Agonopterix epunctata Zhu & Wang, 2023

Zhu, Xiaoju, Zhang, Li & Wang, Shuxia, 2023, New species and newly recorded species of the genus Agonopterix Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae) from China, Zootaxa 5258 (4), pp. 379-404 : 382

Agonopterix epunctata Zhu & Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 26 )

Type material. CHINA, Xizang: Holotype ♁, Linzhi, 30.IV.1983, leg. HH Li, slide No. W 95027 . Paratype: 1♁, 15.V.1983, other same data as holotype, slide No. ZL 09024 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to A. ocellana ( Fabricius, 1775) in male genitalia by having a straight cuiller. It can be distinguished by the forewing without distinct markings in the cell; and by the valva with distal 1/3 slightly narrowed to broadly obtuse apex and the cuiller with small denticles on outside of distal 1/ 3 in the male genitalia. In A. ocellana , the forewing has black markings bordered by red scales in the cell; the distal 1/3 of the valva is distinctly narrowed to narrowly rounded apex and the cuiller lacks denticles (Huisman 2012: 90, figs 20, 44).

The new species can be hardly distinguished from A. hypericella (Hübner, 1817) in male genitalia, but it can be distinguished in the forewing by the absence of the whitish transverse fascia before termen, which is present in A. hypericella ( Arashima et al. 2023) . It is similar to A. rhododrosa ( Meyrick, 1934) in the forewing pattern, and can be distinguished by the forewing with a pointed apex, which is obtusely rounded in A. rhododrosa ( Meyrick 1934: 476) .

Description. Adult ( Fig. 3 ). Wingspan 22.0–23.0 mm.

Head with frons brown mixed with ochreous; vertex yellowish white; scales white-tipped yellowish brown along dorsal margin of eye and lateral sides of occiput, yellowish white medially on occiput. Labial palpus with basal segment yellowish white, covered with black scales on outer surface; second segment yellowish white, densely covered with black scales and sparsely mixed with ochreous scales, without protruding scales; third segment black, yellowish white mixed with ochreous medially. Antenna with scape brown, yellowish white at apex ventrally; flagellum brown alternated with yellowish white.

Mesonotum grey, densely covered with brown scales; tegula dark brown, yellowish white apically. Foreleg dark brown, tibia mixed with ochreous scales, tarsus yellowish white at apices of basal two and fourth tarsomeres, as well yellowish white at apical one tarsomere; femur and tibia of midleg yellowish white mixed with dark brown scales, tarsus dark brown, yellowish white at apex of each tarsomere; hindleg yellowish white, mixed with brown scales, tarsus dark brown at base of four apical tarsomeres on outside.

Forewing dusty grey, darker at base; costal margin with dark brown spots irregularly distributed, interrupted by pale yellow spots; apex pointed; termen distinctly oblique; fringe concolourous with forewing, brown around apex. Hindwing and fringe grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 26 ). Uncus triangularly produced, obtusely rounded at apex. Socii short, thumb-shaped, setose. Gnathos fusiform, finely spined dorsally, flattened and smooth ventrally; lateral arms half length of gnathos. Valva with basal 2/3 wider, subparallel, distal 1/3 slightly narrowed to broadly obtuse apex, slightly concave below cuiller on ventral margin; costa convex basally. Transtilla a slender band; transtilla lobes small, semicircular. Sacculus heavily sclerotized, reaching beyond 1/3 length of valva; cuiller uniformly slender, straight, with small denticles on outside of distal 1/3, apically reaching anterior 1/3 from costa. Juxta concave medially on posterior margin; lateral lobes irregularly banded, reaching just before posterior margin of juxta. Phallus tubular; cornuti being several bundles of spinules.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin epunctatus, referring to the forewing without distinct markings.

Figures

FIGURES 1‒8. Adults of Agonopterix spp. 1, A. basinigra sp. nov., ♁; 2, A. cochleata sp. nov., ♁; 3, A. epunctata sp. nov., ♁; 4, A. foliiformis sp. nov., ♁; 5, A. gibbosa sp. nov., ♁; 6, A. hypodroma sp. nov., ♁; 7, A. introrsa sp. nov., ♁; 8, A. magnimacularis sp. nov., ♁. All holotypes. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 24‒29. Male genitalia of Agonopterix spp. 24, A. basinigra sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ20437; 25, A. cochleata sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ20439, 25a, enlarged cuiller; 26, A. epunctata sp. nov., slide No. ZL09024; 27, A. foliiformis sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ20408; 28, A. gibbosa sp. nov., slide No. ZL08250; 29, A. hypodroma sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ20368. All holotypes. Scales = 0.2 mm.