Dichomeris symbolistis ( Meyrick, 1938 ) Bidzilya & Rajaei, 2024

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Rajaei, Hossein, 2024, An illustrated and annotated catalogue of type specimens of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) in the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren, Belgium), with taxonomic changes, Zootaxa 5496 (2), pp. 191-213 : 202-203

Dichomeris symbolistis ( Meyrick, 1938) , comb. nov.

( Figs 16a–d )

Adoxotricha symbolistis Meyrick, 1938 — Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo belge, 14, 15.

Type material. Holotype ♂, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Rutshuru (1285), 25.xi–15.xii.1933, G.F. de Witte, Parc Nat. Albert | Holotype, A. symbolistis M. | R. Det. 40 80 E | Congo belge: Kivu, Rutshuru, 1285 m, 25.xi/ 15.xii.1933, G.F. de Witte: 117 | E. Meyrick det., 1937: Adoxotricha symbolistis Meyr. | gen. slide 226/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA).

Remarks. Adoxotricha symbolistis (type species of the monotypic genus Adoxotricha Meyrick, 1938 ) was described based on the male holotype. The external characters as well as the male genitalia of A. symbolistis match those of the type species of the genus Dichomeris ( Dichomeris ligulella Hübner, 1818 ), and we herewith transfer this species to the latter genus. Additionally, the following synonymy of the genus-group taxa is proposed: Adoxotricha Meyrick, 1938 , syn. nov. of Dichomeris Hübner, 1818 . The species is characterized by having a light brown forewing with two distinct brown streaks at 1/3 and dark brown pattern along the termen. Dichomeris conclusa (Meyrick, 1918) from South Africa is somewhat similar in having a light brown forewing with brown termen but differs in the absence of brown markings at 1/3. The male genitalia can be recognized by comparatively short cucullus (not extending the tip of uncus) in combination with weakly sigmoidal sacculus.

Male genitalia (described here for the first time, Figs 16c–d ). Uncus spatulate, elongate, weakly constricted at middle, apex rounded; gnathos gradually curved, sickle-shaped, equal in length to uncus, extending to 2/3 length of tegumen; tegumen almost parallel-sided, anterior margin with broad triangular emargination; cucullus moderately broad in basal half, then gradually widening towards the rounded apex, extending to the tip of uncus; valvella 1/3– 1/4 length of cucullus, gradually broadened apically; sacculus approximately 1/2 length of valva, weakly sigmoidal, with a curved tip pointed outwardly; juxta processes straight, of uniform width, equal in length to sacculus; saccus short, subrectangular, anterior margin weakly concave; phallus slightly shorter than tegumen and uncus, gradually broadened from base to 1/4 length, then parallel-sided, with lateral cornutus that exceeds the tip of phallus.

Distribution. DR Congo: North Kivu Province.

Figures

FIGURES 12–16. 12. Dichomeris opalina (Ghesquière, 1940), holotype, male. 12a, adult. 12b, labels. 13. Dichomeris pammiges (Ghesquière, 1940), holotype, male. 13a, adult. 13b, labels. 13c, head, lateral view. 13d, male genitalia. 13e, phallus. 14. Dichomeris phaeothina (Ghesquière, 1940), holotype, female. 14a, adult. 14b, labels. 14c, head, lateral view. 14d, female genitalia. 15. Dichomeris phaeothina (Ghesquière, 1940), paratype, female. 15a, adult. 15b, labels. 16. Dichomeris symbolistis (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, male. 16a, adult. 16b, labels. 16c, male genitalia. 16d, phallus.