Promalactis asymmetrica 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 asymmetrica

description: Promalactis asymmetrica Wang, sp. nov.
(Figs 3, 36, 69)
Type material. Malaysia: Holotype ♂, W. Pahang, Genting Tea Estate, 2000 m, 1–8.XI.1981, leg. K.R. Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317038.
Paratypes. Malaysia: 1♂ 2♀, same data as holotype, slide Nos. NHMUK010317174 ♂, NHMUK010317072 ♀; 2♀, W. Pahang, Genting Tea Estate, 2000 m, 11–29.XI.1981, leg. K.R. Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317039; 1♂ 1♀, Fraser's Hill, Gap, 850 m, 2–3.XI.1989, leg. G.S. Robinson & M.A. Tobin, slide No. NHMUK010317040 ♂; 1♀, Genting Tea Estate, Pahang, 2000 m, 30.IV.1982, leg. H.S. Barlow, slide No. NHMUK010317043.
Other material examined. Malaysia: 1♀ (abdomen missing), W. Pahang, Genting Tea Estate, 2000 m, 1– 8.XI.1981, leg. K.R. Tuck.
Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. disparatunca Wang, 2018 in male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the asymmetrical valvae, which are symmetrical in P. disparatunca. In addition, the asymmetrical uncus and the distal process of the valva of both species are different in shape.
Description. Adult (Fig. 3). Forewing length 4.5–5.0 mm.
Head. Vertex snowy white, frons slivery grey, occiput greyish brown. Labial palpus with second segment ochreous brown on outer surface, orange yellow on inner surface; third segment black except basal 1/3 and apex white. Antennal scape snowy white; flagellum black on ventral surface, white except distally alternating with black on dorsal surface.
Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula dark rust brown. Forewing ochreous yellow, with dense blackish grey scales from base to basal 2/3 anteriorly; median fascia dark rust brown, width 1/3 length of forewing, inner margin obliquely straight, with a white streak from dorsum to middle of cell, edged with black scales, outer margin concave inward above middle, edged with black scales, with a white sub-lunate spot along anterior 1/2; dorsum with a deep rust brown stripe extending from base to basal 1/3, its outer margin situated a white streak edged with black scales; apical spot black, diffused along termen to median fascia; fringe orange yellow except blackish grey along distal part of costal margin and on extension of median fascia. Hindwing and fringe dark grey. Fore- and midlegs black except midleg greyish white ventrally, tarsi white at apices of basal three tarsomeres; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apex of each tarsomere.
Male genitalia (Fig. 36). Uncus divided into two arms from near base, left arm with sparse setae along outer margin, right arm slightly longer and stronger than left arm. Gnathos bilobed, joined by a weakly sclerotized plate: left lobe smaller, sub-triangular, right lobe larger, lingulate, with verrucous processes distally. Tegumen with a shallow anterior emargination. Valvae asymmetrical: Left valva narrow at base, slightly widened to distal 4/5, then narrowed to base of distal process; costa convex at distal 1/5; sacculus narrow at base, widened to middle, thereafter narrowed to base of distal process, setose; distal process sub-rectangular, directed dorsad, with a cluster of setae, produced outward and forming a spine-shaped posteroapical process. Right valva narrow at base, widened to middle, thereafter narrowed to base of distal process; costa triangularly convex medially; sacculus with basal 3/5 uniformly wide, then slightly widened to before base of distal process; distal process curved obliquely inward, with two strong apical spines, with dense setae along outer margin. Saccus shorter than valva, wide at base, narrowed to basal 2/5, uniform to rounded apex. Juxta with lateral arm slender, curved; basal lobe narrow, clavate. Phallus slender, 2.2 times length of valva; cornutus absent.
Female genitalia (Fig. 69).Apophyses anteriores 1/2 length of apophyses posteriores.Eighth tergum rectangular, with sparse setae on posterior margin; eighth sternum sub-trapezoidal. Ductus bursae weakly sclerotized in posterior 1/2, slightly narrowed and membranous anteriorly. Corpus bursae rounded; signum being an irregular plate with a large strong spine and course granules.
Distribution. Malaysia.
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin asymmetricus, referring to the asymmetrical uncus, gnathos and valva in the male genitalia.
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 page 6, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14023827