Nemophora punctifasciella Kozlov, 2024

Kozlov, Mikhail V., 2024, Fairy moths of the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Adelidae) from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, Zootaxa 5423 (1), pp. 1-66 : 25-26

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5423.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:622D5264-DBE2-463B-9A8C-AD1C77C90254
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F581327C-E0C6-4A86-A05D-41E6DD3B08FD
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:F581327C-E0C6-4A86-A05D-41E6DD3B08FD
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Nemophora punctifasciella Kozlov
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Nemophora punctifasciella Kozlov , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F581327C-E0C6-4A86-A05D-41E6DD3B08FD

( Figs. 24 View FIGURES 17–24 , 25 View FIGURES 25–32 , 72 View FIGURES 63–88 , 98 View FIGURES 94–99 , 116 View FIGURES 116–118 )

Holotype ♂: Indonesia, Sumbawa Island (approx. 9° S, 118° E); labelled: 8 mm circle with red border, print GoogleMaps ‘ Holo- │ type’; 7 × 12 mm, print + black ink ‘SAMBAWA, │ above 3000 ft. │ Doherty, 1891. │ No. 41702’; 7 × 10 mm, print ‘Walsingham │ Collection. │ 1910-427.’; 7 × 17 mm, black frame, black ink + print ‘ Nemotois Typ │ punctifasciata ♂ │ W │ Named by Wlsm.’; 8 × 13 mm, print ‘B. M. │ Genitalia slide │ No. 29481’; 8 × 20 mm, print ‘ HOLOTYPE ♂ │ Nemophora punctifas- │ ciella Kozlov, 1999’ ( NHM) . Paratype. 1 ♂, labelled: 6 × 19 mm, print ‘ Thailand, │ Sam Ngao │ at Bhumipol Dam │ 6. –8.xi. 1979 │ Zool. Mus. Copenhagen Exped.’; 6.5 × 20 mm, print ‘ PARATYPE ♂ │ Nemophora punctifa- │ sciella Kozlov, 2023 ’ ( ZMUC) [examined] .

Diagnosis. Nemophora punctifasciella is similar to N. chrysocrossa ( Meyrick, 1922) , from which it differs by the presence of small ochreous spot at the outer margin of the forewing fascia, more distant position of the ochreous band of forewing fascia, internal margin of which reaches costa at 0.43–0.46 × FWL, larger interocular index (1.45–1.55) and the presence of light grey rings on the medial part of flagellum in male antenna. The differences in male genitalia between N. punctifasciella and N. chrysocrossa are less pronounced than in external traits; they include widely rounded apices of valvae (see from ventral side; pointed in N. chrysocrossa ), wide medial process of transtilla (narrow in N. chrysocrossa ), and smooth, U-shaped connection between ventral valvar margins (nearly rectangular in N. chrysocrossa ). Nemophora punctifasciella also resembles N. nigripunctella ( Fig. 30 View FIGURES 25–32 ), from which it differs by the ochreous colour of small spot adjacent to the external margin of fascia (this spot is dark brown to black in N. nigripunctella ), the presence of large yellow spot at the costal margin of hindwing, and the presence of silver-grey band at the inner side of fascia.

Description. Male ( Figs. 24 View FIGURES 17–24 , 25 View FIGURES 25–32 ). FWL 5.6–6.5 mm; WLR 0.39. Vertex dark ochreous; frons almost completely naked, marginally with dark ochreous scales. PLB 0.3–0.4 × vertical eye diameter (0.8–0.9 × length of scape), dark brown. Proboscis brown. Interocular index 1.45–1.55; occipital distance <0.05. Antenna 2.3–2.7 × FWL. Scape ochreous brown; basal part of flagellum (up to 0.4 × FWL) with blackish scales; distal part of flagellum brown, with distinct light grey rings within 0.65 × length of antenna. Tegulae and thorax dark brown, brilliant shining. Forewing ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 63–88 ) indigo blue, scattered with matt dark brown scales; dark brown spot at base of costa almost indistinguishable. Fascia consists of medial ochreous band bordered on both sides by shining silver-grey bands with dark brown margins; external borders of these margins rather suffuse. Internal margin of ochreous band reaches costa at 0.43–0.46 × FWL; width of ochreous band at costal margin 0.06–0.15 × FWL, at the dorsal margin 0.12–0.13 × FWL. Apical part of forewing with small ochreous spot adjacent to external margin of fascia at 0.35–0.38 × forewing width. Fringe purplish brown. Hindwing brown, basally grey; costal area grey; R and M1 stalked; fringe grey. Legs brown; distal parts of tarsomeres light ochreous brown. Epiphysis at 0.4, not reaching apex of tibia. Abdomen light brown dorsally, dark brown ventrally.

Female unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 98 View FIGURES 94–99 , 116 View FIGURES 116–118 ). Tegumen dome-shaped, wide, with small medial ridge. Socii elongate, 1.0 × diameter of phallus. Vinculum 2.9–3.4 × length of valva, V-shaped, with slightly convex lateral margins and Wshaped distal margin.Tip of tegumen extends beyond tips of valvae. Ventral valvar margin with prominent (0.55–0.65 × length of valva) ventrally directed lobe (see from side); dorsal valvar margin almost straight; tip of valva narrowly rounded. Valvae fused basally up to 0.1–0.2 × total length; internal valvar margins indistinct. Anellus 0.2 × length of valva, with narrow proximal margin (1.0–1.5 × diameter of phallus, see from ventral side). Transtilla with short medial process. Juxta 0.40–0.45 × length of phallus; arrow head narrow to moderately wide (WLR 0.4–0.6), with rounded tip and short rounded lateral arms. Phallus 1.1 × length of vinculum, nearly straight to gently C-shaped, with two well-sclerotised, apically hook-shaped carinae articulated at 0.60–0.65 × length of phallus (counting from its base). Tip of phallus spoon-shaped, directed ventrally; base narrowly funnel-shaped.

Distribution. Thailand (this study), Indonesia (this study).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from punctum (Latin: point) and fascia (Latin: band) and refers to a diagnostic trait of forewing pattern.

Comments. Although Walsingham clearly labelled the holotype, he never published the description of this species. According to a notebook by Walsingham (kept in NHM), the holotype was not collected in 1891 but in 1892. The paratype (from Thailand) is in bad condition (mouldy) and may actually belong to another species than the holotype (from Indonesia) .