Prays Hübner, 1825

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Prays Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) from China, with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 201-227 : 202-205

Genus Prays Hübner, 1825

Prays Hübner, 1825: 413 . Type species: Tinea caenobitella Hübner , 18[10–13], by subsequent designation by Walsingham, 1907.

Generic characters. Head with appressed scales. Ocellus absent. Proboscis developed. Antenna without pecten on scape; flagellum usually serrate. Labial palpus slightly upturned; third segment longer than second, pointed apically. Maxillary palpus 1-segmented, very short. Forewing subparallel from base to 3/4 or 4/5, then narrowed to apex, with numerous irregular strigulae or stripes in many species, with 12 veins ( Figs. 1–2 ): R1 from between basal 3/5 and 2/3 of cell, R2 and R3 connate or approximated basally, R3 from upper angle of cell, R4 and R5 separated ( Fig. 1 ) or long-stalked ( Fig. 2 ), M3 and CuA1 approximated at lower angle of cell, CuA2 from before lower angle of cell, 1A+2A long-forked basally; pterostigma developed. Hindwing elongate oviform, with 7 veins ( Figs. 1–2 ): Sc+R1 reaching approximately 4/5 length of costa, M3 and CuA1 coincident, CuA2 from before lower angle of cell. Hind tibia smooth, median spur at middle or slightly anterior to middle.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 3 ): Uncus rudimentary. Socius developed, bearing dense long setae, often thorn-shaped distally. Gnathos a sclerotized band, with a median process in some species, but not forming a ventral plate. Tuba analis membranous or with subscaphium, its anterior margin usually fused with posterior margin of gnathos. Tegumen medially produced into a pair of triangular or thorn-shaped processes, or its anterior margin concave medially and forming lateral processes of different shape; lateral band narrow and heavily sclerotized, almost straight, curved inwards, or oblique outwards. Valva narrow or broad, with a slender clubbed process extending from base of dorsal margin, usually forming a right or an obtuse angle with transtilla at base; costa sclerotized, often extended to before apex of valva; transtilla banded, triangular or thorn-shaped, medially connected or separated; sacculus developed, often separated from valva distally; membranous area between valva and sacculus varied in size. Vinculum U- or V-shaped; saccus clubbed. Juxta narrowly banded, in U shape or in semicircle; anellus lobes developed, bearing dense setae, arising from inner margin of juxta anteriorly, anterolaterally or posterolaterally, or fused. Aedeagus stout, longer or shorter than valva; cornuti consisting of a thorn or several thorns along with a cluster of spinules.

Eighth sternite developed, concave archly on posterior margin, concave triangularly at middle on anterior margin; lateral lobe broad, produced to a thorn posterolaterally. Coremata absent.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 4 ): Intersegmental membrane between papillae anales and eighth segment shorter than 1/4 length of papillae anales. Apophyses anteriores shorter than apophyses posteriores or extremely short. Ostium bursae open on anterior margin of eighth sternite. Lamella postvaginalis forming a pair of varied processes. Antrum usually ill-defined. Ductus bursae sclerotized partly or entirely, or membranous; ductus seminalis arising from posterior margin of corpus bursae or from connection of ductus bursae and corpus bursae. Corpus bursae membranous, nearly same length as or longer than ductus bursae; signum absent or present.

Biology. The host-plants of Prays include Viburnum awabuki , V. cotinifolium , V. grandiflorum , V. mullaha , V. dilatatum , V. furcatum and V. wrightii in Adoxaceae ; Juglans ailanthifolia in Juglandaceae ; Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla , F. japonica , F. excelsior , F. mandshurica var. japonica , Jasminum barrelieri , Picconia excelsa , Ligustrum tschonoskii , Syringa persica , Olea europaea and O. europaea subsp. cuspidata in Oleaceae ; Casimiroa edulis , Citrus aurantium , C. limon , C. sinensis , C. sp., Harrisonia sp., Pelea sp., Fagara sp., Phebalium sp. and Ptelea trifoliata in Rutaceae ( Moriuti 1977; Lewis & Sohn 2015).

Diagnosis. The genus Prays is close to Atemelia in both appearance and male genitalia, differing in the antenna without pectens on the scape, the rudimentary uncus, and the membranous eighth tergum not produced medially on the posterior margin. In Atemelia , based on our current study of the family Praydidae , the antenna has pectens on the scape, the uncus is developed, and the sclerotized eighth tergum is produced into various processes medially on the posterior margin.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Venations of Prays spp. 1, P. helanshana sp. nov. (slide no. JQ 08131); 2, P. tauricornis sp. nov. (slide no. NKCPX 006). (Scales = 1.0 mm).

FIGURES 3 – 4. Genitalia of Prays cingulata. 3, Male genitalia (slide no. CPX 15167); 4, Female genitalia (slide no. CPX 15198). (Scales: 3 = 0.2 mm; 4 = 0.5 mm).