Meleonoma acutata, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species (II), Zootaxa 4881 (2), pp. 257-289 : 260-261

Meleonoma acutata sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 25 , 47 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A899B420-45AF-4C23-8882-AB6E3E9BA24E

Type material. CHINA, Chongqing: Holotype ♂, Mt. Simian (28.62°N, 106.40°E), 1280 m, 14.VII.2012, leg. YH Sun & AH Yin, slide No. YAH15111 ( NKU) . Paratypes (11♂ 7♀): 9♂ 4♀, 13–14.VII.2012, other same data as holo-type, slide No. YAH12315 ♀; Zhejiang: 1♂ 1♀, Yanping, Mt. Jiulong , 530 m, 4.VII.2013, leg. AH Yin & XC Wang, slide No. YAH15102 ♂; 1♂ 2♀, Huangtanyu, Mt. Jiulong , 467 m, 8–9.VII.2013, leg. AH Yin & XC Wang ( NKU) .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. compacta sp. nov., M. segregnatha sp. nov. and M. flavifasciana Kitajima et Sakamaki, 2019 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished from M. compacta and M. segregnatha by the valva smooth on the ventral margin, the saccus acute at apex and the aedeagus without compact fine spines distally; while the valva has denticles on ventral margin in M. compacta and has a tuberous process on ventral margin in M. segregnatha , the saccus is not acute at apex and the aedeagus has tightly compact fine spines distally in M. compacta and M. segregnatha . It can be distinguished from M. flavifasciana by the valva slightly narrowed from base to apex and the saccus about 1.7 times the length of the uncus; in M. flavifasciana , the valva is widened distally and the saccus is 7.5 times the length of the uncus ( Kitajima & Sakamaki 2019: 41, figs 14‾15).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 3 ). Forewing length 4.0‾ 4.5 mm.

Head greyish black, frons yellow. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with greyish-brown ring at distal 1/4 and at apex respectively; third segment with a greyish-brown ring medially. Scape of antenna yellow mixed with greyish brown; flagellum greyish brown, alternated with yellow on ventral surface.

Thorax and tegula greyish brown. Forewing broad lanceolate, ground colour greyish brown; costal margin with inner yellow spot at basal 1/3, sub-rectangular, crossing middle of cell posteriorly, outer yellow spot at distal 1/4, triangular, with a black dot in middle anteriorly; dorsal yellow spot smallest; fold with a black spot at basal 3/5 and a smaller one at end; cell with distinct large black spot at anterior and posterior angles respectively, between them set a yellow spot; fringe blackish brown. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, fore coxa and femora of fore- and midlegs with scattered blackish-brown scales, tarsi of fore- and midlegs blackish brown except yellow at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, hind tarsus blackish brown except yellow at apex of each tarsomere, all tibiae blackish brown except yellow apically.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ). Uncus conic, straight, narrowed to obtuse apex distally. Gnathos weakly sclerotized laterally, not exceeding anterior margin of tegumen. Tegumen elongate, widened medially; lateral arm narrowed to narrowly rounded apex, with strong setae laterally. Valva wide at base, slightly narrowed to obtuse apex, with dense strong setae distally; ventral margin heavily sclerotized, with a small denticle before ventroapical corner; costa slightly concave in basal half; transtilla absent. Sacculus not separated from valva, wide at base, slightly narrowed to apex, shorter than wide; apex obtuse, with tiny denticles, heavily sclerotized, setose. Saccus triangular, acute at apex, about 1.7 times length of uncus. Juxta narrow, arched. Aedeagus slightly longer than valva, uniformly wide medially; distal 1/3 partly membranous, produced to a large process ventrally; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 47 ). Papillae anales semicircular, setose. Apophyses posteriores approximately twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth tergite slightly concave medially on posterior margin, roundly produced posterolaterally, broadly concave medially on anterior margin. Eighth sternal plate spiculate, deeply and narrowly concave medially on posterior margin, concave in broad V-shape on anterior margin, forming two kidney-shaped plates. Lamella antevaginalis smooth and sclerotized posteriorly, reticulate anteriorly. Antrum narrowly banded, arched backward. Ductus bursae curved, membranous, widened medially. Corpus bursae nearly as long as ductus bursae, rounded, spiculate; signum at bottom of corpus bursae, elliptical, with dense denticles, one denticle larger.

Distribution. China (Chongqing, Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin acutatus, referring to the acute apex of the saccus.

Figures

FIGURES 3–8. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 3, M. acutata sp. nov., ♂; 4, M. basiprocessa sp. nov., ♂; 5, M. bicornea sp. nov., ♂; 6, M. bidigitata sp. nov., ♂; 7, M. circinans sp. nov., ♂; 8, M. compacta sp. nov., ♂. All holotypes. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 25–30. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 25, M. acutata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15102; 26, M. basiprocessa sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15170; 27, M. bicornea sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15106; 28, M. bidigitata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15459; 29, M. circinans sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15397; 30, M. compacta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15073. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 47–51. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 47, M. acutata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15315, 47a, enlarged view of signum; 48, M. cuneata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH12303; 49, M. flavilineata, slide No. ZXJ19137; 50, M. forcipata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15518; 51, M. mecobursoides sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19157. Scales = 0.5 mm, except 47a = 0.1 mm.