Meleonoma graciliclavata 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 : 320-321

Meleonoma graciliclavata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 14 , 32 , 46 )

Type material. CHINA, Guangxi: Holotype • ♂, Jiuniutang (25.88°N, 110.40°E), Mt. Mao’er , Guilin, 1016 m, 24.VII.2015, leg. M.J. Qi & S.N. Zhao, slide No. YAH15525.

Paratypes (30♂ 23♀): • 1♀, 23.VII.2015, other same data as holotype ; • 2♂, Yangmeiao, Huanjiang County, Hechi City , 1180 m, 23–24.VII.2015, leg. M.Q. Yang & G.E. Lee; Chongqing : • 1♂ 1♀, Dahonghai, Mt. Simian ,

1000 m, 19.VII.2010, leg. X.C. Du & L.F. Song; • 1♀, Wangxiangtai, Mt. Simian , 900 m, 19.VII.2012, leg. Y.H. Sun & A.H. Yin; • 25♂ 18♀, Tudiyan, Mt. Simian , 1200 m, 15–19.VII.2016, leg. Y.H. Sun & A.H. Yin, slide No. YAH15517 ♀; Guizhou: • 1♂ 1♀, Dongdai, Shuizu , Limingguan , Libo County , 720 m, 19.VII.2015, leg. M.Q. Yang & G.E. Lee; • 1♀, Pobao, Shuizu , Limingguan , Libo County , 740 m, 20.VII.2015, leg. M.Q. Yang & G.E. Lee; Zhejiang: • 1♂, Xianrending, Mt. Tianmu , 1500 m, 26.VII.2011, leg. L.L. Yang & N. Chen, slide No. YAH15490 .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguised from other species of the fasciptera -group in the male genitalia by the sacculus with a sub-ovate process at base on the ventral margin. It is similar to M. spinifera ( Wang, 2004) in the male genitalia by the sacculus with a clavate process longer than the sacculus, but can be distinguished by the greyish-black forewing, the lanceolate uncus and the leaf-shaped valva concave near base on the ventral margin, and the absence of a signum in the female genitalia; in M. spinifera , the forewing is black, the uncus is sub-rectangular and the sub-triangular valva is straight near base on the ventral margin ( Wang 2004: 223, fig. 4) and the signum is present ( Wang 2004: 223, fig. 15).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 14 ). Forewing length 5.2‒5.8 mm.

Head: frons yellow mixed with greyish-black scales; vertex and occiput greyish black, yellow laterally. Labial palpus yellow; first segment greyish black on outer surface; second segment with greyish-black scales on outer surface, with a greyish-black ring apically; third segment 2/3 length of second segment, with several black dots in distal 1/3 on dorsal surface, with a greyish-black line on ventral surface running from base to before apex. Antenna: scape greyish black in basal half, yellow in distal half; flagellum greyish black on dorsal surface except several distal flagellomeres yellow alternated with greyish brown, greyish brown alternated with yellow on ventral surface.

Thorax yellow, tinged with greyish black; tegula greyish black, yellow apically. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex narrowly rounded; ground color greyish black, with black and yellow scales; median fascia yellow, with dense greyish-brown scales, extending from before middle of costal margin obliquely outward to before tornus, widened posteriorly; costal spot yellow, inverted triangular, at distal 1/3, with a greyish-black spot in middle anteriorly; fold with a yellow stripe extending from near base to distal 1/3; plical spot black, at distal 1/3; discal and discocellular spots black, discal spot rounded, placed at beyond middle, discocellular spot banded, placed at outer margin of cell; dorsum with diffused greyish-black scales extending from base to before end of fold, forming illdefined spot at base and before end of fold respectively; fringe greyish brown, with a yellow basal line. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, foreleg black except coxa and femur yellow apically, tarsus yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, femora of mid- and hindlegs with scattered black scales, tarsus of midleg black except apices yellow, basal three tarsomeres of hindleg black except apices yellow, all tibiae black except yellow at middle and at apex.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Uncus lanceolate except slightly narrowed at base, with long setae laterally. Tegumen narrowly joined medially; lateral arm uniformly narrow. Valva leaf-shaped, narrowed from near base to basal 1/5, from basal 1/5 widened to basal 3/5, inflated and setose distally, rounded at apex; ventral margin concave near base, with a heavily sclerotized wide band distally narrowed to basal 2/3; costa concave near base; transtilla absent. Sacculus wide at base, slightly narrowed to obtuse apex, not separated from valva; apex with a slender clavate process, longer than sacculus, sparsely setose, narrowly rounded at apex; ventral margin straight, with a sub-ovate process at base. Saccus sub-triangular, broad, rounded at apex, shorter than uncus. Juxta short thumb-shaped, rounded at apex. Aedeagus twice length of valva; basal half tubular, straight; distal half partly membranous, produced to a heavily sclerotized process curved in C-shape.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 46 ). Papillae anales sub-quadrate, with dense short setae. Apophyses posteriores approximately twice length of apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate spiculate, posterior margin concave in V shape at middle, anterior margin convex medially. Lamella antevaginalis weakly sclerotized, rectangular. Antrum sub-trapezoidal, notched at middle on posterior margin. Ductus bursae sclerotized, narrowed to middle, anterior half curved, even in width; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae anteriorly. Corpus bursae shorter than ductus bursae, rounded; without signum.

Distribution. China (Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin gracil- and clavatus, referring to the slender clavate process of the sacculus.

Figures

FIGURES 9‒14. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 9, M. arcivalvata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 10, M. chongqingensis sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 11, M. curvitaeniana sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 12, M. dilatifasciata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 13, M. fasciptera sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 14, M. graciliclavata sp. nov., paratype, ♂. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 27‒32. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 27, M. arcivalvata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15247, 27a, variation of valva, slide No. ZXJ19570; 28, M. chongqingensis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15021, 28a, enlarged cornuti; 29, M. curvitaeniana sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15308, 29a, enlarged cornuti; 30, M. dilatifasciata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15026, 30a, enlarged cornuti; 31, M. fasciptera sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15265; 32, M. graciliclavata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15490. Scales = 0.2 mm, except 28a = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 44‒49. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 44, M. arcivalvata sp. nov., slide No. MNHU-NK124; 45, M. fasciptera sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19169, 45a, enlarged signum; 46, M. graciliclavata sp. nov., slide No. YAH15517; 47, M. medispinea sp. nov., slide No.YAH12307, 47a, enlarged signum; 48, M. tetrodonta sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19329, 48a, enlarged signum; 49, M. ventrisinuata sp. nov., slide No. YAH15386. All paratypes. Scales = 0.2 mm, except 45a, 48a = 0.1 mm, 47a = 0.05 mm.