Lecithocera asticta Yu & Wang 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Yu, Shuai
name: Wang, Shuxia
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Lecithoceridae
Lecithocera
Lecithocera asticta

description: Lecithocera asticta sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 50FACF21-AE59-47DD-8FBA-D2D8E885D032
Figs 1D, 6B, 10D, 15D
Diagnosis
The new species is superficially similar to L. meyricki Gozmány, 1978 in appearance by sharing a greyish brown forewing without maculation. It can be distinguished by having the forewing with R 3 and R 4+5 arising from the same point, and in the male genitalia by the cucullus widened medially; whereas in L. meyricki, the forewing has veins R 3 and R 4+5 stalked and the cucullus is narrowed from base to apex (Gozmány 1978: pl. 25 fig. 37).
Etymology
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “ astictus ”, referring to the forewing without maculation.
Type material
Holotype
CHINA – Yunnan Province • ♂; Tengchong City, Xiaodifang; 24º52′ N, 98º45′ E; 2116 m a.s.l.; 12 Jul. 2014; K.J. Teng et al. leg.; slide no. YS19603; NKU.
Paratype
CHINA – Yunnan Province • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; slide no. YS20005; NKU.
Description
ADULT (Figs 1D, 6B). Wingspan 12.0‒13.0 mm. Head yellowish brown. Antenna pale orange; flagellum ringed with dark brown. Labial palpus pale yellow; third palpomere shorter than second palpomere. Thorax and tegula yellowish brown. Forewing widened distally, costal margin slightly arched, apex rounded, termen oblique; ground colour greyish brown; basal streak dark brown, distinct at base; fringe greyish brown, with pale yellow basal line; R 3 and R 4+5 arising from same point, R 4 and R 5 long-stalked, R 5 to apex, M 2 and M 3 subparallel, CuA 1 and CuA 2 short-stalked. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown; M 3 and CuA 1 long-stalked.
MALE GENITALIA (Fig. 10D). Uncus subtriangular, shallowly concave on posterior margin; caudal lobe short digitiform. Gnathos with basal plate subquadrate, roundly produced on posterior margin; median process broad in basal ⅓, narrowed to distal ⅓, distal ⅓ slender to pointed apex, curved ventrad at distal ¼. Valva broad and parallel-sided basally, narrowed to cucullus; cucullus about half as long as valva, slightly widened medially, narrowed from middle to narrowly rounded apex, nearly straight on costal margin, setose ventrally, with several bullet-shaped setae ventrobasally; costal bar narrow in basal half, widened from middle toward valva, gently angled at middle; sacculus distinct basally, taenioid. Vinculum broad; saccus not developed, rounded on anterior margin. Juxta shield-shaped, with small notch at middle on posterior margin, produced at middle on anterior margin; posterior lobe semiovate basally, narrow taenioid distally, extending outward. Aedeagus shorter than valva, arched, wide at base, narrowed to basal ⅓, thereafter tubular, without dorsal denticle, with dense granules in vesica; cornuti consisting of elliptical ring placed medially, cluster of spinules from basal ¼ to before middle, and several spines at distal ¼.
SEVENTH ABDOMINAL STERNITE (Fig. 15D). Anterolateral rib thin, forked basally, curved distally, reaching posterior margin of sixth abdominal sternite; posterolateral lobe weakly sclerotized, triangular.
Female
Unknown.
Distribution
China (Yunnan).
description: Published as part of Yu, Shuai & Wang, Shuxia, 2024, The genus Lecithocera (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species, pp. 1-74 in European Journal of Taxonomy 924 on pages 6-7, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.924.2447, http://zenodo.org/record/10803382