Promalactis subflagellaris Wang & Liu & David 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Wang, Shuxia
name: Liu, Chen
name: David, Lees
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Oecophoridae
Promalactis
Promalactis subflagellaris

description: Promalactis subflagellaris Wang, sp. nov.
(Figs 6, 39, 70)
Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, Khao Nang Rum, Uthai Thani Prov., 400 m, 17–18.XI.1985, BM1986-74, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317041.
Paratypes. Thailand: 1♂ 2♀, same data as holotype, slide Nos. NHMUK010317073 ♀, NHMUK010317185 ♀; 1♀, Khao Nang Rum, Uthai Thani Dist., 400 m, 6–8.VI.1986, leg. M.G. Allen, BM1986-74, slide No. NHMUK010317053; 1♂, Wang Neua to Phayao Road, km 12.5, Phayao Prov., 600 m, 21.VII.1990, leg. I.J. Kitching & A.M. Cotton, slide No. NHMUK010317051; 2♀, Khao Nang Ram Res. Stn. HQ, Huai Kha Khaeng WS (Wildlife Sanctuary), Uthai Thani, 400 m, 29.X.1991, leg. I.J. Kitching & A.M. Cotton, slide No. NHMUK010317042.
Other material examined. Thailand: 1♂ (abdomen missing), Doi Suthep-Pui NP, 12.XI.1988, leg. M.G. Allen.
Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. flagellaris Wang, Du & Li in male genitalia. It can be separated from the latter by the gnathos as long as the uncus, the sacculus produced into a smaller triangular process dorsoapically, and the elongate triangular saccus. In P. flagellaris, the gnathos is one-half the length of the uncus, the sacculus is roundly produced dorsoapically, and the clavate saccus is elongate and slender.
Description. Adult (Fig. 6). Forewing length 4.5–5.0 mm.
Head. Vertex snowy white, frons brown, occiput ochreous brown. Labial palpus with second segment ochreous brown on outer surface except orange yellow apically, orange yellow on inner surface; third segment dark brown on outer surface, white on inner surface. Antennal scape white dorsally, pale brown ventrally; flagellum dark brown ventrally, basal several flagellomeres white and remaining distal flagellomeres white alternating with black dorsally.
Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula rust brown. Forewing yellow; median fascia ochreous brown, narrowed to costal margin, bordered by black scales, width about 1/5 length of forewing, its inner margin with a white streak along posterior 1/2 edged with black scales, outer margin concave inward anteriorly, with a rounded white spot along its anterior 1/2, with an ill-defined blackish grey spot before tornus; dorsum with an ochreous brown stripe from base to basal 1/4, with a white streak along its outer margin edged with black scales; apical spot ochreous brown, with scattered black scales, diffused along termen to median fascia; fringe yellow except deep grey along distal part of costal margin and on extension of median fascia. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur white ventrally, tibia with a white dot at middle, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; midleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal three and apical tarsomeres; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apex of each tarsomere.
Male genitalia (Fig. 39). Uncus broadly U-shaped, lateral lobes uniform basally, broadened distally before pointed apex. Gnathos as long as uncus; mesial plate small, lingulate. Tegumen furcate from beyond posterior 1/2; lateral arm slightly narrowed to anterior end. Valva elongate sub-triangular, wide at base, narrowed to apex; costal area membranous; sacculus broadly band-shaped, heavily sclerotized in basal 2/3 on dorsal margin, produced into a small triangular process dorsoapically, with a long flagelliform preapical process curved inward toward base, distally narrowed to pointed apex, apex far exceeding base of valva. Saccus elongate triangular, broad at base, narrowed to pointed apex. Juxta sub-quadrate, posterior margin concave at middle, forming two small lateral lobes; basal lobe clavate. Phallus slender, 1.5 times length of valva, pointed at apex; cornutus absent.
Female genitalia (Fig. 70). Apophyses anteriores 1/2 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum shallowly concave at middle on posterior margin, serrate and setose. Ductus bursae broadened and sclerotized posteriorly, narrowed towards middle, then uniform width from near middle to corpus bursae, with a spiraled sclerite before entrance of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae rounded, slightly shorter than ductus bursae; signum a narrowly arched sclerite, with a spine arising from its middle.
Distribution. Thailand.
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin sub - and the specific name of the related species flagellaris, referring to the similarities between the two species.
description: Published as part of Wang, Shuxia, Liu, Chen & David, Lees, 2024, Partial revision of Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), based on specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, pp. 1-58 in Zootaxa 5536 (1) on pages 8-9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14023827