Promalactis squamacea Wang, 2021

Wang, Shuxia & Liu, Chen, 2021, Taxonomic study of the genus Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) X. The commotica species-group, with descriptions of twenty-two new species, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 293-330 : 318-319

Promalactis squamacea Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 18 , 40 , 56 )

Type material. CHINA, Fujian: Holotype ♂, Mt. Wuyi , 740 m, 26.VII.2008, leg. WC Li et al., slide No. DZH12334.

Paratypes (2♂, 1♀): same data as holotype, except 25‒27. V.2008, slide Nos. DZH12246 ♂ , DZH12370 ♂ , DZH12245 ♀ .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other species of the group by the sub-rectangular gnathos, squamous distally and rounded apically in the male genitalia, and by the ductus bursae with about ten spines medially and the two large elongate elliptic signa full of squamous protuberances in the female genitalia.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 18 ). Forewing length 8.5‒9.0 mm.

Head: Vertex dark brown, frons slivery, occiput dark brown mottled with slivery. Labial palpus with first and second palpomeres pale yellow on inner surface, ocherous brown on outer surface; third palpomere black, white at base and apex. Antenna with scape slivery white except dark brown on anterior and posterior margins; flagellum slivery white alternated with black on dorsal surface, dark brown on ventral surface.

Thorax: Dorsum of mesothorax and tegula dark ocherous brown. Forewing dark ocherous brown, mottled with black scales on distal 1/4; markings slivery white, edged with black scales: costal spot triangular, from basal 3/5 reaching anterior angle of cell, with dense black scales anterolaterally; basal streak reaching base of fold discontinuously; antemedian streak from dorsal 2/5 extending to basal 1/3 of cell below anterior margin; dorsal streak from distal 1/3 oblique outward to before posterior angle of cell; tornal area with black scales diffused to costal spot; pretornal spot represented by a small dot; apical spot elliptic; terminal spot at posterior corner of termen, far from apical spot; fringe ocherous brown. Hindwing and fringe dark grey. Foreleg black, tibia with a white spot at base and middle, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; midleg dark grey ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a white spot at base, with a tuft of white scales at middle and apex respectively, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere; hindleg dark grey ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 40 ). Uncus sub-triangular, wide at base, narrowed to obtuse apex, with sparse setae on distal half laterally. Gnathos approximately 3/4 length of uncus; mesial plate narrow sub-rectangular, scaly on distal 1/3, rounded apically; basal arms widely banded, short. Tegumen furcate from posterior 2/3; lateral arms narrowed to rounded apex. Valva sub-rectangular, rounded at apex; costa concave at base, convex medially; sacculus wide at base, narrowed to basal 3/4, distal 1/3 slightly widened and with dense setae, apex pointed and curved dorsad. Saccus 1.8 times length of uncus, parallel-sided laterally, rounded apically. Juxta with lateral lobes gradually narrowed to apex, reaching base of uncus apically; basal lobe slender, clubbed, reaching anterior 1/3 of saccus. Aedeagus slightly shorter than valva; cornutus slender, shorter than half length of aedeagus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 56 ). Apophyses anteriores half as long as apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum weakly sclerotized, wide, short, with dense spines and sparse setae. Antrum large, broad, slightly narrowed from posterior 1/3. Ductus bursae approximately 2 times length of corpus bursae, posterior 1/3 slender, sclerotized dorsally and laterally, anterior 2/3 inflated, membranous from anterior 2/3 to 3/5, with about ten spines, sclerotized from anterior 3/5 to corpus bursae on dorsal surface. Corpus bursae membranous, sub-rounded; with two large, elongate elliptic signa, full of squamous protuberances, each protuberance bearing a short spine.

Distribution. China (Fujian).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin squamaceus, referring to the signa with squamous protuberances of the signum in the female genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 17‒22. Adults of Promalactis spp. 17, P. similibellatula, holotype, ♂; 18, P. squamacea, holotype, ♂; 19, P. stenognatha, holotype, ♂; 20, P. subgladiata, holotype, ♂; 21, P. tengchongensis, holotype, ♂; 22, P. triangulivalva, holotype, ♂. Scales = 2 mm.

FIGURES 40‒44. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 40, P. squamacea, holotype, slide No. DZH12334; 41, P. stenognatha, paratype, slide No. JYY17582; 42, P. subgladiata, holotype, slide No. LC19714; 43, P. tengchongensis, holotype, slide No. HXM14152; 44, P. triangulivalva, holotype, slide No. JYY17244. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 56‒58. Female genitalia of Promalactis spp. 56, P. squamacea, slide No. DZH12245; 57, P. stenognatha, slide No. JYY17847; 58, P. subgladiata, slide No. LC19767. All paratypes. Scales = 0.2 mm.