Promalactis dilatata, Du & Wang & Li, 2013

Du, Z. H., Wang, S. X. & Li, H. H., 2013, A review of the genus Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) from Taiwan, China, Journal of Natural History 48 (1 - 2), pp. 87-108 : 98-100

Promalactis dilatata sp. nov.

( Figures 1D , 2D )

Diagnosis

Promalactis dilatata is similar to P. multimaculella Lvovsky, 2000 by the forewing having many white dots and streaks and by the gnathos having an apical process and a same shaped valva in the male genitalia. It can be separated from the latter by the costa about one-third the length of the valva, the juxta with a pair of asymmetrical lateral lobes and the cornutus with five apical spines of varied lengths in the male genitalia. In P. multimaculella , the costa is about three-quarters the length of the valva, the lateral lobes of the juxta are symmetrical, and the cornutus bears four small spines mesially.

Description

Adult ( Figure 1D ). Wingspan 8.0 mm. Head with vertex dark brown, frons silvery grey, occiput dark brown mixed with silvery white. Labial palpus short, roughly scaled; second segment not reaching base of antenna, basal and second segments yellow; third segment short, about two-thirds length of second, black except white basally and apically. Antenna with scape white except dark brown apically on dorsal surface, pecten dark brown; flagellum alternately black and white on dorsal surface, dark brown on ventral surface. Thorax and tegula deep greyish brown. Forewing brownish yellow mixed with dark brown scales; costal margin with two ill-defined black patches: one patch tinged with deep ochreous brown, extending down to distal one-quarter of cell, with white dot on both inside and outside, another patch extending dorsad to midwing; white markings edged with black scales throughout wing: cell with white dot at basal third, at upper angle and at lower angle respectively; fold with white dot above and below middle, with short white streak above and below distal third; dorsal margin with two white dots near base; tornus and apex with white spot, respectively; termen with an oval white dot near tornus; cilia ochreous yellow, black along distal part of costal margin, grey along distal part of dorsal margin. Hindwing and cilia grey. Foreleg black, tibia with white spot at base and middle dorsally, with a tuft of long white scales at apex, tarsus with three white spots on dorsal surface, midleg black, tibia dorsally with a white spot at base, with a tuft of white mixed with black scales at middle, with a tuft of long white scales at apex, tarsus with four white spots on dorsal surface; hindleg yellow on ventral surface, yellowish grey on dorsal surface, tarsus black with three white spots on dorsal surface.

Male genitalia ( Figure 2D ). Uncus broad at base, gradually narrowed to two-thirds, distal one-third slender, finger-like, rounded at apex. Gnathos about same length as uncus, lingulate, distal one-third scobinate, with a smooth subapical process ventrally; lateral arms very short, band-shaped. Tegumen very short, about one-third the length of valva, branched from posterior two-thirds, produced to a spine-like process anterolaterally. Valva broad, parallel-sided, sinuate apically; costa short, about one-third the length of ventral margin of valva, slightly concave basally. Sacculus narrow, straight, produced to a free, small spine-like distal process directing dorsad, which exceeds tip of costa. Saccus slightly shorter than uncus, broad, nearly semi-oval, rounded apically. Juxta with a digitate basal process reaching middle of saccus; lateral lobes asymmetrical: right lobe long, reaching near apex of uncus, band-shaped, broadened and rounded at distal one-fifth, then abruptly narrowed to bluntly pointed apex; left lobe short, about one-third length of right lobe, slightly broad at base, gradually narrowed to an acuminate apex. Aedeagus slightly curved; vesica dilated and nearly flower-like distally; cornutus rod-like, more than half length of aedeagus, with five apical spines of various lengths.

Female. Unknown.

Type

Holotype, Male , Kansirei (23 ◦ 20 ′ N, 120 ◦ 30 ′ E), Taiwan, China, 18 October 1934, leg. S. Issiki, Issiki Collection 1972, genitalia slide No. USNM-142,366 ( USNM).

Distribution

China (Taiwan).

Etymology

This specific name is derived from Latin dilatatus, meaning dilated, referring to the distally dilated vesica.

Figures

Figure 1. Adults of Promalactis spp. (A) P. albilateralis sp. nov., holotype; (B) P. apicicircularis sp. nov., paratype; (C) P. brevisaccata sp. nov., paratype; (D) P. dilatata sp. nov., holotype; (E) P. flavicapitata sp. nov., holotype; (F) P. latiloba sp. nov., paratype; (G) P. subclavata sp. nov., holotype; (H) P. peculiaris Wang and Li (A, D, E, G. male; B, C, F. female).

Figure 2. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. (A) P. albilateralis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. MNHU-NK071; (B) P. apicicircularis sp. nov., paratype, slide No. 142,361; (C) P. brevisaccata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. MNHU-NK067; (D) P. dilatata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. 142,366.