Mesophleps undulatella, Li & Sattler, 2012

Li, Houhun & Sattler, Klaus, 2012, A taxonomic revision of the genus Mesophleps Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) 3373, Zootaxa 3373, pp. 1-82 : 47-48

Mesophleps undulatella sp. nov.

( Figs 56, 81, 109, 140)

♂, ♀. Wingspan 13.0–19.5 mm. Labial palpus segment 2 brown, distally with white ring, 3 whitish grey, sometimes apex black. Antenna with scape white to greyish brown, flagellum alternating whitish grey and brown. Forewing brown, with ochreous yellow longitudinal stripe from base to about distal fifth; costa dark brown in distal threefifths, markings indistinct, if present; three black terminal dots, sometimes two smaller pre-apical dots on costa.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 81). Uncus large, widest in middle, distal margin V-shaped between broadly rounded corners; gnathos hooks blunt, apex reaching middle of uncus; tegumen short, bulging, anterior margin moderately concave, pedunculi long, curved; vinculum round, distal part relatively narrow, sclerotized edge of posterior margin medially broadened; diaphragma beneath exit hole of phallus with broad setose moderately sclerotized area; phallus evenly tapered from bulbous base to apex, with tiny ventral tooth just beyond juxta.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 109, 140). Dorso-posterior margin of segment VIII slightly convex between pair of strongly sclerotized pits; antrum long, broadly funnel-shaped, posterior margin convex, medially concave or with small notch; ductus bursae short, less than twice length of apophyses anteriores; corpus bursae elongate ovate, length about twice greatest width, slightly longer than ductus bursae; ductus seminalis from bulge of corpus bursae near entrance of ductus bursae.

Remarks. M. undulatella resembles truncatella in this group, but can be readily distinguished from it by the larger size of the adult. The male is characterized by the very broad, distally concave uncus and the short blunt gnathos hooks. The female genitalia differ from those of truncatella in the long tubular rather than short triangular antrum.

Biology. Host-plant: Leucaena (‘giant Leucaena ’) (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae ). The larva lives in the seed pods.

Distribution. Papua New Guinea.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word undulatus (undulated) and postfix - ellus, in reference to the sinuate caudal margin of the uncus in the male genitalia.

Material examined (7 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, including 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ genitalia preparations)

Holotype ♂, Papua New Guinea, E. Highlands, Goroka , 5200 ft, 10–21.vii.1974 (Classey) (genitalia slide no. 30966; BMNH).

Paratypes. Papua New Guinea: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Morobe District, Wau , 4000 ft, 26–31.vii.1974 (Classey) ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, as holotype but 10–24.vi, 10–21.vii, 21.vii..1974 (Classey); 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, E. Highlands, Kenimaro Plantation, Bena area , 4500 ft, 14.vii.1974 (Classey) ; 1 ♀, Bulolo, Geschis Nurs. , ex pods of giant Leucaena , 6.v.1983 (Roberts) .