Promalactis lativalva 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 lativalva

description: Promalactis lativalva Wang, sp. nov.
(Figs 14, 47, 75)
Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, Doi Suthep-Pui, Chiang Mai, 1440 m, 22–23.IX.1986, leg. G.S. Robinson, slide No. NHMUK010317054.
Paratypes. Thailand: 1♂ 1♀, same data as holotype, slide Nos. NHMUK010317048 ♂, NHMUK010317074 ♀; 1♀, Doi Southep-Pui NP, Chiang Mai, 1460 m, 26.IV.–10.V.1989, leg. A.M. Cotton, slide No. NHMUK010317046; 1♀, 24.IX.1986, leg. A.M. Allen, other data as holotype, slide No. NHMUK010317195.
Diagnosis. The forewing ground color of the new species is relatively darker than that of other species of the group. It can be distinguished further in the male genitalia by the elongate conical uncus, the medially widened valva abruptly produced into an elongate sub-digitate distal process, and the succulus with a setose thumb-shaped process beyond middle on the dorsal margin; and in the female genitalia by having three sub-rounded signa bearing dense teeth.
Description. Adult (Fig. 14). Forewing length 5.0 mm.
Head. Vertex and frons shining snowy white, frons mixed with yellow, occiput deep yellowish brown. Labial palpus with second segment brown except white in basal 1/2 on inner surface; third segment white except brown in distal 1/2 on ventral surface. Antennal scape yellowish grey on ventral surface, white on dorsal surface; flagellum yellowish grey on ventral surface, white alternating with black on dorsal surface.
Thorax. Mesonotum, tegula and forewing brownish yellow. Forewing black along basal 1/4 of costal margin; antemedian fascia white, extending from before basal 1/3 of costal margin obliquely outward to basal 2/3 of dorsum, wider anteriorly, edged with black scales along posterior 2/3 on outer margin; costal spot white, ovate, extending from distal 1/3 to above posterior angle of cell; dense black scales between outer margin of antemedian fascia and inner margin of costal spot, forming an ill-defined costal band; dark brown scales diffused from outer margin of antemedian fascia to apex along dorsal 2/5 of wing, black distally; fringe greyish brown except yellow around apex. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Fore- and midlegs black on ventral side, except tarsus white on basal 1/2 of basal tarsomere and at apex of each tarsomere, tibia of midleg with a tuft of white scales; hindleg earth yellow on ventral side, brown on dorsal side.
Male genitalia (Fig. 47). Uncus elongate conical, narrowed to pointed apex. Gnathos inconspicuous. Tegumen strongly sclerotized on lateral margin. Valva broad, widened medially, suddenly produced into an elongate sub-digitate process distally; costa convex medially, produced into setose process distally, with a rounded apex not reaching apex of valva; sacculus arched, with a setose thumbed process beyond middle on dorsal margin. Saccus shorter than uncus, sub-triangular. Juxta irregular, with two small teeth posteriorly; basal lobe slender, clavate. Phallus shorter than valva, tubular; cornutus absent.
Female genitalia (Fig. 75). Apophyses anteriores 1/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum straight on posterior margin. Antrum cup-shaped. Ductus bursae uniform; ductus seminalis arising from near corpus bursae. Corpus bursae ovate; with three sub-rounded signa, each bearing dense teeth.
Distribution. Thailand.
Etymology. The specific epithet is compounded from the Latin latus and valva, referring to the broad valva of 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 pages 15-16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14023827