Thiotricha vittata 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 vittata

description: Thiotricha vittata sp. nov.   
(Figs 6G, 23F, 29F, 47F)  
 Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Sichuan Province, Batang County, Zhubalong, 2500 m, 11.vii.2001, leg. Houhun Li and Xinpu Wang, genitalia slide no. LGE18103. Paratypes. CHINA: 16 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, same data as holotype (one male and one female are deposited in NHMUK), genitalia slide nos. ZJL05009f, ZJL05010m, ZJL05333m, ZJL05334f, LGE 18091m, LGE 18092m, LGE18093f.   
 Diagnosis. In superficial appearance, this species can be easily distinguished from its allies by the white forewing with a broad band on dorsum. The male and female genitalia are very similar to those of T. gracilis and the differences between the two species are given under the latter species.   
 Description. Adult (Fig. 6G). Wingspan 10.5−12.0 mm. Head white. Labial palpus white, slightly suffused with fuscous on ventral surface, segment III as long as II, pointed at apex. Antenna with scape white; flagellum brown except basal 1/5 of dorsal surface white, male cilia as long diameter. Thorax white, posterior margin tinged with light brown. Tegula white. Forewing ground color white, anterior edge of costa fuscous; from distal 1/4 of costa a slender, outwardly oblique fuscous streak; beyond this a fuscous triangle, bordered by white scales; apical spot elongated, bordered by white scales; a black longitudinal median line in distal 2/5 of wing, this meets a costal streak distally; a broad, light brown to fuscous band along dorsum, narrowed near tornus; two slender, brown or black streaks arising from distal 1/2 and 1/3 of the band, respectively, obliquely curved outward, reaching middle of median line; fringe on apical area white with subterminal and terminal fuscous bands, remaining fringe creamy. Hindwing light brown, apex slightly tinged with fuscous; fringe light yellow. Legs white, fore leg fuscous on outer surface, mid and hind legs slightly suffused with light brown, hind tarsus with tarsomeres II−V fuscous basally.   
 Male sternum VIII (Fig. 23F). 1/5 length of abdomen, sharply narrowed from posterior 1/2, bifurcate from posterior 1/4 with slender tines, each tine blunt at apex.   
 Male genitalia (Fig. 29F). Uncus spatulate, sparsely setose apically. Gnathos hook moderately long. Tegumen approximately 3 times as long as uncus, anterior margin indented in sub pentagon-shape. Valvae asymmetrical, with right valva slightly broader medially; base narrow, costa broadly concave before middle, nearly straight distally; ventral margin gradually widening from base to middle, then narrowing to blunt apex. Anellus lobe 1/4 length of valva, digitate, constricted at middle; apical bristle 1/4 length of anellus lobe, hooked. Juxta with a setose, subtriangular process, outer margin weakly sclerotized. Vinculum simple, posterior margin rounded. Saccus short, subtriangular, not exceeding tegumen pedunculus, blunt at apex. Aedeagus with basal 1/2 dilated, narrowed after middle, subapex slightly broadened, apex constricted and shortly curved upward.   
 Female genitalia (Fig. 47F). Papillae anales moderately sclerotized, posterior 1/2 covered with minute spines. Apophyses anteriores 2/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Tergum VIII shorter than sternum VIII, divided into two sclerites, posterior margin slightly concave. Sternum VIII concave posteriorly, with anterior margin strongly produced in U-shape; medial sclerotization subtriangular in posterior 1/5, then narrowly extended toward ductus bursae, anterior 1/4 curved and melanized, reaching base of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae uniformly elongate, slightly longer than corpus bursae. Corpus bursae elliptical; signum at middle, semielliptical with a central ridge.   
 Variations. The apical spot on the forewing can vary in size. Among the five male genitalia examined, the apical bristle on the anellus lobe is bifid in two specimens, but it is complete in three other specimens.   
 Distribution. China (Sichuan).   
 Etymology. The species name is from Latin, vittatus (banded), referring to the broad longitudinal band on 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 24-25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5449.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11233121