Mesophleps epiochra ( Meyrick, 1886 ) 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 : 30-31

Mesophleps epiochra ( Meyrick, 1886) comb. nov.

( Figs 7, 11, 18, 32, 94, 124)

Brachyacma epiochra Meyrick, 1886 , Trans. ent. Soc. Lond. 1886: 279. Holotype ♂, FIJI: (Lucas) [not traced].

Brachyacma epichorda Turner, 1919 , Proc. R. Soc. Qd 31: 163. LECTOTYPE ♀ [not ♂], AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Toowoomba, 31.iii.1916 (Turner) (genitalia slide no. G 1618; ANIC), here designated [examined]. [Incorrectly synonymized with B. palpigera by Meyrick 1925: 169.] Comb. nov., syn. nov.

♂, ♀. Wingspan 8.0–20.0 mm. Labial palpus segment 2 sub-triangular, outer surface ochreous brown, inner surface greyish white, dorsally with large scale tuft, distally white, 3 about one-third to two-thirds length of 2, white, apex dark brown. Antenna greyish white. Forewing ochreous yellow, scattered with ochreous brown scales and whitetipped brown scales especially in apical half; costa with basal two-fifths whitish brown, distal three-fifths ochreous brown, sometimes black, rarely interrupted by oblique white line running from distal sixth towards termen, along termen with some faint dark spots; dark brown discocellular and discal spots present, dark brown plical spot short or long.

Pregenital abdomen ( Figs 11, 18). Scale sockets on denuded TI and TII denser and bigger than on other segments. SII with pair of venulae and pair of short apodemes. Anterior margins of TIV–VII with slightly sinuate transverse band of densely set posteriorly-directed microtrichia.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 7). Uncus round, basally constricted, sometimes with short ‘neck’; gnathos hooks widely separated at base, slender, pointed, shorter than uncus; valva narrow, widest at middle; tegumen relatively narrow, not exceeding width of uncus; downturned distal part of vinculum about one-third total its length, sclerotization of posterior margin relatively narrow, with distinct median emargination; phallus with basal two-thirds bulbous, distal one-third abruptly narrowed.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 94, 124). Ovipositor and segment VIII short, dorso-posterior margin of VIII broadly and evenly convex; apophyses anteriores short, about one-half length of apophyses posteriores; sclerotized antrum very short and broad, more or less trapezoid in outline caudal margin weakly concave; ductus bursae thin, very long, almost 10 times length of apophyses anteriores, entering corpus bursae latero-posteriorly; corpus bursae ovoid, less than one-half length of ductus bursae; ductus seminalis thin, arising from cervix bursae.

Remarks. M. epiochra is very close to M. adustipennis . Both species are extremely variable in size, but in our samples adustipennis lacks the really big specimens as they are found amongst our epiochra from New Caledonia and Tonga. The labial palpi of both species are more or less porrect with a short upturned segment 3, but the dorsal brush of 2 appears to be bigger in epiochra . However, it is difficult to compare this character because the palpi are easily lost, the dorsal brush can be more or less worn down or the scales are in a more or less erect state. In the male the uncus of epiochra is bigger and, when a little flattened in a preparation, may even exceed the width of the tegumen, whilst in adustipennis it is not broader. The gnathos hooks are perhaps slightly slimmer in epiochra and their apices reach the middle of the uncus whereas in adustipennis they are stouter, blunter, and exceed the middle of the uncus. More convincing differences are found in the females where the dorso-posterior margin of segment VIII is strongly convex medially in adustipennis but moderately and evenly so in epiochra , and the ductus bursae, which in adustipennis is about twice the length of the apophyses anteriores whilst it is many times that length in epiochra .

B. epiochra was described from the male holotype that appears to be missing. It is not in BMNH and was not seen by KS in SAM, Adelaide, where the Lucas collection is now kept. The identity of epiochra is not in doubt as it is the only Mesophleps to occur in Fiji. B. epichorda was described from six males collected by Turner at Brisbane in January, February and April and in Toowoomba in May. In coll. Turner (ANIC) there are four females, rather than males, with matching data, three from Brisbane and one from Toowoomba. The last is labelled as the lectotype and is here formally designated as such.

Biology. Host-plants: Cassia occidentalis (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae ), Crotalaria striata , Sophora tomentosa , Vigna unguiculata (cow pea) (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae ). The larva lives in the dry seed pods.

Distribution. Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu (‘New Hebrides’), New Caledonia, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands.

Material examined (39 ♂♂, 34 ♀♀, including 13 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀ genitalia preparations)

Thailand: 1 ♀, Bangkok, 10 m, 1.xi.1985 (Allen) . Papua New Guinea: 1 ♂, Port Moresby (Kowald) . Australia: 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Queensland, Toowong , 17.xi.1897, 19.i, 15, 16.iii, 20, 21, 23.iv, 16, 17.xi.1898 (Dodd) ; 1 ♀, Queensland, Kuranda , iii.1904 (Dodd) ; 1 ♂, Q[ueensland], Rockhampton , 21.vii.1946 (Common) ; 1 ♂, Queensland, Tewantin , 19.v.1966 (Robinson) ; 1 ♀, Northern Territory, Darwin (‘W Australia, Port Darwin , Palmerston’), 6.ix.1908 (Dodd) . 1 ♀, Western Australia, Monte Bello Islands, Hermite Island , 25.viii.1952 (Campania) .

Solomon Islands: 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Guadalcanal Island, Honiara 8–18.ix, 4–10.x, 1–5.xi.1953, 6–12.i.1954 (Bradley) ; Guadalcanal Island, Tapenanje, 10–23.x.1953 (Bradley) . Vanuatu (‘New Hebrides’): 1 ♀, Maleleula Island , 1.vi.1925 (Buxton) . New Caledonia: 1 ♀, Anse Longue, 20 m, 5.vi.1971 (Holloway) ; 1 ♀, Ouen Toro, 10 m, 24.viii.1971 (Holloway); 1 ♂, Port Boise , 15 m, 12.viii.1971 (Holloway) ; Mt Koghis , 500 m, 20.viii.1971 (Holloway) ; 1 ♀, R. Ouatou, 320 m, 13.vi.1971 (Holloway). Fiji: 1 ♀, no data (Robinson) ; 11 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, Viti Levu, Suva, xi.1970, iv, vii–ix.1974, i, ii, iv.1975 (Robinson); 4 ♂♂, Vanu Levu, Suvasuva, 5–8.viii.1974, 28–30.iii.1975 (Robinson); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Wakaya I., 13–15.viii.1974, 13–14.iv.1975 (Robinson); 1 ♀, Lautoka, ex seed of Sophora tomentosa , 6.viii.1918 (H.G.), 1 ♂, Lautoka, 7.iv.1919 (Greenwood); 1 ♂, Lautoka, 2.xi.1920 (G.); 1 ♂, bred xi.1920 (G.); 1 ♀, Lautoka, ex Vigna unguiculata (‘cow pea’) pods, 5.i.1920 (Greenwood); 1 ♀, Lautoka, ex Crotalaria striata pods, 26.x.1920 (Greenwood); 1 ♀, Lautoka, 19.v.1923 (Veitch); 1 ♂, Lautoka, ex Cassia occidentalis seed in dry pod, 15.ix.1925 (Greenwood). Western Samoa: 1 ♂, Upolu, Apia, 23.viii.1974 (Robinson) ; 1 ♂, Hollins Island , 24.i.1969 (Hocking) . Tonga: 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Tongatapu, 15.xii.1974 , 7.vii, 17.viii, 10.ix.1975 (Maddison; Pierce).

Cook Islands: 1 ♂, Rarotonga, 8.iii.1975 (Dugdale) ; 1 ♂, Aitutaki, Amuri, 11.iii.1975 (Maddison).