Pselnophorus brevispinus Hao & Li

Hao, Shulian & Li, Houhun, 2008, The genus Pselnophorus Wallengren from Mainland China, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), Zootaxa 1755, pp. 61-67 : 62-63

Pselnophorus brevispinus Hao & Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 6 )

Type material: Holotype: ɗ, CHINA: Yunnan Province, Lijiang City, Mt. Yulong (27°10' N, 100°18' E), alt. 3910 m, 16. viii. 1979 (Zuopei Ling), genitalia slide no. HSL02714.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. emeishanensis Arenberger in appearance except that all lobes of the forewing are without brown spots. In male genitalia, it can be distinguished by the left sacculus with the distal 1/4 finger-shaped, somewhat forming a short pointed process directed toward the costa, while the left sacculus in P. emeishanensis has an acicular process, from dorsal one-third of which arises one long, slender hooked process bent at nearly right angle. The species also resembles P. japonicus Marumo in genitalia, but the forewing of the new species has complicated patches and the cleft bears a large cuneiform patch; while the forewing of P. japonicus Marumo has simple patches and the cleft has no cuneiform patch; the phallus of the new species is slightly curved, slender, and lacks a lateral spine, while the phallus of P. japonicus is stout and bears a lateral spine.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 1 ): Wingspan 21.0 mm. Head greyish white, without frontal tuft. Antenna slightly longer than 1/2 length of forewing; scape greyish white, somewhat expanded; flagellum with dense ciliae, greyish brown dorsally, greyish white ventrally. Labial palpus shorter than eye diameter, greyish white; basal segment very small; second segment slender, without scale-brush; apical segment as long as second segment, apex acute and thin, without scale-brush. Some erect, apically bifurcated short scales dispersed along margin of occiput and cervix. Thorax brown, scattered with white basally and mixed with greyish yellow terminally. Tegula greyish yellow. Forewing cleft from 4/7; ground color white; costal margin with basal 1/3 greyish brown, but pale yellow at 1/2, 2/3 and distal 1/4; a large pale yellow cuneiform patch positioned before cleft, covering 2/3 of “uncleft areas”; cleft greyish brown; first lobe greyish yellow, apex and inner margin greyish white; fringe of costal margin concolorous with wing, apex greyish white, fringe of inner margin with distal part greyish yellow; inner margin of wing with basal 1/3 greyish yellow, median 1/2 and apex greyish white; second lobe with a greyish yellow band from costal 1/3 to near apex of inner margin, fringe concolorous with markings on margins of adjacent wing. Hindwing clefts from 2/5 and near base respectively; ground color greyish white, sparsely scattered with greyish yellow, light brown before cleft, distal part of both lobes greyish yellow, apex brown; fringe greyish white, near distal greyish yellow. Legs white, sparsely scattered with light yellow, especially obvious on outer spurs and at distal of each tarsus. Abdomen greyish white, scattered with greyish yellow.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 6 ): Uncus simple, hooked, slightly wider at base, acute and thin at apex. Left valva broader than right valva, widely rounded terminally; sacculus small, distal 1/4 finger-shaped, forming a short pointed process directed to costa. Right valva similar to left valva in shape but slightly narrower, rounded terminally; right sacculus slightly shorter than left one, distal section finger-shaped, forming minute pointed distal process. Anellus wide at base, concave at middle anteriorly; distal section bilobed, slightly shorter than basal section, asymmetrical: left lobe shorter than right one, both tips forming minute pointed process. Vinculum simple. Saccus small, arched. Phallus slightly curved, somewhat expanded medially.

Female: Unknown.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. This specific name is derived from the Latin prefix brevi- (= short) and the word spina (= spine), referring to the short pointed terminal process of left sacculus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Adults of Pselnophorus spp. 1. P. brevispinus Hao & Li, sp. nov.; 2. P. emeishanensis Arenberger; 3 – 5. P. vilis (Butler): 3. adult; 4. head; 5. vein.

FIGURES 6 – 9. Genitalia of Pselnophorus spp. (scales = 0.5 mm) 6. P. brevispinus Hao & Li, sp. nov.; 7 – 8. P. emeishanensis Arenberger: 7. male genitalia; 8. female genitalia; 9. P. vilis (Butler).