Tenupalpa uncativalva Lee et Li 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Lee, Ga-Eun
name: Li, Houhun
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Gelechiidae
Tenupalpa
Tenupalpa uncativalva

description: Tenupalpa uncativalva Lee et Li, sp. nov.
(Figs 12, 43, 63, 82)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 109CB3BA-D311-4CC8-8290-37BAB19E6496
Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Xizang Autonomous Region, Motuo County, Chengjiao (29.33°N, 95.33°E), 1016 m, 5.viii.2018, leg. Mujie Qi, genitalia slide no. LGE19015.
Diagnosis. The species is distinguished from other species of Tenupalpa by the orange patch on the forewing that extends to an apical spot, whereas in related species the patch is separated from the apical spot by white scales. However, we examined only a single male specimen of T. uncativalva; hence, further examination is needed. The male genitalia are distinguished by the sharply pointed apex of the valva, which is unusual in the genus.
Description. Adult (Fig. 63). Head: Creamy white. Labial palpus creamy white; palpomere I slightly tinged with fuscous on outer surface; palpomere III as long as II, fuscous apically. Antenna with scape creamy white; flagellum dark fuscous except basal half of dorsal surface creamy white, male cilia as long as flagellomere diameter.
Thorax: Dorsum and tegula cream. Wingspan 8.0 mm; forewing grey except basal 2/5 strongly mixed with cream; anterior edge of costa black in basal 1/3; a semicircular orange patch in distal 1/3 of wing, its anterior margin reaching costa, gradually narrowing toward dorsum posteriorly, outer margin almost reaching apical spot; dirty white between patch and apical spot, extending along termen as a narrow line; termen slightly tinged with black below apical spot, dorsum suffused with orange beyond fold; fringe scales grey, dark fuscous on termen. Hindwing grey except apex black and near apex cream; fringe scales grey, apical fringe with a black terminal band. Legs creamy white; mid-tibia slightly tinged with fuscous after middle; hind tibia fuscous along distal half of dorsal margin, apex ringed with fuscous; mid- and hind tarsi strongly mixed with fuscous.
Abdomen (Fig. 12): Male coremata shorter than sternum VIII; sternum VIII approximately 1/7 length of abdomen, lateral margin rounded, posterior apex abruptly tapered to a shape point. Male genitalia (Fig. 82) with uncus rhomboid, distal margin deeply emarginate, with a sharp projection arising from cleft, exceeding uncus. Gnathos hook moderately long, strongly curved at 1/3, acute apically. Tegumen approximately 5 times as long as uncus; a set of round tubercles at middle, each bearing a long single hair (Fig. 43). Valva curved inward, with long sparse setae, gradually narrowing from base and terminating in a sharply pointed apex, near costa with a short projection at distal 1/4. Anellus lobe oval, approximately 1/3 length of valva, with a strong apical bristle longer than anellus lobe. Juxta simple, slightly convex at middle of inner margin. Vinculum simple. Saccus short and broad, triangular. Aedeagus with basal half dilated, slender and sinuous distally.
Female unknown.
Distribution. China (Xizang).
Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin uncatus (hooked) and valva (valva), referring to the acute and curved valva.
description: Published as part of Lee, Ga-Eun & Li, Houhun, 2022, Taxonomic study of the genus Tenupalpa Lee et Li, 2021 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae Thiotrichinae) from China, with descriptions of fifteen new species, pp. 75-111 in Zootaxa 5087 (1) on pages 104-105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5087.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/5819794