Pselnophorus Wallengren, 1881

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 : 61-62

Pselnophorus Wallengren, 1881

Pselnophorus Wallengren, 1881: 96 .

Crasimetis Meyrick, 1890: 484 , 489.

Type species: Alucita brachydactyla Kollar, 1832 .

Diagnosis. Gielis (1993, 1996) indicated that Pselnophorus resembles Pterophorus Schäffer and Oidaematophorus Wallengren , and that their differences lie in venation only. During our study, we found more differences among these three genera. First, the cleft in the forewing of Pselnophorus is from one-third, while it is from the middle or near the base in Pterophorus and Oidaematophorus . Secondly, the marking on forewing in Pselnophorus is white mixed with grey to greyish brown, while in Pterophorus it is white, scattered with some black to blackish brown spots, and in Oidaematophorus it is darker, mixed with blackish brown to black spots. Moreover, in Pterophorus all lobes of the forewing and hindwing are very slender, needle-like.

In his revision of the Pselnophorus complex, Arenberger (1990) presented that Pselnophorus is similar to Gypsochares Meyrick except that R5 is from the base of R 4 in Pselnophorus , but from 1/3 to 1/2 of R 4 in Gypsochares . In this study, we found that the members of Pselnophorus are usually larger, and that their forewing markings are brighter than those of Gypsochares .

Description. Head ( Fig. 4 ) scales appressed, without obvious frontal tuft. Labial palpus upcurved, slen- der. Antenna with dense ciliae. Spurs of hindleg with basal scale-brush, lateral spur shorter than medial spur. All lobes of forewing without anal angle. Forewing ( Fig. 5 ): R1 absent, R2 free, R4 stalked with R5; CuA1 from basal 1/3 of M3 on second lobe, CuA2 from beyond cell. Hindwing without “scale tooth”; third lobe with two veins; all lobes very narrow and pointed.

Male genitalia: Uncus tapered, about as long as tegumen. Tegumen arched. Valvae asymmetrical. Sacculus with prominent thorns or spines. Saccus narrow. Phallus somewhat curved, with or without lateral spine; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia: Ostium bursae and antrum symmetrical, centrally or laterally located. Ductus bursae simple, without sclerotized segments or ridges. Corpus bursae spherical to elongately spherical, without signum.

Host plants. Asteraceae : Mycelis muralis L., Prenanthes purpurea L. and Lapsana communis L. ( Gielis, 1993, 1996).

Distribution. Palaearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical and Nearctic regions.

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.