Meleonoma balteiformis, 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 : 108-109

Meleonoma balteiformis sp. nov.

( Figs 6 , 28 )

Type material. CHINA, Sichuan: Holotype ♂, Hailuogou (29.60°N, 102.10°E), Luding , 1695 m, 1.VII.2016, leg. KJ Teng & XF Yang, slide No. ZXJ18356 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. tianmushana Wang & Zhu, 2020 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the costal part of the valva with a rounded ventroapical process and without a process near the base, and the dorsal lobe of the sacculus longer than the ventral lobe. In M. tianmushana , the costal part of the valva lacks a ventroapical process and has a papillary process near the base, and the dorsal lobe of the sacculus is as long as the ventral lobe (Wang & Zhu 2020: 339, fig. 25). It is also similar to M. heteroidea sp. nov., and the differences between them can be found in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 6 ). Forewing length 5.0 mm.

Head with yellowish white scales. Labial palpus yellowish white; second segment with a dark brown line from middle to apex on ventral surface, dark brown at apex; third segment with sparse dark brown scales, 2/3 length of second segment. Antenna yellowish white; flagellum annulated with greyish brown on dorsal surface except several basal flagellomeres yellow.

Thorax yellowish white; tegula dark brown basally, yellowish white distally. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: femur of foreleg with scattered dark grey scales, femur of midleg dark grey apically, tibia of foreleg dark brown, tibia of midleg dark grey except yellow at middle and at apex, tibia of hindleg with scattered dark grey scales distally, tarsus of foreleg dark brown at middle of basal tarsomere and at apical three tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg dark brown at middle of basal tarsomere and at base of second to fourth tarsomeres, tarsus of hindleg with basal three tarsomeres dark grey except yellow at apices. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex rounded; ground colour yellow, costal margin with dense dark brown scales in basal 1/3, forming an ill-defined narrow stripe; costal spot dark brown, situated at middle, diffused posteriorly; apical patch dark brown, large; tornal spot dark brown, narrowly diffused to apical patch along termen; plical spot dark brown, at basal 2/5 of fold; discal and discocellular spots dark brown, discocellular spots placed one above the other, spot at posterior angle indistinct, touching with tornal spot; fringe greyish black, with a yellowish white basal line interrupted by greyish black scales. Hindwing and fringe greyish black.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 28 ). Uncus clubbed, pointed at apex. Tegumen uniformly wide medially, with a broad anterior emargination, laterally narrowed to rounded anterior end. Costal part of valva uniform in basal half, widened from 1/2 to obtuse apex, setose, produced upward dorsoapically; ventral margin straight, produced to an ovate process apically; costal band heavily sclerotized, reaching near tip of costal margin, slightly concave distally; transtilla short, narrowly linked at middle. Sacculus sub-rectangular, sclerotized on margins, apex straight in posterior 1/2, anterior 1/2 concave above ventral angle, forming two lobes: dorsal lobe longer, setose, ventral lobe shorter, approximately 1/3 as long as previous process. Saccus broad, as long as uncus, wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex. Juxta slender. Phallus 1.8 times length of costal part of valva, tubular in basal 2/5, composed of two irregular belts in distal 3/5: dorsal band narrowed and slender distally, ventral band dilated and arched apically.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin balteus (belt) and formis (shape), referring to the irregular belts in distal 3/5 of the phallus.

Figures

FIGURES 1−8. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 1, M. acutidens sp. nov., ♂, paratype; 2, M. aequabilis sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 3, M. angularis sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 4, M. apicula sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 5, M. auriculata sp. nov., ♂, paratype; 6, M. balteiformis sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 7, M. bilobata, ♂; 8, M. costiclavata sp. nov. ♂, holotype. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 23−28. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 23, M. acutidens sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19371; 24, M. aequabilis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ18364; 25, M. angularis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19376; 26, M. apicula sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19606; 27, M. auriculata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ18353; 28, M. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ18356. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.