Meleonoma seorsispina, Zhu & Wang, 2025

Zhu, Xiaoju & Wang, Shuxia, 2025, Taxonomy of the facialis species-group of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of nineteen new species, Zootaxa 5637 (1), pp. 99-125 : 116-118

Meleonoma seorsispina sp. nov.

( Figs 17 , 39 , 50 )

Type material. CHINA, Yunnan: Holotype ♂, Pukawang Village (27.84°N, 98.32°E), Dulongjiang Town, Gongshan County, Nujiang , 1335 m, 10.VI.2017, leg. KJ Teng et al., slide No. ZXJ19378 . Paratypes, Yunnan: 2♂ 1♀, same data as holotype, slide Nos. ZXJ19620 ♂, ZXJ19615 ♀; 1♂, same data as holotype, except 31.V.2017, slide No. ZXJ19621 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. angularis sp. nov. in features of the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the ventral margin of the costal part of the valva obtusely produced at basal 2/5, and the cornutus approximately 2/3 the length of the phallus; and the corpus bursae slightly longer than the ductus bursae in the female genitalia. In M. angularis , the ventral margin of the costal part of the valva is produced medially, the cornutus is approximately 4/5 the length of the phallus; and the corpus bursae is shorter than the ductus bursae.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 17 ). Forewing length 5.0– 5.5 mm.

Head with yellow scales, tipped with greyish black on vertex. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with dense black scales on outer surface, black at apex; third segment approximately 2/3 length of second segment, with dense black scales in distal 1/2 on dorsal surface except yellow at apex. Antenna yellow; flagellum alternated with black on dorsal surface.

Thorax and tegula yellow, tegula black basally. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: coxa of foreleg with sparse black scales, tibia black, tibia of midleg black except yellow at middle and at apex, tibia of hindleg with scattered black scales distally, tarsus of foreleg black, yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg black, yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two tarsomeres and yellow at apical one tarsomere, tarsus of hindleg with basal three tarsomeres black except yellow at apices, all femora with scattered black scales. Forewing elongate lanceolate, apex rounded; ground colour yellow, with scattered black scales, forming a rounded black spot at base, followed by an ill-defined stripe along basal 2/5 of costal margin; costal spot black, large, semicircular, diffused posteriorly to above anterior margin of cell; apical patch black; tornal spot black, narrowly diffused to apical patch; plical spot indistinct, composed of a few black scales; discal and discocellular spots black, discocellular spots placed one above the other, spot at posterior angle touching with tornal spot; fringe greyish black. Hindwing and fringe grey.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 39 ). Uncus slender, pointed at apex. Tegumen arched in broad U shape, almost uniformly wide. Costal part of valva relatively narrow, elongate, basal 2/5 parallel, distal 3/5 slightly narrowed to rounded apex, upturned, setose ventrodistally; ventral margin produced at basal 2/5, forming an obtuse angle; costa concave medially; transtilla short, pointed at apex. Sacculus sub-triangular, wide at base, gradually narrowed to apex, base longer than maximum width of costal part; dorsal margin with a spine-shaped process arising from near base, and with a tiny apical spine. Saccus triangular, wide at base, gradually narrowed to rounded apex, as long as uncus. Juxta slender. Phallus slightly longer than costal part of valva, tubular, densely verrucous before apex; cornutus stout, club-shaped, approximately 2/3 length of phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 50 ). Papillae anales sub-rectangular, setose. Apophyses posteriores approximately twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate spiculate; posterior margin concave at middle, lined with long setae, anterior margin convex medially. Lamella antevaginalis sub-rectangular. Ductus bursae membranous, with fine rumples; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae near entrance of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae slightly longer than ductus bursae, ovate; signum sub-quadrate, with a smaller posterior spine and a larger anterior spine.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin seorsus (apart, separate) and spina, referring to the signum with a smaller posterior spine and a larger anterior spine.

Figures

FIGURES 17−22. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 17, M. seorsispina sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 18, M. similicatenata sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 19, M. spicijuxta sp. nov., ♂, paratype; 20, M. tenuicaulis sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 21, M. tenuispina sp. nov., ♀, holotype; 22, M. verticalis sp. nov., ♂, holotype. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 35−40. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 35, M. microda sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19373; 36, M. montana, slide No. ZXJ19355; 37, M. oxydonta sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19602; 38, M. segregacantha, slide No. ZXJ18315; 39, M. seorsispina sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19378; 40, M. similicatenata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19382. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 49−52. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 49, M. crispa sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19612; 50, M. seorsispina sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19615; 51, M. similicatenata sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19609; 52, M. verticalis sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19600. All paratypes. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.