Torodora pistillia Park & Minet, 2023

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo, Minet, Joël & Razafindranaivo, Victor, 2023, Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) of Madagascar: I. Descriptions of eighteen new species of Torodora Meyrick, 1894, Zootaxa 5264 (2), pp. 151-184 : 171-172

12. Torodora pistillia Park & Minet , sp. nov.

( Fig. 14 )

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:613144BC-E766-492A-AE4F-6B00EDE39206

Type specimen. Holotype: Male, East Madagascar, road to Anosibe [Anosibe An’ala] at km 26, Sandrangato forest , 15 xii [19]54, leg. P. Viette; gen. slide no. CIS-7378 (in MNHN).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to the preceding new species ( T. unicolorella Park & Koo , sp. nov.) in external and genital characters. This species has a larger wingspan, and its forewing possesses a faintly indicated postmedian band. The male genitalia are also similar to those of T. unicolorella sp. nov., as noted in the diagnose of the latter.

Description. Male ( Figs. 14A–C ). Wingspan, 20.0 mm. Head: pale brownish orange centrally, with creamywhite, long erect scales laterally. Antenna slightly longer than forewing; scape elongated, dark brown dorsally, golden yellow laterally; flagellum golden yellow, without annulations. 2 nd segment of labial palpus thickened, brownish orange on outer surface, golden yellow ventrally, paler on inner surface; 3 rd segment strongly upturned, as long as 2 nd segment. Thorax: tegula and thorax brownish orange dorsally. Hind tibia with dark-brown rough scales dorsally, creamy white ventrally and apically. Forewing dilated distally; ground color brownish orange; postmedian band weakly indicated; costa oblique beyond 3/4 of costa; apex produced; termen concave below apex; fringe concolorous with ground color; venation with R 5 to termen; base of M 2 remote from M 3 +CuA 1; M 3 entirely merged with CuA 1. Hind wing ground color similar to that of the forewing; one vein absent, M 3 and CuA 1 being coincident; M 2 and M 3+ CuA 1 stalked for basal 1/4. Abdomen: brownish orange dorsally and creamy white on tergum VIII ( Fig. 14F ).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 14D, E ): Uncus elongated, slightly broadened proximally, narrowed towards apex from middle, slightly exceeding caudal margin of basal plate of gnathos. Basal plate of gnathos somewhat pentagonal but narrowly produced apically. Tegumen weakly sclerotized, deeply concave on anterior margin. Valva broad basally, then abruptly oblique; sacculus broad at base, narrowed apically; cucullus narrowed in proximal 2/3 with expansion in half, dilated in distal third, rather upturned. Juxta with small, triangular latero-caudal processes. Vinculum a narrow band.Aedeagus stout, as broad as basal part of valva, its dorsal margin slightly produced apically; cornuti consisting of a pair of plates (triangularly broadened at base and measuring about half length of aedeagus) and a series of spinules.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Madagascar Madagascar (eastern region).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin substantive pistillum, -i (= a pestle), referring to the club-shaped appearance of the cucullus in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Torodora pistillia Park & Minet, sp. nov.: A, adult, male (holotype); B, head with labial palpus, lateral view; C, hind tibia; D, male genitalia (slide no. CIS-7378); E, ditto, aedeagus; F, abdomen.