Mesophleps geodes (Meyrick, 1929) 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 : 48-49

Mesophleps geodes (Meyrick, 1929) comb. nov.

( Figs 5, 16, 19, 20, 57, 82, 110, 141)

Bucolarcha geodes Meyrick, 1929 , Exot. Microlepid. 3: 515. Lectotype ♀, SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal, Weenen ,

xi.1927 (Thomasset) (slide no. 8543, Clarke; BMNH), designated by Clarke 1969a: 382 (as ‘Type’) [examined]. Bucolarcha geodes Meyrick ; Clarke 1969a: 382, pl. 190, figs 1–1d.

♂, ♀. Wingspan 10.5–18.5 mm. Labial palpus porrect, in lateral view broadly triangular, segment 2 with dorsal brush, 3 obscured in 2. Forewing with moderate pterostigma basad of R 1, R 3 approximated to common stalk of R 4+5 +M 1, M 3 and CuA 1 connate; in hindwing R 1 present, anastomosed with Sc near base of wing, Rs+M 1 on long common stalk, M 3 and CuA 1 approximated at base ( Fig. 5). Forewing uniformly dark brown, without markings.

Pregenital abdomen ( Figs 16, 19, 20). In male anterior margin of TIV–VIII with very broad transverse band of microtrichia, mid portion of posterior margin of band slightly concave; SVIII with pair of strong posterior processes; in female mid portion of posterior margin of transverse band more distinctly concave and posterior margin of SVII broadly V-shaped.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 82). Uncus medially constricted, distally rounded, spoon-shaped; gnathos with strong single hook, valva simple, apex almost level with apex of gnathos. Vinculum unusual, posterior margin evenly concave, broadly tapered to striking pair of robust spikes. Phallus with moderately swollen base, evenly tapered to sharp point.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 110, 141). Papillae anales sub-rectangular, width about three-times length, apophyses posteriores less than twice length of short apophyses anteriores. Dorso-posterior margin of segment VIII even. Ostium bursae membranous; antrum not sclerotized, ductus bursae of moderate length, wider towards oval corpus bursae; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae.

Remarks. B. geodes was described from three specimens representing both sexes: “ Bihar, Pusa, bred July from larva feeding in pod of Acacia catechu (Fletcher) ; Coorg, Dibidi, 3500 feet, December (Newcome); Natal, Weenen, November (Thomasset); 3 ex. ” The last specimen, a female, was labelled ‘Type’ in BMNH and was published as such by Clarke (1969a: 382); this is accepted here as constituting a valid lectotype designation. Newcome’s specimen from Dibidi could not be traced and there is some uncertainty with regard to the syntype from Pusa. In BMNH there are one male and two females from Pusa with more or less identical data, but it can be assumed that only the male, which was relabelled by Meyrick and retained in his own collection, was part of his original series; it is now labelled as a paralectotype. The two females bear T.B. Fletcher’s labels and almost certainly had not been seen by Meyrick, although one of them is labelled as a ‘paratype’.

M. geodes is highly specialized and differs from typical Mesophleps in several characters such as the porrect labial palpi, band of microtrichia on abdominal TVIII in addition to the usual TIV–VII of the male, simple gnathos, paired spikes on the posterior margin of the vinculum and the origin of the ductus seminalis on the ductus rather than the corpus bursae.

Biology. Host-plants: Acacia brevispica , A. catechu , A. farnesiana , Albizia lebbeck (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae ) ( Robinson et al. 2001: 87).

Distribution. South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), Malawi (‘Nyasaland’), Kenya, Pakistan, India.

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

South Africa: 1 ♀, lectotype (as above) . Malawi (‘ Nyasaland’ ): 2 ♀♀, ex seed pods of Albizia lebbeck (Lamborn) ; 1 ♂, bred iii.1933 (Lamborn). Kenya: 1 ♀, 30 km E of Nakuru , ex pods of Acacia brevispica , em. 27.vi.1990 (Marohasy) . Pakistan: 1 ♀, Islamabad , ex pod of Acacia farnesiana , em. 22.ix.1980 (unspecified) . India: 2 ♀♀, Bihar, Pusa , ex pods of Acacia catechu , em. 9.vii.1923 (Fletcher) ; 1 ♂, Bihar, Pusa , bred vii.1923 (Fletcher) (paralectotype) .