Meleonoma tenuispina, 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 : 121-122

Meleonoma tenuispina sp. nov.

( Figs 21 , 43 )

Type material. CHINA, Zhejiang: Holotype ♂, Huaxi Village (28.99°N, 120.50°E), Anwen Town, Pan'an County, Jinhua City , 542 m, 28.VII.2015, leg. AH Yin et al., slide No. ZXJ19384 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. acutidens sp. nov. in features of the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the sacculus with base approximately twice as wide as the base of the costal part of the valva and with several small spines in distal 1/2 on the dorsal margin, and the saccus as long as the uncus. In M. acutidens , the base of the sacculus is approximately 1.5 times as wide as the base of the costal part of the valva and has a tiny tooth at apex on the dorsal margin, and the saccus is half the length of the uncus.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 21 ). Forewing length 4.0 mm.

Head yellow, frons yellowish grey, occiput tipped with dark brown medially. Labial palpus yellow; first and second segments with dense dark brown scales, second segment dark brown at apex; third segment dark brown medially, approximately 2/3 length of second segment. Antenna yellow; scape with scattered dark brown scales; flagellum annulated with dark brown on dorsal surface.

Thorax dark brown medially, yellow marginally; tegula dark brown, yellow distally. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: coxa of foreleg mixed with dark brown scales, tibiae of fore- and midlegs dark brown except yellow at middle and at apex, tibia of hindleg with scattered dark brown scales distally, tarsus of foreleg dark brown except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg with basal four tarsomeres dark brown except yellow at apices, tarsus of hindleg with sparse dark brown scales, all femora mixed with dark brown scales. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex pointed; ground colour yellow, with scattered dark brown and black scales; costal margin with dense dark brown scales, forming an ill-defined stripe along basal 1/3, with an indistinct dark brown dot at distal 1/5 of costal margin; costal spot black, instinctly diffused posteriorly, denser at both ends; apical patch (worn) dark brown; plical spot black, composed of a few scales, placed at middle of fold; discal and discocellular spots dark brown, discal spot small, placed at beyond middle of cell, discocellular spots larger, placed one above the other; fringe yellowish white, tipped with dark brown. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 43 ). Uncus slender, gradually narrowed to pointed apex. Gnathos slender, sclerotized laterally, separated and invisiable anteriorly, not exceeding anterior margin of tegumen. Tegumen sub-trapezoidal, with a shallow anterior emargination. Costal part of valva with basal 2/5 uniformly narrow, widened at middle, narrowed from beyond middle to rounded apex; ventral margin convex medially; costal band shallowly concave basally; transtilla wide, rounded at apex. Sacculus trapezoidal, base approximately twice as wide as base of costal part of valva; dorsal margin sclerotized, slightly concave medially, with several small spines in distal 1/2. Saccus as long as uncus, gradually narrowed from base to middle, distal 1/2 obviously slender, rounded at apex. Juxta broadly U-shaped. Phallus straight, basal 2/5 uniform, distal 3/5 tapered to apex.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin tenuis (thin) and spina (spine), referring to the dorsal margin of the sacculus with several small spines in distal 1/2.

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.