Meleonoma oxygona, Zhu & Wang, 2025

Zhu, Xiaoju & Wang, Shuxia, 2025, Five new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, European Journal of Taxonomy 997, pp. 131-143 : 140-141

Meleonoma oxygona sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7E596616-EBD4-4249-BBD5-24E7D8633AD3

Figs 1E , 2E , 3E

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to M. acuminata sp. nov. in the male genitalia by the costal part of the valva ending with a spine. Meleonoma oxygona sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. acuminata by the presence of the following characteristics in the male genitalia: the costal part of the valva is with a cluster of tiny processes before the apex, and the sacculus produced to a long digitiform process dorso-apically. In M. acuminata , the costal part of the valva lacks a cluster of tiny processes before the apex, and the sacculus lacks a long digitiform process dorso-apically.

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘ oxygonus ’, meaning ‘acute’ in English, which refers to the costal part of the valva ending with a spine. The species epithet is an adjective of the feminine gender.

Type material

Holotype CHINA – Xizang Autonomous Region [Tibet] • ♂; Zhala Village, Chayu County ; 28°37′ N, 97°25′ E; 2266 m a.s.l.; 29 Jun. 2019; M.J. Qi and J.Q. Deng leg.; slide No. ZXJ19489 ; NKU.

Description

Male

ADULT ( Fig. 1E ). Forewing length 6.0 mm. Head pale yellow, mixed with dark brown scales on frons, tipped with dark brown medially on occiput. Labial palpus dark brown; first and second palpomeres mixed with yellow scales; second palpomere with black ring at apex; third palpomere yellow at base and at distal ⅓. Antenna dark brown on dorsal surface, yellow on ventral surface, scape yellow distally on dorsal surface, with sparse dark brown scales on ventral surface; flagellum annulated with yellow on dorsal surface. Mesonotum dark brown dorsally, yellow laterally; tegula predominantly dark brown, yellow apically. Forewing narrowly elongated, rounded at apex; ground colour dark brown, with yellow and black markings: costal margin with inner yellow spot at basal ⅓, rectangular, posteriorly crossing anterior margin of cell, outer yellow spot at distal ⅓, large, with small dark brown spot anteriorly; fold with yellow stripe extending along fold, interspersed with black scales; plical spot black, placed near middle of fold; discal spot composed of few black scales, placed at middle of cell, touching inner yellow spot, discocellular spots larger, placed one above the other, at outer margin of cell; termen yellow, interrupted by dark brown scales; fringe greyish black, with yellowish white basal line. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs pale yellow, except on ventral surface: fore- and midlegs dark brown, tibiae of fore- and midlegs pale yellow at middle and at apex, tarsus of foreleg pale yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg pale yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal four tarsomeres, hindleg lost.

MALE GENITALIA ( Figs 2E , 3E ). Uncus wide and parallel in basal 2 /5, distinctly narrowed at basal 2 /5, subparallel to before obtuse apex. Gnathos weakly sclerotized, anterially joined and far exceeding anterior margin of tegumen, with straight band along midline. Tegumen narrowly banded, arched. Valva with costal part sub-rectangular, with cluster of tiny processes before apex above ventral margin, with fine setae distally; ventral margin heavily sclerotized, banded, with triangular sclerotized area near base, slightly convex beyond middle, ending with spine; costa almost straight, with sparse long setae at middle; transtilla weakly sclerotized, banded. Sacculus produced in triangle form basally, forming long digitus-shaped process dorso-apically. Saccus evenly tapered to narrowly rounded apex, approx. 1.5× as long as uncus. Juxta slender. Aedeagus nearly 1.7 × as long as costal part of valva; basal 3 /5 tubular, distal 2 /5 partially membranous, with small spine at apex; cornutus spine-shaped, placed in vesica.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Xizang).

Figures

Fig. 1. Adults of Meleonoma spp. A. M. acuminata sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19398). B. M. brevicula, ♂ (slide No. YAH15565). C. M. crassispinasp. nov., ♂, paratype (slide No. ZXJ19225). D. M. dentitaeniana sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19406). E. M. oxygona sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19489). F. M. valviafflata sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19424). Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

Fig. 2. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. A. M. acuminata sp. nov., holotype (slide No. ZXJ19398). B. M. brevicula, slide No. YAH15565. C. M. crassispina sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19226). D. M. dentitaeniana sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19406). E. M. oxygona sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19489). F. M. valviafflata sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19424). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 3. Enlarged gnathos ofMeleonoma spp.A. M. acuminata sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19398). B. M. brevicula, ♂ (slide No. YAH15565). C. M. crassispina sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19226). D. M. dentitaeniana sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19406). E. M. oxygona sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19489). F. M. valviafflata sp. nov., ♂, holotype (slide No. ZXJ19424). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.