Meleonoma sinuicosta, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species (II), Zootaxa 4881 (2), pp. 257-289 : 281

Meleonoma sinuicosta sp. nov.

( Figs 23 , 45 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E2453BCB-F1BA-4443-A877-DF6CD01EC002

Type material. CHINA, Guangxi: Holotype ♂, Mt. Daming (23.40°N, 108.50°E), 1250 m, 25.V.2011, leg. LL Yang, slide No. YAH15285 ( NKU).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. bifoliolata (Wang, 2006) in the forewing pattern. It can be distinguished by the ventral margin of the valva arched, the costa with an apical spine, and the sacculus right-angled ventroapically; in M. bifoliolata , the ventral margin of the valva is triangularly projected, the costa lacks an apical spine, and the sacculus is produced to a sub-triangular process ventroapically ( Wang 2006a: 16, fig. 8).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 23 ). Forewing length 8.5 mm.

Head yellowish brown. Labial palpus yellow; first and second segments with blackish-grey scales on outer surface, second segment with blackish-grey scales distally on inner surface; third segment about 2/3 length of second segment, with sparse blackish-grey scales. Antenna yellow, flagellum ringed with greyish black on dorsal surface.

Thorax and tegula greyish black. Forewing greyish black; costal margin with a diffused yellow spot beyond middle and at distal 1/4 respectively; dorsum with a large, rounded yellowish-brown spot at end of fold, extending to posterior angle of cell; fringe greyish black. Hindwing and fringe yellowish grey. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, foreleg blackish brown except yellow apically at coxa and tibia, femora of mid- and hindlegs with blackish-brown scales, mid tibia blackish brown except yellow apically, hind tibia with blackish-brown scales, tarsi of fore- and midlegs blackish brown except yellow at apices of basal two tarsomeres, hind tarsus blackish brown except yellow at apex of each tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 45 ). Uncus wide at base, slightly narrowed to middle, distal half evenly slender; apex shallowly bifurcate, forming two apical teeth; dorsal surface with two lineate ridges medially. Gnathos about same length as uncus, large; ventral plate widened; lateral arm widened distally, weakly sclerotized. Tegumen inverted Vshaped, narrowed medially; lateral arm elongate, uniformly wide except narrowed anteriorly. Valva narrow basally, ovately widened distally, with dense long setae on ventral area; ventral margin arched; costa narrowly banded, sinuate, reaching distal 1/5 of valva, with an apical spine, with a long banded process extending from basal 1/3 inward and narrowed distally. Sacculus quadrate; dorsal margin sclerotized, produced to a digitate process curving downward; ventral corner right-angled. Saccus narrow, rounded at apex, about same length as uncus. Aedeagus slightly longer than valva, arched medially, distal 3/4 uniformly wide; cornutus being a band-shaped plate, widened distally, placed in distal half, with dense granules.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin sinu- and costa, referring to the sinuate costa.

Figures

FIGURES 21–24. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 21. M. annulignatha sp. nov., ♂; 22. M. artivalva sp. nov., ♂; 23. M. sinuicosta sp. nov., ♂; 24. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., ♂. All holotypes. Scales = 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 43–46. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 43. M. annulignatha sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19134; 44. M. artivalva sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15299; 45. M. sinuicosta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15285; 46. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. MNHU-NK110. Scales = 0.5 mm.