Promalactis auriculata Wang, 2024

Wang, Shuxia, Liu, Chen & David, Lees, 2024, Partial revision of Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), based on specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 1-58 : 13

Promalactis auriculata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 11 , 44 )

Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, Khao Yai NP , 200 m, 17.IV.1987, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010316894 .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other species of the group by the uncus with an ear-like process near the base laterally, and the valva with a large spine on the ventral margin near the apex that is directed downward and longer than the medial width of the valva.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 11 ). Forewing length 3.5 mm.

Head. Vertex snowy white, frons grey, occiput deep ochreous brown. Labial palpus with second segment yellowish brown on outer surface, pale yellow on inner surface; third segment black. Antennal scape shining white dorsally, grey ventrally; flagellum black, with white annuli dorsally.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula deep ochreous brown. Forewing deep ochreous brown; basal fascia white edged with black scales, extending from dorsum obliquely inward to above base of fold; antemedian fascia white edged with black scales, extending from middle of dorsum obliquely inward to basal 2/5 of anterior margin of cell, slightly widened anteriorly, parallel with basal fascia; costal spot white edged with sparse black scales, triangular, extending from distal 1/4 to above posterior angle of cell; tornal spot black, triangular, reaching below posterior angle of cell; apical spot blackish grey, ovate, sparsely diffused along termen to tornus; fringe orange yellow around apex, blackish grey on distal part of costal margin and around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur and tibia white ventrally, tibia with white spot basally and medially, with a tuft of white scales apically, tarsus white at apex of basal tarsomere; midleg white ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of white scales apically, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; hindleg whitish yellow ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal four tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 44 ). Uncus triangular, wide at base, narrowed to rounded apex, with an ear-like process near base on lateral margin. Gnathos slightly longer than uncus; mesial plate short, triangular, wide at base, narrowed to apex, heavily sclerotized distally. Tegumen furcate from posterior 2/3, with a broad triangular anterior emargination. Valva wide at base, slightly narrowed to basal 2/5, thereafter uniformly wide to rounded apex, ventral margin with a large spine near apex, directed downward, longer than medial width of valva; sacculus reaching middle length of valva, with setae distally. Saccus sub-triangular, wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex, as long as uncus. Juxta membranous, narrowly rounded at anterior end. Phallus 2 times length of valva, slender, slightly tapered distally; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Thailand.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin auriculatus, referring to the ear-shaped lateral processes of the uncus.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Adults of Promalactis spp. 9. P. inaequilonga sp. nov.; 10. P. pallidistriata sp. nov.; 11. P. auriculata sp. nov.; 12. P. furciuncata sp. nov.; 13. P. gracilenta sp. nov.; 14. P. lativalva sp. nov.; 15. P. longiclavata sp. nov.; 16. P. parvispinata sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 40–45. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 40. P. arcilineata sp. nov.; 41. P. curvilineata sp. nov.; 42. P. inaequilonga sp. nov.; 43. P. pallidistriata sp. nov.; 44. P. auriculata sp. nov.; 45. P. furciuncata sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar: 40–44 = 0.2 mm; 45 = 0.25 mm.