Teliphasa spinosa Li

Liu, Linjie, Wang, Yiping & Li, Houhun, 2016, Taxonomic review of the genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888 from China, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae), ZooKeys 554, pp. 119-137 : 123-124

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Pyralidae

Teliphasa spinosa Li sp. n. Figs 5, 13, 21

Type material.

Holotype ♂ - CHINA, Tengchong County (25.29°N, 98.70°E), Yunnan Province, 2144 m, 15.viii.2014, leg. Kaijian Teng, Shurong Liu and Hua Rong, genitalia slide No. LLJ15172.

Paratypes - 2♂, 2♀, Nankang, Baoshan, Yunnan Province, 2009 m, 8-10.vii.2014, other same date as holotype.

Diagnosis.

This species is different from its congeners by the valva triangularly protruding dorso- and ventro-apically and the juxta with clustered spines in the male genitalia. This species is similar to Teliphasa hamata sp. n. superficially, but can be differentiated by the subrhombic uncus, the approximately fan-shaped valva, and the phallus with one cornutus in the male genitalia. In Teliphasa hamata sp. n., the uncus is trapeziform, the valva is subrhombic, and the phallus has two cornuti in the male genitalia.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 5): Wingspan 34.0-38.0 mm. Head brown, tinged with white scales. Labial palpus blackish brown mixed with white, white at apices of second and third segments; third segment slender, about 1/3 length of second. Maxillary palpus blackish brown, with a few white scales, short, slightly upturned. Antenna with scape brown mottled black, or blackish brown mixed with white; flagellum alternately yellowish brown and deep brown. Thorax and tegula blackish brown, with white scales. Forewing tinged with pale olive-green luster; basal area blackish brown, mixed with black and white scales, with two subrounded white spots near base; median area white, with scattered pale brown and blackish brown scales, with dense brown and blackish brown scales from costa diffused to above cell, forming a narrow elongate dark streak; distal area deep brown, with black scales; costa with a white spot at outside of postmedian line, spreading to R5, mixed with pale brown; antemedian line black, extending from costal 1/4 obliquely inward to scale tuft near base, then obliquely outward to 1/3 on dorsum; postmedian line black, extending from costal 2/3 slightly oblique outward to R5, then running slightly oblique inward to dorsal 2/3, its inner margin more or less serrated; discal spot almost circular, smaller than discocellular spot; discocellular spot nearly trapeziform; terminal line white, with ill-defined subrectangular black spots uniformly placed along its inner side, interrupted by grayish white mixed with blackish brown or brown scales at veins; cilia yellowish brown to brown, blackish brown along extension of veins. Hindwing with basal 3/4 white, distal 1/4 deep brown; discocellular spot pale grayish brown; cilia yellowish brown or brown. Legs brownish yellow, mixed with white, brown and black scales; tarsi with each tarsomere white apically, except black at apex of last tarsomere. Abdomen blackish brown with white, intersegment white.

Male genitalia (Fig. 13). Uncus transversally subrhombic. Gnathos slightly dilated in basal 1/3, then gradually narrowed to gently hooked apex; about 1/3 length of scaphium. Valva approximately fan-shaped, triangularly protruding dorso- and ventro-apically. Costa narrow, elongate triangular, reaching valva apically. Sacculus narrowly banded, wide basally, narrowed distally, reaching ventral 4/5 length of valva. Transtilla joined medially in a knot. Juxta nearly circular, heavily sclerotized, with clustered spines. Saccus separated. Phallus curved at middle; cornutus a long plate, narrow basally, serrated along dorsal margin of distal half and on apex.

Female genitalia (Fig. 21). Papillae anales subrectangular, densely setose. Eighth tergite weakly sclerotized at middle posteriorly, with setae, anterior margin wavy, obvi ously concave medially; eighth sternite produced to paired triangular plates, separated medially, strongly sclerotized. Apophyses anteriores about same length as apophyses posteriores, dilated basally, gradually thinned distally, thicker than apophyses posteriores. Antrum subquadrate, slightly thicker than ductus bursae. Ductus bursae stout, strongly sclerotized, with clustered granules on inner surface; about 2/5 length of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae pyriform; signum semicircular, strongly sclerotized, with dense spines.

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin spinosus (with many spines), in reference to the juxta with clustered spines in the male genitalia.

Remarks.

The labial palpus of this species is not sexual dimorphic. The shape and pattern of wing is consistent with the diagnostic characters of Teliphasa , and the male genitalia resemble other congeners in having a paired gnathos, the roundly expanded valva, and the separated inverted triangular saccus. Therefore, we regard this species as a new species of Teliphasa and describe it here.