Meleonoma spicijuxta, 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 : 119-120

Meleonoma spicijuxta sp. nov.

( Figs 19 , 41 )

Type material. CHINA, Xizang: Holotype ♂, Motuo County (29.32°N, 95.32°E) Linzhi City , 1097 m, 10.VIII.2017, leg. MJ Qi & XF Yang, slide No. ZXJ19372 . Paratypes, Xizang: 1♂, same data as holotype; 6♂, Fangkongdong, Beibeng Town, Motuo City , 750 m, 1.VIII.2018, leg. MJ Qi, slide Nos. ZXJ18333 , ZXJ18336 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. malacognatha Li & Wang, 2002 in features of the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the orange forewing with a black spot at base on the dorsum; in the male genitalia by the gnathos not exceeding the anterior margin of the tegumen and the costal part of the valva semielliptical. In M. malacognatha , the yellowish brown forewing lacks a spot at base on the dorsum; the gnathos exceeds the anterior margin of the tegumen and the costal part of the valva is rectangular distally ( Li & Wang 2002: 232, fig. 3). It is also similar to M. tenuicaulis sp. nov., and the differences between them can be found in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 19 ). Forewing length 3.0–4.0 mm.

Head with yellow scales, tipped with black medially on occiput. Labial palpus pale yellow; second segment mixed with sparse scales on outer surface, black apically; third segment slightly shorter than second segment, with dense black scales except pale yellow at base and at apex. Antenna pale yellow; scape mixed with black scales; flagellum with black annulations on dorsal surface.

Thorax yellow, black along midline; tegula black basally, yellow distally. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: coxa of foreleg with scattered black scales, femur black, femur of midleg with scattered black scales, femur of hindleg with sparse dark grey scales, tibia of foreleg black, tibia of midleg black except yellow apically, tibia of hindleg with scattered black scales, tarsus of foreleg black except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg black except yellow at apices of basal two tarsomeres and yellow at apical one tarsomere, tarsus of hindleg with basal four tarsomeres black except yellow at apices. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex narrowly rounded; ground colour yellow, with scattered black scales; costal margin with a black stripe along basal 1/3, wider at base, with a small dot at distal 1/4 of costal margin, black; costal spot large, semicircular; apical patch black, large, running from distal part of costal margin along termen to tornus; plical spot black, at middle of fold; discal and discocellular spots black, discal spot large, discocellular spots small, composed of a few scales, placed one above the other, spot at posterior angle touching with tornal spot; tornal spot black, narrowly diffused to apical patch; dorsum with a black spot at base; fringe yellow, greyish black around apex and tornus. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 41 ). Uncus slender, pointed at apex. Gnathos sclerotized laterally, not exceeding anterior margin of tegumen, invisible anteriorly. Tegumen arched, U-shaped, uniformly wide except slightly narrower at anterior end laterally. Costal part of valva semielliptical, setose ventrodistally; costal band obliquely straight, extending to just before tip of costal margin; ventral margin obtusely arched; transtilla slender, joined medially. Sacculus relatively sub-rectangular, sclerotized on margins, slightly widened to obtusely rounded apex. Saccus triangular, large and broad, shorter than uncus. Juxta sub-rectangular, with a small spine-like process posterolaterally. Phallus slender, half length of costal part of valva, verrucous distally.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin spicula (small point) and the term juxta, referring to the juxta with a spine-like process posterolaterally.

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 41−44. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 41, M. spicijuxta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19372, 41a, enlarged gnathos, 41b, enlarged juxta, slide No. ZXJ18336; 42, M. tenuicaulis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19390; 43, M. tenuispina sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19384; 44, M. verticalis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19381. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.