Nemophora xizangensis Liao, Hirowatari & Huang, 2023

Liao, Cheng-Qing, Hirowatari, Toshiya, Yagi, Sadahisa, Wang, Min, Wang, Xing & Huang, Guo-Hua, 2023, The fauna of the family Adelidae (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Adeloidea) from China, Zootaxa 5348 (1), pp. 1-152 : 41-42

(40) Nemophora xizangensis Liao, Hirowatari & Huang , sp. nov.

(Plates IV-4, XV-6, XXIV-3)

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EC92090C-AFBD-461C-8836-1114A5069B68

Diagnosis. This species is similar to N. smaragdaspis , but can be distinguished by the forewing ground color which is black with metallic blue luster, while the ground color is blue with blight metallic luster in N. smaragdaspis ; and both sides of the forewing central fasciae are almost straight, but outward curved in N. smaragdaspis . In the male genitalia, the valva is short with a pointed apex (relatively long valva with the digitate apex in N. smaragdaspis ), the anterior part of suspensorium is distinct far beyond the posterior margin of the vinculum (at the same level in N. smaragdaspis ), and the paired lamellates of the aedeagus are relatively short and straight (rather long and strongly sinuate in N. smaragdaspis ).

Description. Male. Forewing length 8.5–9.0 mm; wing expanse 19.0–20.0 mm.

Vertex densely covered with orange yellowish hairs; face with orange yellowish long scales. Eyes large, close to each other dorsally; eye size index about 7.5. Labial palpus short, densely covered with yellowish hairs; galeae with black scales laterally. Antenna slender, about 22.0 mm; scape stout, yellow to light brown; basal 1/6 of flagellum black innerly with metallic blue luster, the remaining apical part light gray to white. Legs brownish to dark brown except forelegs black; both tarsi and midspur yellow; hindtarsi with dark brown to black long hairs. Thoracic dorsum and tegula metallic blue with bright luster. Forewing lanceolate, ground color black and blue with blight blue metallic luster especially basal part; a broad transverse orange reddish central fascia placed at basal 1/3 to 1/2, and broadened with a pair of black-margined silvery-leaden bands on each side; cilia dark brown to black. Hindwing and cilia dark brown to black. Abdomen dark brown to black.

Female. Forewing about 7.0 mm; wingspan about 15.3 mm. Antenna about 7.0 mm; basal part obviously stout, densely covered with raised scales. Eyes relatively small, eye size about 0.8. Forewing central fasciae relatively narrow, placed from 1/3 to 1/2 of forewing. Others similar to male.

Male genitalia. Uncus triangular, with a weak median keel. Vinculum moderate in length, about 3.7 times as long as valva. Valvae triangular, with obviously acute apex; ventral base completely fused; inner margin straight; sacculus expanding outward and forming a prominently acute process medially; suspensorium subsquare, anterior part distinct far beyond posterior margin of vinculum, with abrupted or slightly concaved margin. Transtilla slightly narrow in middle part; median process short. Aedeagus stout and curved dorsally; apical portion with a pair of strongly sclerotized lamellates dorsolaterally; vesical with a patch of microtrichia. Juxta arrow-shaped; arrow-head long and pointed, with short lateral arms.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor pointed, with six serrated teeth ventroposteriorly. Apophyses posteriores and anteriores of subequal in length, relatively slender, 2.0 times as long as 7th tergite. Vestibulum with large sclerotized plate; a pair of vestibular lamellae sclerotized near attachment point of guy wire. Bursa copulatrix relatively long and slender, membranous.

Holotype. [Tibet] ♂, Pailong Country, Linzhi City , 2021.VI.7, H.L. Han, J. Wu & J.J. Fan leg. ( HUNAU)

Paratypes. [Tibet] 3♂ 6♀, Dergong Village, Beibeng Country , Motuo County, Linzhi City, 2021.V.26–VI.4, H.L. Han leg. ( HUNAU) .

Etymology. The specific epithet was derived from the Chinese name, Xizang, of the type locality, Tibet Autonomous Region.

Distribution. China (Tibet).

Remarks. This new species is endemic to Tibet, China and usually occurs from May to June.