Mesophleps bifidella, 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 : 37

Mesophleps bifidella sp. nov.

( Figs 14, 41, 71)

♂. Wingspan 14.5–18.5 mm. Labial palpus segment 2 dark brown, dorsally with scale tuft, distally white, 3 as long as 2, white. Antenna white, tinged with ochre. Forewing relatively broad, anterior half greyish white, posterior half yellowish brown; costa in distal two-thirds with dark brown edge interrupted by faint oblique white line running from distal fifth towards termen, along termen with dark brown spots; black discocellular spot large and round, black discal spot small, black plical dash short.

Pregenital abdomen ( Fig. 14). In male posterior margin of SVIII broadly bilobed, medially V-shaped.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 71). Uncus long, V-shaped; gnathos hooks almost length and thickness of uncus lobes, strongly sclerotized, apex acute and curved outwards; valva narrow, apex slightly exceeding uncus; tegumen rectangular, basal one-third slightly constricted; downturned distal part of vinculum about one-quarter its total length, sclerotized posterior margin evenly rounded; phallus with basal two-thirds bulbous, distal one-third abruptly narrowed but relatively broad, apex truncate.

Genitalia ♀. Unknown.

Remarks. This new species differs conspicuously from all other known Mesophleps in the deeply forked uncus, but characters of the gnathos and phallus indicate that it belongs to the palpigera -group. The paratype from the Philippines was recorded as Brachyacma palpigera by Diakonoff ([1968]: 157).

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution. Japan (Kyushu), Philippines (Luzon).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word bifidus (bifid) and postfix - ellus, in reference to the deeply forked uncus in the male genitalia.

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

Holotype ♂, Japan, Kyushu , Buzen, Hiko-san, 18.vii.1956 (Kuroko) (genitalia slide no. 463c, Sattler; CAOU, Sakaishi).

Paratype. Philippines: 1 ♂, Luzon, Prov. Benguet, Klondyke , 800 m, 8.v.1912 (Wileman) ( BMNH) .