Mesophleps tetrachroa ( 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 : 52

Mesophleps tetrachroa ( Lower, 1898) comb. nov.

( Figs 10, 84, 144)

Paltodora tetrachroa Lower, 1898 , Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 23: 49. Syntypes, ♂, ♀ [unspecified number], AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, Broken Hill, x. (Lower) (SAM, Adelaide) [♂, ♀ syntypes in BMNH examined].

Xerometra tetrachroa (Lower) ; Meyrick 1925: 170; Edwards 1996: 108.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 84). Uncus rectangular, length about twice its width. Gnathos broad-based, arms fused but distally divided again and almost reaching apex of uncus. Tegumen long, slim, narrowest at base, pedunculi curved. Vinculum very long, downturned distal part about one quarter its total length; sclerotized posterior margin medially emarginated between pair of short projections. Phallus basally swollen, apical portion straight.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 10, 144). Papillae anales long, narrow, about two thirds length of apophyses posteriores, sparsely setose. Segment VIII short, ostium bursae near anterior margin, antrum with long, thin sclerotization; ductus bursae straight, narrow, short, about two-thirds length of apophyses anteriores; corpus bursae large, ovoid, inception of ductus seminalis in large patch of microtrichia (“signum”) near entrance of ductus bursae.

Remarks. P. tetrachroa was described from an unspecified number of specimens (both sexes) collected by Lower at Broken Hill in October at light. In coll. Lower (SAM, Adelaide) there are 16 specimens from Broken Hill, probably including syntypes, but no specimen bears a name label or is indicated as type. Collecting data written in red above the printed ‘Broken Hill’ are mostly illegible because the paper has turned greasy; specimens with data written in black ink were collected after the original description. One male and one female syntypes are in coll. Meyrick (BMNH).

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution. Australia (New South Wales).

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

Australia: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, New South Wales, Broken Hill , 14.x, 6.xi.1897 (Lower) (syntypes) .