Paniculata hesperusalis Park and Kim, 2021

Park, Kyu-Tek & Kim, Sora, 2021, Four new species of Paniculata Park, 2018 (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from the Afrotropical Region, Journal of Natural History 54 (45 - 46), pp. 2897-2908 : 2903-2904

Paniculata hesperusalis Park and Kim , sp. nov.

( Figure 3 (a–j))

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to P. biaensis sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the yellowish-white ground colours of both wings, and the basal segment of the antenna with creamy white scale-tuft mixing with blackish scales internally at apex ventrally. The male genitalia can be easily distinguished by the basal lobe of uncus deeply incised at middle caudally; cucullus broad in the distal part, forming a foot-shaped plate; and aedeagus more or less slender, strongly bent medially.

Description

Adult ( Figure 3 (a–d)). Male. Wingspan 14 mm. Head: Vertex yellowish white, with yellowish-white erect scales laterally; frons orange white. Antenna about 1.2 times the length of fore wing; basal segment yellowish white, dilated distally, with a long creamy white prominent scale-tuft at apex ventrally; flagellum filiform, entirely yellowish white. First segment of labial palpus slender, shorter than 1/2 length of 2nd segment, slightly dilated distally; 2nd segment strongly upturned, with nearly right angle, with yellowishwhite, long, hair-like scales above; 3rd segment about 2/5 the length of 2nd segment, orange white with rough scales above, pointed apically. Thorax: Thorax and tegula yellowish white. Hind tibia orange white on outer surface, with well-developed, dark brown scale-tufts at middle and at end dorsally; tarsi orange white. Fore wing elongate, ground colour uniformly yellowish white, with small, dark brown discal spot at middle; costa gently arched; apex more or less acute; termen oblique; fringe on termen concolourous with ground colour; venation with R 3 connate with R 4+5; R 4 and R 5 stalked for about 1/2; R 5 to termen; M 1 remote from R 4+5, nearly parallel to M 2; M 3 closer to CuA 1 at base; CuA 1 free. Hind wing yellowish white, with sharply pointed apex; fringe concolorous; venation with M 2 present. Abdomen: Abdominal sternite VIII with a pair of small, triangular protrusions on caudal margin.

Male genitalia ( Figure 3 (e–j)). Basal lobes of uncus broad, semi-ovate, deeply incised at middle on caudal margin, rounded apically, with dense setae. Basal plate of gnathos elliptical; median process narrowed towards apex, with sharply pointed apex. Tegumen broad, rectangular; deeply incised at middle on posterior margin, both plates produced apically. Costal bar connecting tegumen and valva rather broad, banded, without median angle. Valva extremely broad basally, ventral margin abruptly oblique beyond near end of sacculus; cucullus foot-shaped, with broad distal part, produced at lower corner with small peg-like scales; apical margin nearly flat; sacculus broad at base, sclerotised, narrowed distally. Vinculum broadly developed, in U-shape. Juxta weakly sclerotised. Aedeagus more or less slender, globular basally, strongly bent medially, narrowed towards apex; cornuti consisting of two short sacs containing small spinules.

Female unknown.

Holotype

Male , Uganda, Western, Budongo Forest, 1°48ʹ32ʹʹN, 31°32ʹ44ʹʹE, 1100 m, 14 March 2013, D. Agassiz and M. Ngugi, gen. slide no. CIS-7258/ Park, in NHMUK.

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin hesperus (= western).

Distribution

Afrotropical: Uganda (Budongo Forest).

Figures

Figure 3. Paniculata hesperusalis Park and Kim, sp. nov. (a) Scale-tuft of an antenna; (b) labial palpus; (c) adult; (d) hind tibia tuft; (e) male genitalia; (f) uncus and gnathos; (g) juxta and vinculum; (h) aedeagus; (i) cornuti; (j) abdomen