Mesophleps coffeae, 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 : 44-45

Mesophleps coffeae sp. nov.

( Figs 8, 51, 52, 107, 137)

♂, ♀. Wingspan 8.0–16.5 mm. Labial palpus segment 2 black, distally with white ring, 3 white, sometimes extreme apex black. Antenna with scape and basal one-third of flagellum white, remainder of flagellum alternatively ringed greyish white and light brown. Forewing whitish yellow to greyish brown, with distinct discocellular spot.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 8). Uncus rounded, gnathos hooks short, at base approximated but distinctly separated; posterior margin of vinculum with pair of strong, outwardly-directed spines; phallus straight, base swollen, more evenly tapered, not abruptly constricted, apex obliquely truncated.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 107, 137). Dorso-posterior extension of segment VIII broadly sub-triangular with large field of microtrichia. Area around ostium bursae with sparse, predominantly longitudinal wrinkles, sclerotized antrum short, tubular to weakly tapered anteriorly; corpus bursae long, oval, length two to three times greatest width; ductus seminalis thin, arising from posterior part of corpus bursae well away from entrance of ductus bursae.

Remarks. M. coffeae externally resembles nairobiensis but the dark costal stripe of the forewing is narrower and less distinct. In the male the uncus is rounded, almost circular, rather than oval as in nairobiensis (sub-triangular in albilinella ), the gnathos hooks are shorter, more widely separated, the outwardly-directed spines on the posterior margin of the vinculum are longer and the phallus is slimmer. In the female the cover of microtrichia on the dorso-posterior extension of segment VIII is more extensive than in the other two species; however, this character requires observation under high magnification.

Biology. Host-plants: Coffea liberica , Coffea sp. (Rubiaceae) . The record of Coffea quillou for M. palpigera ( Yunus & Ho 1980: 69, 307; Robinson et al. 2001: 263) may also apply to M. coffeae . The larva lives in the dry berries.

Distribution. China ( Hong Kong), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sulawesi Utara), Timor (‘Portuguese Timur’).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the host-plant genus Coffea .

Material examined (8 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, including 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ genitalia preparations)

Holotype ♂, Thailand, Chiang Mai, 750 m, 11.xii.1985 (Allen) (slide no. 30801; BMNH).

Paratypes. China: 1 ♂ , Hong Kong (New Territories), Pat Sin Range , 300 m, 15–17.iii.1982 (Robinson) . Thailand: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ , Uthai Thani District, Khao Nang Rum , 400 m, 26–27.i.1987 (Allen) (♂ NKUM) ; 1 ♂, Phua Rua National Park , 14–15.ii.1990 (Bradley, Fletcher & Lewvanich) . Malaysia: 1 ♂ , Morib , ex dry berry of Coffea liberica , 11.xii.1935 (Entom. Div.) ; 2 ♂♂, Kuang , ex fruits of Coffea sp. (Miller) . Indonesia : 1 ♀, Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone National Park , lowland forest, 200–300 m, iii.1985 (R. Ent. Soc. London, Project Wallace). Timor (‘ Portuguese Timur’) : 1 ♂, 1892 (Doherty).