Lepidoceropsyche manoi Saigusa and Sugimoto 2022, sp. nov.

Lepidoceropsyche manoi Saigusa and Sugimoto, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2) Diagnosis. There is only one species of Lepidoceropsyche, gen. nov.; the previously mentioned genus-level diagnostic characters distinguish this species from other Psychidae. Rather small-sized, entirely blackish species, with fluffy antennae clothed with long slender scales on flagellum, 2-sgemented labial palpi and moderately narrow wings. Female. (Fig. 1A) Length. Forewing 8.0– 9.2mm (excluding fringe), 8.4–9.5 mm (including fringe). Wing expanse 18–19 mm. Body 6.3–7.0 mm (from head to apex of corethrogyne). Coloration and vestiture. Head, thoracic nota and abdomen covered with blackish brown scales, thoracic pleura with dark brown to brown scales. Head clothed with more or less appressed short scales on face, elongate more or less appressed scales on vertex; occiput with short scales, of which dorsolateral ones covering lateral parts of vertex. Cranium posterior to antennal sockets and narrow areas along posterior margin of compound eyes naked and polished. Labial palpus clothed with elongate scales.Antenna: Scape and pedicel with short scales; flagellomere densely bearing long narrow black scales, that are 2–3 × as long as flagellomere, 1/10 as wide as long and with 2–3 short teeth apically. Prothorax with pair of rough bundles of long, erect scales posterior to head. Mesonotum covered with appressed elongate scales; tegula with long scales projecting its posterior margin; no apical bundle of long scales on mesoscutellum. Legs including epiphysis and spurs densely covered with scales, that are broad on femora and tibiae, more slender on tarsi and spurs; hind tibia dorsally without long fringe hairs. Forewing dorsal surface evenly deep blackish brown, without markings, covered with broad scales; upper scales 2.5 × as long as wide, with truncate distal margin projecting to 4–5 sharp teeth; lower scales smaller than upper ones, nearly 1/2 as long as upper scales, shorter than twice width and with blunt teeth. Fringe irregular in length, fine on basal 1/2, then gradually widening to pointed apex bearing 5–7 sharp teeth. Hindwing dorsal surface blackish brown with anterior marginal area much paler; upper scales twice as long as wide, with truncate distal margin projecting to 3 teeth, middle tooth larger, lateral ones very weak; lower scales smaller than upper ones. Fringe similar that of forewing, with 3–4 apical teeth. Integumentarl morphology. Structure of integumental sclerites is as stated in the description of the genus Lepidoceropsyche. Type material. Holotype. ♀, labelled: Japan. Ryûkyû / Airagawa-rindô / Iriomote-zima / 15.iii.2002 (light)/ K. Sugisima leg.; HOLOTYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi /Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. (Entomological Laboratory, Kyushu University). Paratypes. Iriomote-jima: 3 ♀, JAPAN: Okinawa / Iriomote Is. / Hunaura / 21-Mar-1995 / T. Mano leg.; PARATYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi /Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. (Saigusa collection); 1 ♀, [OKINAWA]/ Funaura / Iriomote-jima / 11 April, 2010 LT/ T. Saigusa & M. Sugimoto col.; PARATYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi / Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. (Saigusa collection) D Ishigaki-jima: 2 ♀, JAPAN: Okinawa / Isigaki Is. / Takeda / 28-Mar- 1993 / T. Mano; PARATYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi /Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. leg. (Saigusa collection); 2 ♀, 2016.4.9 / Okinawa Pref., Ishigaki-shi / Ooura-damu / T. Komatsu col.; PARATYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi /Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. (Entomological Laboratory, Kyushu University); 2 ♀, [JPN] Mt. Nosoko, Ishigaki-/Is., Okinawa Pref./ 25.III.2020 LT/ Shunsuke TOMURA leg. / N24,488435, E124,250542; PARATYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi / Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. (Entomological Laboratory, Kyushu University) G 1 ♀, [JNP] Takeda-rindô / Ishigaki-Is., Okinawa Pref. / 30.III.2020 / Shunsuke TOMURA leg. / N 24,403 622 E 124,183938; PARATYPE / Lepidoceropsyche manoi /Saigusa & Sugmoto, 2022. (Entomological Laboratory, Kyushu University). Type locality. Airagawa, Komi, Taketomi-cho, Iriomote-jima (24̊ 20 ìN, 123̊ 54 ìE), Ryukyus, Japan. Distribution. Iriomote-jima and Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyus, Japan. Etymology. Specific epithet is dedicated to Mr. Takayuki Mano, the first collector of this species, who is the collector of the paratypes of the rare psychid, Kearfottia japonic a Saigusa & Sugimoto, 2021. Remarks. The localities of the type-series of this species are in dense subtropical forests. The type specimens were collected in middle of March to early April. Most of the specimens were attracted to light traps, and their abdomens are shriveled in different degrees by specimens, and hairs of the corethrogyne were considerably consumed. Only a few egg chorions were retained in the abdomen when one of them was dissected. Therefore, the females collected at light traps seem to be attracted to lights after oviposition. On the other hand, one paratype female from Takeda-rindô, Ishigaki-jima that was collected by a sweeping net in daytime (according to Mr. Tomura) has the swollen abdomen with complete, not consumed, corethrogyne. Based on the conditions of the females it is assumed that they emerged at daytime, then copulated, laid eggs and became light in weight until evening, and flew to the light traps. Chorions from the dissected abdomen were oval, very thin and 0.4 mm long, 0.24 mm wide. Immature stages of this species are unknown. We did not find any possible larval or pupal cases referable to this species in the localities. We assume that the larvae of this species probably live on the forest floor and feed on fungi, mold and lichen on rotten logs or base of trees.

Topic: Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
Subfield: Genetics
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences