Mesophleps gigantella, 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 : 41

Mesophleps gigantella sp. nov.

( Figs 15, 47, 75, 103, 133)

♂, ♀. Wingspan 16.0–26.0 mm. Labial palpus segment 2 sub-triangular, dorsally with distinct scale tuft, brown to black, distally white, 3 very thin, about one-half length of 2, white, apex more or less ochre. Antenna with scape brown, flagellum alternating brown and black. Forewing broad, greyish white to yellowish brown, with scattered dark scales especially on dorsum, distinct blackish brown costal stripe wider in distal three-fifths, black spots along termen; black discocellular and discal spots present, faint black plical dash large, sometimes extended to dorsum.

Pregenital abdomen ( Fig. 15). In male posterior margin of SVIII deeply concave medially.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 75). Uncus narrow, long, rectangular; gnathos hooks stout, as long as uncus, strongly sclerotized, apex acute, ventrally connected by thin sclerotized transverse band; valva evenly narrow; tegumen short, almost elliptical; downturned distal part of vinculum about one-third its total length, sclerotized posterior margin relatively broad, nearly straight, medially with distinct notch; phallus with almost globular base, apical portion straight, blunt.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 103, 133). Papilla analis broad, short; dorso-posterior margin of segment VIII medially convex; apophyses anteriores about one-half length of apophyses posteriores; subostial plate trapezoid, caudal margin slightly concave; sclerotized antrum tubular, about one-half length of apophyses anteriores, distally tapered, spinelike; ductus bursae thin, straight, about three times length of apophyses anteriores; corpus bursae broadly oval, longer than ductus bursae; ductus seminalis thin, inception on corpus bursae separated from ductus bursae by small spiny signum.

Remarks. M. gigantella is the largest species in the genus, broad-winged and with a broad continuous costal stripe in the forewing. The male genitalia are characterized by the narrow sub-rectangular uncus and unusually strong, widely separated gnathos hooks whilst in the female the presence of a small sclerotized signum between the ductus bursae and the inception of the ductus seminalis is unique in Mesophleps .

Distribution. Kenya, Uganda.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word giganteus (gigantic) and postfix - ellus, in reference to this being the largest species in the genus Mesophleps .

Material examined (3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, including 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, genitalia preparations)

Holotype ♂, Kenya, Nairobi , Ololua Forest, vi.1982 (Dewhurst) (genitalia slide no. 30934; BMNH).

Paratypes. Kenya (‘ East Africa’): 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Kikuyu, Ibea , Escarpment , 7500–8500 ft, ix–x.1900 (Doherty) ; Uganda: 1 ♂, Ruwenzori Range , Ibanda, 4700 ft, 4–12.ix.1952 (Fletcher) .