Lycophantis incurvula Li, 2016

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2016, Taxonomic study of the genus Lycophantis Meyrick from China (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4084 (1), pp. 105-114 : 113-114

Lycophantis incurvula Li , sp. nov.

Figs. 3f , 4f

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA: Bayi, Linzhi , Xizang Autonomous Region, 3005 m, 12.viii.2010, coll. Houhun Li et al., genitalia slide no. CPX15133 .

Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as for holotype, slide no. LTT12243.

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the elongate socius that is longer than the saccus and is arched inward, and the cornuti nearly as long as the phallus ( Fig. 4f ); in its congeners, the socius is shorter than or as long as the saccus and extends straightly or obliquely outwards, and the cornuti are absent, or shorter than the phallus if present.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 3f ): Wingspan 11.0 mm. Head snowy white; frons white, mixed with greyish white deeping to pale yellowish brown scales. Antenna almost 3/5 length of forewing, scape snowy white, with ochreous pecten; flagellum with ventral surface greyish white, dorsal surface deep greyish brown in basal 1/4, greyish white in distal 3/4, annulated with greyish brown, distal half weakly serrate. Labial palpus brown. Thorax and tegula white. Forewing elongate, with length about 6.5 times of maximum width; anterior part greyish brown with golden luster between costa and above lower margin of cell extending to end of CuA2, deep greyish brown at base, posterior part snowy white; costal margin with a row of white dots along distal 3/4, mixed with black scales towards apex; termen with anterior half black, dotted with several white dots; a row of black strigulae interrupted by several white dots along lower margin of cell; cilia grey. Hindwing and cilia grey. Legs yellowish white, tibia of foreleg greyish black on inner surface, greyish brown on outer surface, tarsi of foreleg greyish brown, greyish black at apex of each segment; tarsi of mid- and hindleg brown at apex of each segment. Abdomen greyish white on ventral surface, greyish brown on dorsal surface.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 4f ): Uncus with a rice-shaped medial sclerotization, with a small process medially on posterior margin. Socius arched inward, armed with thick setae, distal 2/5 gradually narrowed to apex. Valva broad, narrowed basally, widened distally, distal 1/3 with an elliptic area bearing short setae; apex nearly truncate anteriorly, bluntly round posteriorly, with sparse long setae; costa extending to before end of valva; sacculus reaching apex of valva, basal 3/5 nearly parallel, distal 2/5 sharply narrowed to apex, with an eyebrow-like row of spines from base of dorsal margin to basal 2/3 of its ventral margin. Saccus almost 5/6 length of socius, parallel laterally, blunt apically. Phallus about twice length of valva, bent medially, distal 1/3 tapering to pointed apex; cornuti consisting of two long stout spines, nearly same length as phallus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin incurvulus (recurved), referring to both sides of the socius arched towards each other in the male genitalia.

Funds. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31272356) and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. 20130031110008).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Adults of Lycophantis spp. a, L. chalcoleuca, ♂; b, L. elongata, ♂; c, L. leviaurata, ♀; d, L. mucronata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; e, L. stenopetala sp. nov., holotype, ♂; f, L. incurvula sp. nov., holotype, ♂. (Scales = 2.0 mm)

FIGURE 4. Male genitalia of Lycophantis spp. a, L. chalcoleuca, slide no. CPX 14162; b, L. elongata, slide no. CPX 14151; c, L. leviaurata, slide no. CPX 14145; d, L. mucronata sp. nov., paratype, slide no. CPX 14204; e, L. stenopetala sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LTT 12242; f, L. incurvula sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LTT 12243. (Scales = 0.2 mm)