Meleonoma dilatifasciata 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 : 319

Meleonoma dilatifasciata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 12 , 30 )

Type material. CHINA, Fujian: • Holotype ♂, Shangping (25.96°N, 117.51°E), Yong’an County, 21.IV.2014, leg. X.F. Yang, slide No. YAH15026.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. fasciptera sp. nov. in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the dot-like small distal spot of the forewing, and in the male genitalia by the saccus twice the length of the uncus, and the aedeagus with distal 1/4 curved toward base; in M. fasciptera , the large distal spot is inverted triangular, the saccus is shorter than the uncus, and the aedeagus is curved toward base from middle length.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 12 ). Forewing length 6.3 mm.

Head with vertex and occiput greyish brown, frons yellowish white. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with black scales in distal half, with a black apical ring; third segment 2/3 length of second segment, with several black dots medially. Antenna: scape yellow mixed with black scales; flagellum black on dorsal surface, black annulated with yellow on ventral surface.

Thorax and tegula black. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex narrowly rounded; ground color black; median fascia orange yellow, with blackish-grey scales, running from before middle of costal margin obliquely outward to end of fold, dilated posteriorly; distal spot small, dot-like, composed of a few orange-yellow scales, placed at distal 1/4; fringe concolorous with wing. Hindwing and fringe blackish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, coxa of foreleg with scattered black scales, tibia black except yellow at middle and at apex, tarsus black except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tibiae of mid- and hindlegs black except yellow apically, tarsus of midleg black except yellow at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tarsus of hindleg with basal four tarsomeres black except yellow at apices, all femora with scattered black scales.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 30 ). Uncus sub-triangular, weakly sclerotized, with sparse setae. Tegumen narrowed medially, inverted V-shaped; lateral arm uniformly wide, slightly narrowed from preapex. Valva narrow at base, widened from base to basal 1/3, distal 2/3 almost evenly wide, obtusely rounded at apex; costa narrowed distally, reaching distal 1/4 of costal margin; transtilla short, slightly narrowed toward middle. Sacculus shorter than saccus; triangular, slightly narrowed to before apex, produced to a digitate process apically; ventral margin sinuate distally; dorsal margin with a narrow heavily sclerotized band in basal half, with long setae in distal half. Saccus wide at base, narrowed to apex, twice length of uncus. Juxta U-shaped, narrowly joined basally; lateral arm slender, narrowly rounded apically. Aedeagus 1.5 times length of valva, basal 3/4 tubular, straight; distal 1/4 curved toward base from near apex, with three sclerites: dorsal sclerite clavate, densely verrucous at apex, ventral sclerite banded, curved, apical sclerite longest, dilated at apex; cornuti being a tuft of spines ( Fig. 30a ).

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Fujian).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin dilat- and fasciatus, referring to the posteriorly dilated median fascia of the forewing.

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.