Mesophleps trichombra ( Lower, 1898 ) 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 : 53

Mesophleps trichombra ( Lower, 1898) comb. nov.

( Figs 113, 145)

Paltodora trichombra Lower, 1898 , Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 23: 50. Syntypes 2 ♀♀, AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, Broken Hill, x.1897 (Lower) [♀ syntype in BMNH examined].

Xerometra trichombra (Lower) ; Meyrick 1925: 171; Edwards 1996: 108.

Genitalia ♂. Not examined.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 113, 145). Papillae anales long, narrow, about one-third length of apophyses posteriores, sparsely setose. Apophyses anteriores about two-thirds length of apophyses posteriores; antrum with long, spinelike sclerotization.

Remarks. P. trichombra was described from two females from Broken Hill collected in October by Lower. We have examined the female syntype, dated x.1897, in coll. Meyrick (slide no. 30950). Its abdomen is damaged by fungal hyphae but the partially preserved genitalia with a long, narrow, distally pointed sclerotization in the antrum indicate a close relationship with M. mylicotis . A lectotype should be designated from the Lower collection (SAM, Adelaide). The female genitalia agree with those of mylicotis in the long, pointed sclerotization of the antrum but differ in the much longer apophyses. In the apophyses anteriores the base is not so clearly divided into a ventral and a dorsal branch as in mylicotis .

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution. Australia (New South Wales).

Material examined (1 ♀, including 1 ♀ genitalia preparation)

Australia: 1 ♀, New South Wales, Broken Hill , 11.x.1897 (Lower) (syntype) .