Hampsonola ceciliae, László & Sterling, 2020

László, Gyula M. & Sterling, Mark, 2020, Illustrated checklist of Nolinae (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) of Hong Kong, China, with description of two new species, Ecologica Montenegrina 33, pp. 35-58 : 56-57

Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n. ( Figs 3 , 73 )

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D1D25606-C285-4B13-B85A-8814F14EB1A0

Holotype: Male , China, Hong Kong, Nam Chung Valley , end of Nam Chung Rd., UTM: 50Q KK 132 920, 150m asl, 125W mv, Secondary forest, 23.4.2013, leg. M.J. Sterling, slide No.: LGN 2896 (coll. M. Sterling).

Diagnosis. Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n. is reminiscent of H. sapatagka ( László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2014) due to the similarly pale yellowish forewing with blurred, shadow-like transverse lines, but considerably smaller in size (wingspan of the new species is 10 mm, that of H. sapatagka is 14-15 mm) and its forewing ground colour has a somewhat greenish grey tone unlike the somewhat reddish shade of the forewing of H. sapatagka . In the male genitalia, the new species has markedly shorter uncus, much wider dorsal lobe (cucullus) and considerably shorter and narrower ventral lobe of valva, somewhat more robust and thicker, apically pointed harpe (that of H. sapatagka is apically rounded), considerably longer vinculum compared to those of H. sapatagka . In addition, H. ceciliae has straight, subapically laced aedeagus, while that of H. sapatagka is evenly arcuate and gradually tapered apically. Due to the configuration of the male genitalia, namely the similarly reduced uncus, H. ceciliae shows closer relationship to H. donglashanensis ( Hu, Han, László, Ronkay & Wang, 2014) but distinguished by its somewhat longer tegumen, much smaller ventral lobe of valva, considerably thicker, more robust harpe and markedly longer vinculum compared to those of H. donglashanensis . In addition, the aedeagus of the new species is straight, subapically laced, while that of its congener is evenly curved, apically suddenly narrowed ( Hu et al. 2014). Despite the similarities in their genitalia, the external appearance of H. ceciliae and H. donglashanensis are somewhat dissimilar as the latter species is larger in size (with wingspan of 15 mm, that of H. ceciliae is 10 mm only) having white forewing with brownish median area while the forewing of the new species is pale yellowish with some greyish green shade, without darker median area.

Description.

Adult. ( Fig. 3 ). Very small moth, forewing length of holotype 5 mm. Antenna of male bipectinate. Head relatively large, labial palps very small, three segmented, somewhat downward pointing, basal segment very short, second segment more than twice length of third with a thick quadrangular tuft of pale ochreous scales, third segment short and reasonably broad with pale ochreous scaling; frons and vertex pale brownish grey; compound eyes moderately large, globular. Thorax brownish grey, abdomen creamy white.

Forewing rather narrow, triangular, apically rounded. Forewing ground colour pale yellowish grey, with somewhat greenish tone. Subbasal, basal, antemedial and medial transverse lines diffuse, shadow-like, represented by patches of pale greenish grey scales, medial line conspicuously broad. Orbicular stigma small and indistinct, somewhat rectangular in shape with a small number of slightly raised dark brown scales. Postmedial line markedly fine, relatively sharply defined by dark greenish grey scales, costal section gently arcuate, medial section angled towards termen, ventral section slightly s-curved. Subterminal line rather broad, diffuse, interrupted, shadow-like, consisted of pale greenish grey patches of different size; terminal line deleted; terminal area somewhat paler than other parts of the forewing; cilia pale greyish yellow.

Hindwing pale yellowish white slightly brownish at the outer margin; cell spot absent; cilia yellowish white suffused by some greyish hair scales.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 73 ). Uncus strongly reduced, very short, triangular, apically pointed; tegumen medium long, rather narrow, distally slightly dilated; subscaphium short, membranous, with weak, arcuate lateral sclerotization; transtillae relatively broad, medially fused, ribbon-like; fultura inferior relatively large, cordiform; valva relatively short, medially shortly incised, costal lobe (cucullus) relatively broad, apically rounded, membranous, costal margin weakly sclerotized; ventral lobe rather short, apically broadly rounded, widely scobinated subapically; harpe large, robust, heavily sclerotized, broad at base, slightly curved dorsally, gradually tapering, apically pointed; sacculus very narrow, represented by the thickened valval ventral margin; vinculum rather wide, medium long, broad V-shaped. Aedeagus short, tubular, straight, caecum penis short, medially tapered, apically rounded; aedeagus conspicuously laced subapically on ventral side, carina sclerotized, without process.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The new species is named after Cecily Kendrick, the wife of Dr. Roger Kendrick, who is an accomplished Hong Kong botanist and is writing the Chinese text of the Illustrated Guide to the Moths of Hong Kong.

Figures

Figures 1-15. Adults (Hong Kong, in coll. NHMUK). 1, 2: Casminola johannstumpfi ♂, ♀; 3: Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n. holotype ♂; 4, 5: Inouenola pallescens ♂, ♀; 6: Manoba fasciatus ♀; 7, 8: M. grisealis ♀, ♀; 9: M. lativittata ♀; 10, 11: M. melancholica ♂, ♀; 12: M. tristicta ♂; 13: Meganola brunellus ♂; 14: M. tenebrosa ♂; 15: M. triangulalis ♂.

Figures 71-79. Male genitalia (Hong Kong, in coll. NHMUK). 71: Casminola johannstumpfi LGN 2871; 72: Inouenola pallescens LGN 2891; 73: Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n., holotype LGN 2896; 74: Manoba tristicta LGN 2877; 75: M. melancholica LGN 2884; 76: Meganola brunellus LGN 2885; 77: M. tenebrosa LGN 2888; 78: M. zolotuhini LGN 2887; 79: M. triangulalis LGN 2915.