Meleonoma raphidacantha Wang, 2021

Wang, Shuxia, Zhu, Xiaoju & Tao, Zhulin, 2021, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China (III), with descriptions of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 4995 (2), pp. 303-333 : 311-312

Meleonoma raphidacantha Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 25 )

Type material. CHINA, Yunnan: Holotype • ♂, Taiyanghe (25.05°N, 102.70°E), 1450 m, 2.IX.2014, leg. Z.G. Zhang, slide No. YAH15007.

Paratypes (11♂): • 9♂, 8.VIII–2.IX.2014, other same data as holotype, slide No. YAH16005 ; • 2♂, Qinlangdang , Mt. Gaoligong, 31.V.2017, leg. K.J. Teng et al .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. anthaedeaga ( Wang, 2003) in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the valva straight on the ventral margin and having one spine at apex, and the cornuti consisting of a row of spines ranging from before middle to before apex. In M. anthaedeaga , the valva is weakly projected on the ventral margin and has two sclerotized teeth at apex, and the cornuti consist of a row of spines running from distal 1/3 to before apex ( Wang 2003: 209, fig. 21).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Forewing length 6.6‒6.9 mm.

Head yellowish grey, tipped with greyish black on frons and vertex, occiput tipped with greyish black medially. Labial palpus yellow; first and second segments greyish black on outer surface, second segment with a greyishblack preapical ring; third segment 3/4 length of second segment, with several small black dots medially on dorsal surface, with a black line running from base to near apex on ventral surface. Antenna: scape yellow except greyish black basally on dorsal surface and on anterior margin; flagellum greyish black on dorsal surface, earth yellow on ventral surface.

Thorax and tegula greyish black, tinged with yellow at apex. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex rounded; greyish black; median fascia yellow, from middle of costal margin extending obliquely outward to beyond middle on dorsum, interrupted posterior to middle, ill-defined posteriorly; distal spot at distal 1/5, yellow, inverted triangular, with a greyish-black dot in middle anteriorly; plical spot black, at distal 1/3 of fold, touching inner margin of median fascia; discal and discocellular spots black, discal spot placed at inner margin of median fascia, discocellular spot placed at outer margin of cell, larger; fringe greyish black, with a yellow basal line. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, coxa of foreleg and femora of fore- and midlegs with scattered greyish-black scales, tibiae of fore- and midlegs greyish black except yellow in middle and at apex, tarsi of fore- and midlegs greyish black except yellow at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tibia of hindleg with scattered greyish-brown scales, tarsus of hindleg with basal four tarsomeres greyish black except yellow at apices.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ). Uncus narrowed from near base to basal 1/6, then widened to basal 1/3, distal 2/3 uniformly wide except narrowly rounded apex, with dense long setae. Tegumen heavily sclerotized along outer and anterior margins, narrowed medially; lateral arm short, narrowed anteriorly. Valva narrow at base, slightly widened distally, with dense long hairs in distal half; apex obtusely rounded, apical spine from ventral angle; long narrowly banded ridge from middle of base extending outward to beyond middle of valva above ventral margin, serrate on ventral edge, with dense stout long setae; ventral margin straight, narrowly sclerotized; costa narrow, straight basally, slightly produced distally; transtilla short, sub-ovate. Sacculus short, sub-triangular, not separated from valva, with a row of short setae at base, with dense short setae at apex. Saccus narrowed from wide base to rounded apex, twice length of uncus. Juxta inverted triangular, posterior margin slightly concave medially. Aedeagus twice length of valva, slender, narrowly rounded at apex; cornuti consisting of a row of long spines running from before middle to before apex.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin raphidacanthus, referring to the spine-shaped cornuti arranged in a row in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 3−8. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 3, M. curvativa sp. nov., paratype, ♀; 4, M. globoidea sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 5, M. lunata sp. nov., paratype, ♂; 6, M. proapicalis sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 7, M. raphidacantha sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 8, M. ventridentata sp. nov., holotype, ♂. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 21‒26. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 21, M. curvativa sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19260, 21a, variation of uncus, slide No. YAH15277; 22, M. globoidea sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15384; 23, M. lunata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19267; 24, M. proapicalis sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19241, 24a, enlarged view of aedeagus; 25, M. raphidacantha sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH16005; 26, M. ventridentata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15258. Scales = 0.5 mm, except 24a = 0.1 mm.