Mesophleps unguella, 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 : 40

Mesophleps unguella sp. nov.

( Figs 46, 74, 102, 132)

♂, ♀. Wingspan 11.5–15.0 mm. Labial palpus segment 2 pale ochre, segment 3 as long as 2, white. Antenna evenly greyish white. Relatively broad-winged; forewing pale ochre, plical, discal and discocellular spots distinct or indistinct, several black spots along termen.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 74). Uncus moderately broad, distally rounded, very slightly constricted medially; gnathos hooks shorter than uncus, strongly sclerotized, robust, with swollen base, evenly tapered towards point; tegumen and valva unremarkable; vinculum relatively long, downturned distal part about one-third its total length, sclerotized posterior margin slightly sinuous; phallus short, basal three-fifths bulbous, distal two-fifths narrow, slightly curved.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 102, 132). Segment VIII broad and short, dorso-posterior margin medially convex. Sclerotized antrum short, funnel-shaped, posterior margin moderately concave; ductus bursae thin, about twice length of apophyses anteriores; corpus bursae elongate oval, about length of ductus bursae; ductus seminalis very thin, arising from corpus bursae near entrance of ductus bursae.

Remarks. M. unguella differs from the other two species in this group in the broader wings, broader uncus in the male and the medially convex dorso-posterior margin of segment VIII in the female.

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution. Kenya.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word ungus (nail) and postfix - ellus, in reference to the distally widened uncus in the male genitalia.

Material examined (3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, including 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ genitalia preparations)

Holotype ♂, Kenya (‘ East Africa’ ): Kikuyu , Ibea , Escarpment, 7500–8500 ft, ix–x.1900 (Doherty) (genitalia slide no. 30957; BMNH).

Paratypes. Kenya (‘ East Africa’ ): 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Kikuyu , Ibea, Escarpment, 7500–8500 ft, ix–x.1900 (Doherty) .