Thiotricha apicispinea Lee & Li 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Lee, Ga-Eun
name: Li, Houhun
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Gelechiidae
Thiotricha
Thiotricha apicispinea

description: Thiotricha apicispinea sp. nov.   
(Figs 6B, 23A, 29A, 47A)  
 Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Sichuan Province, Wanglang Nature Reserves, Muyangchang (32.97°N, 104.10°E), 2577 m, 19.vii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang, genitalia slide no. LGE18068. Paratypes. CHINA: Sichuan Province: 5 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀, same data as holotype (one male and one female are deposited in NHMUK), genitalia slide no. LGE18069f; 1 ♂, Wolong (30.34°N, 103.42°E), 2008 m, 25.vii.2005, leg. Haili Yu, genitalia slide no. LGE18062; 5 ♂♂, 25 ♀♀, Baozigou (32.91°N, 104.16°E), 2369 m, Wanglang Nature Reserves, 20.vii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Baixionggou (33.00°N, 104.03°E), 2845 m, Wanglang Nature Reserves, 21.vii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang; 1 ♂, 11 ♀♀, Shanmen (32.89°N, 104.16°E), 2377 m, Wanglang Nature Reserves, 22.vii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang, genitalia slide nos. LGE 17060m, LGE18070f; 3 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, Shanpo (32.97°N, 104.10°E), 2569 m, Wanglang Nature Reserves, 23.vii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang (one male and one female are deposited in NHMUK); 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Changbaigou (32.93°N, 104.14°E), 2454 m, Wanglang Nature Reserves, 24.vii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang; Shaanxi Province: 1 ♂, Houzhenzi, Zhouzhi County, 1000 m, 15.vii.1987, leg. Houhun Li, genitalia slide no. LGE18061; 1 ♀, Jiefangmen Village (33.86°N, 107.85°E), 1750 m, Houzhenzi, Zhouzhi County, 16.vii.1987, leg. Houhun Li.   
 Diagnosis. The species can be diagnosed by the broad fuscous band on dorsum and two small spots of the forewing, the asymmetrical valvae with narrowed apex and the aedeagus with minute cornuti. The forewing color and markings are similar to those of T. subocellea, but the male genitalia are more closely related to T. fasciaria. The differences between those species are stated under T. fasciaria.   
 Description. Adult (Fig. 6B). Wingspan 10.5−14.0 mm. Head light grey, tinged with fuscous. Labial palpus fuscous, mixed with light grey especially on dorsal surface; segment III as long as II, pointed at apex. Antenna light grey, distal half fuscous; flagellum fuscous except base of dorsal surface light grey, male cilia as long as diameter. Thorax fuscous except lateral margins light grey, sometimes tinged with brown posteriorly. Tegula light grey, tinged with fuscous. Forewing ground color light grey sprinkled with dark fuscous, base of costa fuscous; apical spot small, black, usually indistinct; markings fuscous: a broad band along basal half of dorsum, its distal half of anterior margin darker at fold, sometimes forming a large spot; two indistinct spots at distal 2/5 and 1/4, respectively, former in discal cell, sometimes extends to dorsum, latter on outer margin of cell; fringe grey. Hindwing dark grey, fringe grey. Legs light grey to ochreous grey mixed with fuscous; fore leg dark fuscous on outer surface, mid and hind legs ochreous grey on inner surface; mid and hind tarsi dark fuscous on outer surface, except apex of each tarsomere.   
 Male sternum VIII (Fig. 23A). 1/5 length of abdomen, posterior 2/3 sharply narrowed, posterior 1/3 bifurcate with slender tines.   
 Male genitalia (Fig. 29A). Uncus with base narrow, bulbous in distal 1/2, apex truncate; ventral surface with a pair of small, elliptical basal flaps. Gnathos hook slender, pointed at apex. Tegumen 3 times as long as uncus, anterior margin indented in rectangle. Valvae asymmetrical, with base narrow, basal 1/2 slightly curved inward, distal 1/2 setose and slightly curved outward; right valva gradually broadening to distal 1/3, a digitate process before middle of ventral margin, distal 1/3 sharply narrowed to apex; left valva gradually broadening from base to 1/3, uniformly elongate to 2/3, then narrowed to apex. Anellus lobe 1/3 length of valva, bulged at base, distal 1/3 constricted; apical bristle 1/4 length of anellus lobe, slightly hooked. Juxta with a triangular process, bearing sparse hairs along its outer margin. Vinculum with posterior margin strongly convex at middle, forming a subtriangular process. Saccus short, subtriangular. Aedeagus with basal 1/2 dilated, sharply constricted beyond middle, dorsal side with a minute tooth before apex; interior sclerite arising from middle, its apex membranous, with numerous minute cornuti.   
 Female genitalia (Fig. 47A). Papillae anales moderately sclerotized, posterior 2/3 covered with minute spines. Apophyses anteriores about 2/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Tergum VIII shorter than sternum VIII, posterior margin concave. Sternum VIII with anterior margin broadly convex, a weakly sclerotized round area around ostium bursae; medial sclerotization fan-shaped in posterior 1/2, narrowly elongated anteriorly as a slender sclerite, reaching base of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae with base narrow, slightly broadened after base and uniformly elongate, narrowed and twisted near corpus bursae; ductus seminalis arising from posterior 1/7. Corpus bursae obovate, as long as ductus bursae; signum semielliptical with a central ridge.   
 Variations. The markings on the forewing can be indistinct. The signum of the female genitalia can vary in size.   
 Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Sichuan).   
 Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin, apic - (apical) and spineus (spinous), referring to spines of the aedeagus.
description: Published as part of Lee, Ga-Eun & Li, Houhun, 2024, A taxonomic review of Thiotricha Meyrick, 1886 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Thiotrichinae) from China, with descriptions of 84 new species, pp. 1-222 in Zootaxa 5449 (1) on pages 19-20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5449.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11233121