Thiotricha apicidisca 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 apicidisca

description: Thiotricha apicidisca sp. nov.   
(Figs 20D, 27K, 44A, 60F)  
 Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Shanxi Province, Jiexiu, Mt. Mian (36.87°N, 111.99°E), 1370 m, 20.vii.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Meiqing Yang and Sihan Lu, genitalia slide no. LGE18259. Paratypes. CHINA: Shanxi Province: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype, genitalia slide nos. LGE 18734m, LGE18735f; 2 ♀♀, Mt. Li, 1520 m, Jingcheng, 16.viii.2006, leg. Xu Zhang and Haiyan Bai; 1 ♂, Xizhashui Village, 900 m, Lingchuan County, Jingcheng, 16.vii.2010, leg. Haiyan Bai and Linlin Yang; 3 ♂♂, Mt. Mian (36.87°N, 111.99°E), 1370 m, Jiexiu, 26, 31.vii.2013, leg. Tengteng Liu and Peixin Cong, genitalia slide no. LGE18250; Beijing: 1 ♂, Mutianyu, Huairou, 23.vii.2010, leg. Aihuan Zhang and Hongmei Chen, genitalia slide no. LGE18778; Guizhou Province: 1 ♂, Dongdai, 720 m, Shuizu Town, Limingguan, Libo County, 19.vii.2015, leg. Meiqing Yang and Ga-Eun Lee; 1 ♀, Lanei Village, 800 m, Shuizu Town, Limingguan, Libo County, 22.vii.2015, leg. Meiqing Yang and Ga-Eun Lee; Hebei Province: 2 ♂♂, Wuyuezhai (38.71°N, 113.86°E), 928 m, Lingshou County, Shijiazhuang, 6, 8.vii.2016, leg. Sihan Lu and Hua Rong, genitalia slide no. LGE16271; Henan Province: 1 ♂, Mt. Jigong, 700 m, Xinyang City, 9.vii.1997, leg. Houhun Li, genitalia slide no. ZJL05157; 4 ♂♂, Xiaguan Town, 650 m, Neixiang County, 10, 12.vii.1998, leg. Houhun Li, genitalia slide nos. ZJL05047, ZJL05205, ZJL05206, ZJL05225; Hubei Province: 1 ♀, Wujiashan (31.08°N, 115.8°E), Yingshan County, 10.vii.2011, leg. Yunli Xiao; 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Taohuachong (30.98°N, 116.02°E), 635 m, Yingshan County, 23–27.vi.2014, leg. Wei Guan and Meiqing Yang, genitalia slide nos. LGE 18249m, LGE18260f; 1 ♂, Wujiashan (31.09°N, 115.8°E), 880 m, Yingshan County, 28.vi.2014, leg. Wei Guan and Meiqing Yang; Jiangxi Province: 1 ♂, Mt. Sanqing (28.9°N, 118.07°E), 610 m, Yushan County, 21.viii.1985, leg. Guangpu Shen, genitalia slide no. ZJL05331; Sichuan Province: 1 ♂, Zharu (33.25°N, 103.97°E), 2250 m, Jiuzhaigou, 19.viii.2002, leg. Shulian Hao (abdomen missing); Zhejiang Province: 1 ♂, Chanyuansi, 350 m, Mt. Tianmu, 15.viii.1999, leg. Houhun Li et al. genitalia slide no. LGE18742; 1 ♂, Kaishanlaodian (30.34°N, 119.45°E), 1140 m, Mt. Tianmu, Hangzhou City, 17.viii.1999, leg. Houhun Li et al., genitalia slide no. ZJL05224; 1 ♂, Sanmuping, 800 m, Mt. Tianmu, 19.viii.1999, leg. Houhun Li et al., genitalia slide no. ZJL05222; 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Xianrending (30.20°N, 119.50°E), 1500 m, Mt. Tianmu, 25, 26.vii.2011, leg. Linlin Yang and Na Chen, genitalia slide nos. GW 12233m, LGE 15014m, LGE 18736m; 1 ♀, Sanmuping, 1000 m, Mt. Tianmu, 28.vii.2011, leg. Linlin Yang and Na Chen, genitalia slide no. LGE18733; 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Laoan (30.33°N, 119.40°E), 555 m, Mt. Tianmu, 3–6.vii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Xuemei Hu and Qingyun Wang; 1 ♀, Sanmuping (30.37°N, 119.43°E), 789 m, Mt. Tianmu, 14.vii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Xuemei Hu and Qingyun Wang; 2 ♀♀, Xiguan (30.36°N, 119.48°E), 566 m, Mt. Tianmu, 18, 19.vii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Xuemei Hu and Qingyun Wang; 41 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, Sanmuping (30.37°N, 119.43°E), 789 m, Mt. Tianmu, 10, 11.viii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Qingyun Wang and Suran Li, genitalia slide nos. LLJ 14058m, LLJ 14059m, LLJ 14060m, LLJ 14061m, LGE 15011m, LGE 15012m, LGE 15013m, LGE 15019m (two males and two females are deposited in NHMUK); 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Qianjiangyuan (30.39°N, 119.49°E), 866 m, Mt. Tianmu, 12–15.viii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Qingyun Wang and Suran Li; 21 ♂♂, 28 ♀♀, Laoan (30.33°N, 119.40°E), 555 m, Mt. Tianmu, 16−19.viii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Qingyun Wang and Suran Li, genitalia slide nos. LGE 15015m, LGE15020f, LGE 18261m, LGE 18723m; 1 ♂, Longxushan Village (30.40°N, 119.54°E), 778 m, Mt. Longxu, 22.viii.2014, leg. Auhui Yin, Qingyun Wang and Suran Li; 3 ♀♀, Jiufucun (30.09°N, 118.93°E), 520 m, Mt. Longtang, 30, 31.viii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Qingyun Wang and Suran Li.   
 Diagnosis. Thiotricha apicidisca can be diagnosed by the white forewing distally marked with fuscous streaks and the presence of glossy scales near the apical spot, reflecting greyish blue (visible in fresh specimens and indistinct on fig. 20D). The superficial appearance of this species is similar to those of the lata -group, but the male coremata is absent and the uncus is not membranous unlike the lata -group. The male genitalia resemble those of T. villosa especially having a flap-like extension on valva, but the valva is broader and the anellus lobe is smaller in T. apicidisca. The female genitalia of T. apicidisca can be differentiated from T. villosa by the presence of a curved, spoon-like sclerite at the base of ductus bursae.   
 Description. Adult (Fig. 20D). Wingspan 7.5−12.0 mm. Head white. Labial palpus white, segment III as long as II, black-tipped. Antenna with scape white; flagellum light brown except basal 1/3 or 1/4 of dorsal surface white, male cilia as long as diameter. Thorax white, anterior margin sometimes suffused with fuscous. Tegula white. Forewing white, anterior edge of costa black in basal half, markings dark fuscous: an outwardly oblique costal streak from distal 1/3 of wing, attenuated distally, running toward apical spot; beyond this a longer costal streak running in parallel with former, reaching apical spot; beyond this mixed white and fuscous scales, sometimes forming a triangular patch; apical spot small and round, bordered outwardly by some greyish blue, disc-like glossy scales; a slender streak usually present arising from anterior margin of apical spot, extending to fold at distal 1/3 of wing, sometimes leaving a spot at fold and curved toward dorsum, sometimes not reaching fold or interrupted by white ground before fold; fringe on apical area white with a terminal black band, produced downwards; fringe on termen white, slightly mixed with fuscous near apex terminally; fringe on dorsum whitish grey. Hindwing grey except near apex white; fringe whitish grey except apical area white with a terminal black band. Legs white; fore femur, tibia and tarsus black on outer surface; mid and hind tibiae with a short black streak near apex, respectively; mid and hind tarsi with first tarsomere broadly black at middle, II–III tarsomeres black in basal half.   
 Abdominal segments (Fig. 27K). In male and female, tergum I with a pair of lines extended from anterior margin of lateral rod to spiracle, somewhat weaker in female, setose along the line; in male, sternum VIII 1/4 length of abdomen, abruptly narrowed after base, then gradually narrowing toward posterior apex; posterior apex shortly bifid.   
 Male genitalia (Fig. 44A). Uncus sub-rectangular; lateral margins broadly convex in basal 2/3, concave before apex; ventral surface with stiff setae laterally. Gnathos hook long and slender, apex abruptly narrowed and sharply pointed. Tegumen approximately 3 times as long as uncus. Valva gradually broadening from base to apex, distal 1/3 of ventral surface with a flap-like extension near costa, rounded at apex. Anellus lobe pear-shaped, approximately 1/4 or 1/5 length of valva; apical bristle 1/3 length of anellus lobe, hooked. Juxta broad, rounded. Vinculum simple, posterior margin broadly convex or slightly emarginate at middle. Saccus broad, sub-triangular, apex acute or blunt. Aedeagus with basal 1/3 dilated, gradually narrowing to 2/3, then broadening to apex; apex shortly trifid.   
 Female genitalia (Fig. 60F). Papillae anales weakly sclerotized. Apophyses anteriores slightly shorter than apophyses posteriores. Tergum VIII deeply concave posteriorly, with a narrowly U-shaped line anteriorly. Sternum VIII longer than tergum VIII, strongly produced anteriorly in U-shape, with a longitudinal cleft near ostium bursae. Ostium bursae opening at anterior margin of sternum VIII. Ductus bursae uniformly elongate to corpus bursae, with a short and spoon-like sclerite at base; ductus seminalis arising from near base. Corpus bursae elliptical, approximately 1.5 times as long as ductus bursae; signum rounded, consisting of minute denticles, placed at middle of corpus bursae.   
 Distribution. China (Beijing, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang).   
 Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin, apex - (tip) and discus (disc), referring to the disc-like glossy scales at the apex of the forewing.
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 143-145, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5449.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11233121