Androconia Wang, Chen & Wu

Wang, Mingqiang, Chen, Fuqiang, Zhu, Chaodong & Wu, Chunsheng, 2017, Two new genera and three new species of Epipaschiinae Meyrick from China (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), ZooKeys 722, pp. 87-99 : 91-92

Androconia Wang, Chen & Wu gen. n.

Type species.

Androconia rallusa Wang, Chen & Wu, sp. n.

Diagnosis.

The new genus is similar to Stericta Lederer, 1863 based on the wing pattern, especially the black discocellular spot on the forewing. However, it can be easily distinguished from Stericta by its males having an androconium at the discocellular cell of the forewing and the slender uncus which is obviously thinner than that of the other genera of Epipaschiinae.

Description.

Medium sized to Pyralidae (9.0-12.0 mm in forewing length). Head covered with dense scales; labial palpus upturned, third segment slender and pointed obviously; antenna filiform. Forewing with an androconium at discocellular cell in male, two black spots located at basal and terminal cell, respectively; antemedial and postmedial lines wavy, distinct, hindwings suffused with pale red scales.

Venation (Fig. 23). In forewing, Sc reaching 2/3 of costa; R1 arising from 2/3 of upper angle of cell; R2 arising before upper angle of cell; R3-5 and M1 from upper angle of cell and short stalked at base; R3+4 stalked with R5 at mid-length; M2 and M3 from lower angle of cell in same point; CuA1 and CuA2 nearly parallel; 1A+2A anastomosed at base. In hindwing, Sc+R1 and Rs connected at middle of Sc+R1; Rs shortly stalked with M1; M2 and M3 separated from lower angle of cell in same point; CuA1 and CuA2 nearly parallel; three A veins present.

Male genitalia. Uncus slender, densely setose. Gnathos with slender lateral arms, apex hooked. Valva slender, costa lightly sclerotized; sacculus swollen and warped in base. Juxta bifurcated. Phallus slender.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor covered with dense setae. Apophysis anterioris nearly as same length as apophysis posterioris. Antrum and ductus bursae membranous. Corpus bursae nearly elliptic, with two signa.

Distribution.

China (Fig. 24).

Etymology.

The generic name is in accordance with the androconium of the male forewing, derived from the Greek “andro” and “konos”.

Remarks.

The species of the new genus is sexually dimorphic in color. Although both sexes have the same wing pattern on both wings, the female has the forewing with less black scales and androconium absent, and the hindwing looks redder than the forewing.

Key to species of Androconia Wang, Chen & Wu, gen. n.