Viperinus pyknoistus Park & Koo, 2021

Park, Kyu-Tek & Koo, Jun-Mo, 2021, A new genus Viperinus Park with descriptions of two new species, and two new species of the genus Protolychnis Meyrick, 1925 (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Lecithoceridae) in Kenya and Tanzania, with a checklist of the world species, Zootaxa 4985 (3), pp. 359-370 : 363

Viperinus pyknoistus Park & Koo , sp. nov.

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5DD1B66E-5583-456A-A584-0500B2418AD9

( Figs 2A–F )

Type specimens. • Holotype: male, Uganda, Murchison Fall N. P., Sambia Lodge, 2,500 ft, 22.vii.2000, DJL Agassiz, gen. slide no. CIS-7490, in NHMUK.

Diagnosis. This species is superficially similar to the preceding new species, V. orbiosus , but it can be easily distinguished by the male genitalia having different shape of the cucullus and the modified processes at each base of the valva: 1) the cucullus is narrowly elongated distally; 2) the process arising from the base of the valva has a broadened distal part, whereas in V. orbiosus , it is produced sharply with a pointed distal part. ( Fig. 2D ).

Description. Male ( Figs 2A–C ). Wingspan 14.0 mm.

Head and Thorax: No superficial characters separable from the preceding new species, V. orbiosus , are found in the head, thorax and forewing color patterns. Only a little difference is observed in the 2 nd segment of labial palpus with dark brown in basal 1/3, then orange white in distal 2/3 on outer surface, whereas in V. orbiosus , it is covered with dark brown scales in basal 2/3, then gradually turning orange white on outer surface.

Abdomen: Dark brown, spinose zones in a row along posterior margin of each dorsal segment, well accordant with that of V. orbiosus ( Fig. 2F ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 2D, E ): Uncus broad basally, gradually narrowed distally, with round apex. Basal plate of gnathos produced distally, nearly pentagon; median process small, strongly bent downwardly beyond 5/6. Tegumen deeply concave in wide inverted V-shaped, heavily sclerotized on anterior margin. Valva with short basal part; slightly expanded dorsally near base of costa; cucullus long, narrowly elongated distally; ventral margin nearly straight, arched medially; apex narrowly produced; a pair of large, unique, arched processes arising one from each base of valva, broadened apically, giraffe ossicone-shaped, with dense setae. Juxta weakly developed. Aedeagus nearly same length as valva, narrow in basal 2/5, distal 3/5 broadened, with semi-ovate ventral lobe, sharply produced ventrally; dorsal margin heavily sclerotized; cornutus absent.

Distribution. Uganda.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Greek, pyknos (= thick) with Greek superlative ending, - istus, referring to the thickened flagellum of the antenna.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Viperinus pyknoistus Park & Koo, sp. nov.: A: adult, holotype; B, ditto, dorsal surface of head; C, ditto, labial palpus; D, male genitalia, holotype, slide no. CIS-7490, with a close-up of uncus+juxta in different view; E, ditto, aedeagus; F, ditto, abdomen.