Scythropiodes asymmetricus Wang et Li

Wang, Qingyun & Li, Houhun, 2016, Review of the genus Scythropiodes Matsumura, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae, Oditinae) from China, with a checklist of the world, Zootaxa 4132 (3), pp. 301-329 : 321-323

Scythropiodes asymmetricus Wang et Li , sp. nov.

Figs 17 , 32 , 43

Diagnosis. This new species can be separated from its congeneric species by having asymmetrical valvae. It is similar to S. taedus sp. nov. in appearance by having a similar forewing pattern, but can be separated in the male genitalia by the transtilla with paired semioval lateral lobes, the subelliptical juxta, and the phallus with a weak elongate plate ( Fig. 32 ); and in the female genitalia by having one to five differently sized signa ( Fig. 43 a–c). In S. taedus sp. nov., the transtilla has stout digitate lateral lobes, the juxta is trapezoidal, and the phallus has no plate in the male genitalia ( Fig. 33 ); and the signum is absent in the female genitalia ( Fig. 44 ).

Type material. CHINA : Yunnan Province: Holotype Ƌ, Mengla County (21°35′N, 101°35′E), 652 m, 11.VII.2013, coll. Shurong Liu et al., genitalia slide no. WQY13019. Paratypes: 5 Ƌ, 6 ♀, same data as for holotype except dated 11–15.VII.2013; 2 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Ruili City, 1000 m, 5–8.VIII.2005, coll. Yingdang Ren; 1 ♀, Jingdong County, 1140 m, 20.VI.2013, coll. Zhenguo Zhang; 4 Ƌ, 3 ♀, Xishuangbanna, 762 m, 17–20.VII.2014, coll. Kaijian Teng et al. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: 1 Ƌ, Pingxiang City, 280 m, 19.IV.2012, coll. Xiaofei Yang. THAILAND: 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, 700 m, 7.I.1998, coll. W. Mey, deposited in MNHU.

Adult ( Fig. 17 ). Wingspan 12.0–15.0 mm. Head with vertex dark brown, frons yellowish white. Antenna with scape yellowish white; flagellum yellowish white at base, gradually deepening to dark brown toward tip. Labial palpus with second palpomere yellowish white except distal half dark brown on outer surface; third palpomere slightly shorter than second, pointed terminally, dark brown on inner surface, yellowish white on outer surface, with a black ring at base. Thorax and tegula dark brown. Forewing with costal margin almost straight; apex obtuse; termen obliquely truncate, slightly concave below apex; ground color dark brown; costal margin orange-yellow, forming a long streak; discal spot subelliptical, black; discocellular spot ill-defined, black; fold with a black spot set at middle; ill-defined black streak from below discocellular spot diffused to end of fold on dorsum; round black dots along distal part of costal margin and termen; cilia yellowish white, speckled with grey, grey at tornus. Hindwing grey; cilia grey, basal line yellowish white. Fore leg dark brown, with yellowish white rings on tarsus; mid leg with femur yellowish white, tibia and tarsus pale yellowish brown; hind leg yellowish white, tibia and tarsus bearing long yellowish white hairs.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Gnathos heavily sclerotized, hooked, pointed apically. Valva elongate, with a semicircular process at middle directing ventrad, bearing short hairs distally; valvae asymmetrical. Left valva subparallel, dorsal margin bluntly arched, distal 1/5 bifurcated into two stout digitate lobes equal in length ( Fig. 32 a), or ventral lobe shorter ( Fig. 32 b) or longer than dorsal one ( Fig. 32 c), ventral lobe bearing short strong setae distally; sacculus broad basally, narrowed toward apex, with dense fine hairs. Right valva with dorsal margin roundly arched medially, distal 1/5 bifurcated into two lobes of different length, ventral lobe with distal 2/3 dilated elliptically, bearing short strong setae distally, dorsal lobe subtriangular, about 1/3 length of ventral lobe; sacculus broad basally, narrowed to middle, distal half uniform. Transtilla with a pair of semioval lateral lobes bearing short setae distally. Juxta elliptical, anterior margin concave medially, posterior margin with two short lobes. Saccus semicircular. Phallus about 2/3 length of valva, curved; basal half semioval, with a weak elongate plate of numerous teeth, apex protruded dorsally.

Female genitalia ( Figs 43 ). Papillae anales rectangular, setose. Apophyses posteriores about 2.5 times length of apophysis anteriores. Eighth tergum with anterior margin protruded rhombically, heavily sclerotized. Seventh sternum enfolded laterally, with dense microtrichia on both sides; seventh sternum and tergum with dense microtrichia on both sides of anterior 1/3, about 2/3 width of seventh abdominal segment. Antrum cup-shaped, with dense spinules on inner surface. Ductus bursae membranous, about 1.2 times length of corpus bursae, curved at posterior 2/5; anterior 3/5 wide, posterior 2/5 narrow. Ductus seminalis arising from anterior 3/5 of ductus bursae, dilated and pyriform distally. Corpus bursae spherical, membranous; signa consisting of one to five differently sized small plates bearing denticles ( Figs 43 a–c).

Distribution. China (Guangxi, Yunnan), Thailand.

Etymology. The name of this species is derived from the Latin asymmetricus (asymmetrical), in reference to the asymmetrical male genitalia.

Remarks. Variations exist in the left valva of the male genitalia and in both number and shape of the components of the signum of the female genitalia in this new species, but other genital structures are constant. Hence, we consider these minor variations conspecific.

MAP 1. Distribution of Scythropiodes spp. in China . ● S. approximans (Caradja) ; ▼ S. dorsoprocessus sp. nov.; ¤ S. hamatellatus Park et Wu ; # S. jiulianae Park et Wu ; † S. tribula (Wu) .

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 18. Adults of Scythropiodes spp. 12, S. elasmatus Park et Wu, ♂; 13, S. oncinius Park et Wu, ♂; 14, S. malivora (Meyrick), ♂; 15 a, S. issikii (Takahashi), ♂; 15 b, S. issikii (Takahashi), ♂; 16, S. triangulus Park et Wu, ♂; 17, S. asymmetricus sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 18, S. taedus sp. nov., paratype, ♂. (Scale bars = 2.0 mm).

FIGURES 31 – 33. Male genitalia of Scythropiodes spp. 31, S. triangulus Park et Wu, genitalia slide No. WQY 14209; 32, S. asymmetricus sp. nov.: a – c, enlarged distal portion of left valva (a, holotype, genitalia slide No. WQY 13019; b, paratype, genitalia slide No. WQY 15005; c, paratype, genitalia slide No. WQY 14136); 33, S. taedus sp. nov., holotype, genitalia slide No. WQY 13023. (Scale bars = 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 43 – 44. Female genitalia of Scythropiodes spp. 43, S. asymmetricus sp. nov.: a – c, enlarged signa (a, paratype, genitalia slide No. WQY 14132; b, paratype, genitalia slide No. WQY 14202; c, paratype, genitalia slide No. WQY 14201); 44, S. taedus sp. nov., paratype, genitalia slide No. WQY 15002. (Scale bars = 1.0 mm).