Meleonoma grandivalvula 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 : 322-323

Meleonoma grandivalvula Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 15 , 33 )

Type material. CHINA, Guizhou: Holotype • ♂, Xiasi Village (28.24°N, 107.02°E), Kuankuoshui , Suiyang County, 840 m, 9.VI.2010, leg. L.L. Yang, slide No. YAH12218.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. muscosa ( Wang, 2004) in the forewing pattern.It can be distinguished in the male genitalia by the uncus with a clavate process arising from the base dorsomedially, the valva widened medially and narrowed distally, and the aedeagus with belts in distal 1/3. In M. muscosa , the uncus lacks a process dorsomedially, the valva is dilated distally and the aedeagus has belts in distal 3/5 ( Wang 2004: 221, fig. 2).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 15 ). Forewing length 5.5 mm.

Head yellow (worn). Labial palpus yellow; second segment with a blackish-brown line in distal half on ventral surface, with scattered blackish-brown scales on dorsal surface, with a blackish-brown ring apically; third segment 2/3 length of second segment, with a blackish-brown line running from base to near apex on ventral surface, with dense blackish-brown scales in distal half on dorsal surface. Antenna: scape yellow mixed with blackish-brown scales; flagellum blackish brown, alternated with yellow on ventral surface.

Thorax (worn), tegula blackish brown. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex rounded; ground color blackish brown; median fascia yellow, running from middle of costal margin slightly obliquely outward to before tornus, gradually widened; distal spot very small, dot-like, composed of a few yellow scales, at distal 1/4; plical spot black, at inner margin of median fascia; discal and discocellular spots black, placed at inner and outer margins of median fascia; fringe blackish brown. Hindwing and fringe blackish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, foreleg with scattered brown scales on coxa, femur and tibia, tarsus blackish brown except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two tarsomeres, midleg blackish brown except tibia yellow apically, tarsus yellow at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tibia of hindleg brown except yellow at middle and at apex, tarsus with basal four tarsomeres blackish brown except yellow at apices.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 33 ). Uncus triangular, with a heavily sclerotized, apex-pointed clavate process arising from base dorsomedially and exceeding apex of uncus apically. Tegumen inverted U-shaped, obtuse on posterior margin, widened medially, with narrow sclerotized outer and anterior edges; lateral arm uniformly wide except slightly narrowed at apex. Valva elongate, knife-shaped, narrow basally, widened medially, gradually narrowed distally to rounded apex, with dense long setae in distal half on ventral region; costa narrowed from base to apex, narrowed to tip of costal margin; transtilla a long bar, rounded apically. Sacculus sub-quadrate, with an elongate dorsoapical process longer than sacculus, rounded at apex. Saccus inverted triangular, narrowly rounded at apex, slightly shorter than uncus. Juxta with lateral arm slender, uniform. Aedeagus shorter than valva; basal 1/6 slender, widened from basal 1/6 to basal 1/3, thereafter uniform to basal 2/3, distal 1/3 narrow, curved, with irregular belt-like sclerites; cornuti being a tuft of spines ( Fig. 33a ).

Female unknown

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin grandi- and valvulus, referring to the relatively large, elongate valva of the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 15‒20. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 15, M. grandivalvula sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 16, M. medispinea sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 17, M. sinuaclavata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 18, M. tenuiclavata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 19, M. tetrodonta sp. nov. holotype, ♂; 20, M. ventrisinuata sp. nov., paratype, ♀. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 33‒38. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 33, M. grandivalvula sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH12218, 33a, enlarged cornuti; 34, M. medispinea sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19336, 34a, enlarged cornuti; 35, M. sinuaclavata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15396, 35a, enlarged cornutus; 36, M. tenuiclavata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15388; 37, M. tetrodonta sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15261, 37a, enlarged cornuti; 38, M. ventrisinuata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15385. Scales = 0.2 mm, except 33a, 35a, 37a = 0.1 mm.