Promalactis kathmanduensis 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 kathmanduensis

description: Promalactis kathmanduensis Wang, sp. nov.
(Figs 2, 35, 68)
Type material. Nepal: Holotype ♂, British Embassy, Kathmandu, 4500 m, 20.V.–23.VI.1983, leg. Allen, Brendell, Robinson, Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317057.
Paratypes. Nepal: 7♂ 2♀, same data as holotype, slide No. NHMUK010317061 ♀; 1♂ 2♀, British Embassy, Kathmandu, 1400 m, 12–13.VI.1984, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317055 ♀; 1♀, 30km E. Kathmandu, Dolalghat, 950 m, 9.IV.1983, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317059; 1♂ 1♀, Chautara, 1800 m, 24.IX.1983, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317056 ♂; 2♂, Babai Dam, Bardia, 190 m, 28.II.–5.III.2003, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317058.
Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the forewing having a large black basal patch that extends narrowly along the costal margin to the inner costal spot; in the male genitalia by the sacculus with a small dorsal notch beyond the middle, the rectangular juxta concave in a broad U-shape at apex and the phallus having a strong apical spine; and in the female genitalia by the corpus bursae having two large gear-shaped signa.
Description. Adult (Fig. 2). Forewing length 4.0– 5.5 mm.
Head. Vertex and frons greyish white, mixed with dark brown scales; occiput black. Labial palpus black mixed with white scales, third segment white at base and apex. Antennal scape black with a longitudinal fine white streak at middle dorsally, grey ventrally; flagellum black, alternating with white dorsally.
Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula black, mottled with white scales. Forewing yellow; basal patch quadrangular, black, edged with a white line on outer margin, occupying 1/5 length of wing; costal margin with two black spots: inner black spot ovate, at basal 2/5, slightly crossing anterior margin of cell, joined with basal patch by a narrow black band along costal margin, outer black spot sub-quadrate, from distal 1/4 extending to above posterior angle of cell; dorsum with a triangular black spot at distal 1/3, its inner margin edged with a white streak; tornal area with scattered dark brown scales; apical spot white, ovate, small, with dense black scales on inner margin; fringe yellow, mixed with black around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black, femur white ventrally, tibia with a white dot at middle, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere; midleg pale brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of white scales at middle and apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal four tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.
Male genitalia (Fig. 35). Uncus sub-campaniform, wide at base, narrowed to middle, thereafter abruptly and uniformly slender to before pointed apex. Gnathos as long as uncus; mesial plate lingulate, with scaly protuberances in distal 1/4. Tegumen furcate from posterior 2/3; lateral arm extending obliquely outward to obtuse anterior end. Valva parallel sided in basal 2/3, narrowed from distal 1/3 to rounded apex, setose distally; costa almost straight; sacculus a wide band, slightly narrowed and produced into a free distal process bent dorsad and exceeding apex of valva, concave in a small notch on dorsal margin beyond middle. Saccus triangular, 2/3 length of uncus, broad at base, narrowed to pointed apex. Juxta rectangular, concave laterally near base, deeply concave in a broad U-shape at apex, forming two spine-shaped lobes. Phallus slightly shorter than valva, slightly tapered distally, with a stout apical spine; cornutus small, 1/7 length of phallus.
Female genitalia (Fig. 68). Apophyses anteriores about 2/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum sub-rectangular, spiculate, with sparse setae. Antrum cup-shaped. Ductus bursae membranous, with several spines posteriorly. Corpus bursae rounded, membranous, longer than ductus bursae; with two large gear-shaped signa, one edged with seven short spines, the other with nine short spines.
Distribution. Nepal.
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Kathmandu.
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 5, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14023827