded apex ( Sohn & Park, 2010: Fig. 5 ), and the saccus is the same length as the socius. In the female genitalia, L. mucronata sp. nov. is characterized by the ductus bursae significantly expanded in the anterior half, and the corpus bursae with a triangular zone on the cervix area.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 3d ): Wingspan 10.0−12.0 mm. Head snowy white; frons white, mixed with pale yellowish brown scales on both sides. Antenna 3/4 length of forewing, scape snowy white, with ochreous pecten; flagellum with ventral surface greyish white, dorsal surface deep greyish brown in basal 1/5, greyish white in distal 4/5, annulated with greyish brown, distal half weakly serrate. Labial palpus brown. Thorax and tegula white. Forewing with length five times of maximum width; anterior part greyish brown with golden luster, posterior part white, divided along lower margin of cell to point of CuA2 and extending along CuA2 to termen; costal margin with a row of white spots along distal 3/4, mixed with black scales towards apex; termen with anterior 1/3 black, dotted with several white dots; medial part of lower margin of cell with a row of black strigulae interrupted by several white dots; cilia grey. Hindwing and cilia grey. Legs yellowish white, tibia with greyish black scales distally, tarsi of foreleg with black ring at apex of each segment. Abdomen yellowish white on ventral surface, greyish brown on dorsal surface.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 4d ): Uncus straight on posterior margin, with a small incision medially. Socius conspicuously oblique outwards, armed with thick setae, distal 1/4 sharply narrowed to apex. Valva broad, narrowed basally, gradually widened distally; distal 1/3 with an elliptic area bearing dense fine setae, apex blunt, with sparse long setae; costa extending to near apex of valva; sacculus reaching towards apex of valva, widened medially, with a cluster of thick spines medially, curved inwards. Saccus 1.3 times length of socius, nearly parallel, slightly narrowed distally. Phallus 2.5 times length of valva, basal 4/5 almost uniform, distal 1/5 tapering to apex, with several small spines medially; cornuti consisting of two stout needles, placed medially.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 5d ): Apophyses posteriores as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternite with a narrow sclerotized zone posteriorly, bearing stout setae along posterior margin. Antrum broad, bowl-shaped; ductus bursae about 1.5 times length of corpus bursae, narrowed posteriorly, slowly widened to middle, obviously expanded in anterior 1/2; ductus seminalis arising from posterior 1/5 of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae rounded, cervix area with a triangular zone of dense denticles.

Distribution. China (Hubei, Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin mucronatus (with sharp end), referring to the socius with distal 1/4 narrowed sharply to the apex in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Adults of Lycophantis spp. a, L. chalcoleuca, ♂; b, L. elongata, ♂; c, L. leviaurata, ♀; d, L. mucronata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; e, L. stenopetala sp. nov., holotype, ♂; f, L. incurvula sp. nov., holotype, ♂. (Scales = 2.0 mm)

FIGURE 4. Male genitalia of Lycophantis spp. a, L. chalcoleuca, slide no. CPX 14162; b, L. elongata, slide no. CPX 14151; c, L. leviaurata, slide no. CPX 14145; d, L. mucronata sp. nov., paratype, slide no. CPX 14204; e, L. stenopetala sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LTT 12242; f, L. incurvula sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LTT 12243. (Scales = 0.2 mm)

FIGURE 5. Female genitalia of Lycophantis spp. a, L. chalcoleuca, slide no. CPX 14196; b, L. elongata, slide no. CPX 14191; c, L. leviaurata, slide no. CPX 14150; d, L. mucronata sp. nov., paratype, slide no. CPX 14203. (Scales = 0.5 mm)