Meleonoma heteroidea, 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 : 112-113

Meleonoma heteroidea sp. nov.

( Figs 10 , 32 )

Type material. CHINA, Sichuan: Holotype ♂, Bifengxia (30.07°N, 102.97°E), Ya'an , 1115 m, 28.VI.2016, leg. KJ Teng & XF Yang, slide No. ZXJ18358 . Paratype, Sichuan: 1♂, same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. balteiformis sp. nov. in features of the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the uncus slightly dilated apically, the costal part of the valva with a slender ventroapical process, and the dorsal lobe of the sacculus shorter than the ventral lobe. In M. balteiformis , the uncus is pointed at apex, the costal part of the valva has a rounded ventroapical process, and the dorsal lobe of the sacculus is longer than the ventral lobe.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 10 ). Forewing length 4.0– 4.5 mm.

Head with yellow scales, dark grey on vertex. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with scattered black scales in distal 1/2, forming a black annulation at apex; third segment shorter than second segment, with a black spot medially. Antenna yellow; scape mixed with black scales; flagellum annulated with black on dorsal surface except several basal flagellomeres yellow.

Thorax yellow; tegula black basally, yellow distally. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: tibia of foreleg dark brown, tibia of midleg dark brown except yellow at middle and at apex, tibia of hindleg with scattered dark brown scales, tarsus of foreleg dark brown except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg dark brown except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two tarsomeres and yellow at apical one tarsomere, tarsus of hindleg with basal four tarsomeres dark brown except yellow at apices, all femora with scattered dark brown scales. Forewing parallel from base to basal 3/4, then slightly narrowed to narrowly rounded apex; ground colour yellow, mottled with black scales, with an ill-defined stripe along basal 1/3 of costal margin, wider at base; costal spot black, slightly beyond middle; apical patch black, large; tornal spot smaller, black; plical spot small, at middle of fold; discal and discocellular spots black, discocellular spots placed one above the other, spot at posterior angle touching with tornal spot; fringe black. Hindwing and fringe dark brown.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Uncus straight, narrowed from wider base to middle, distal 1/2 clubbed, roundly dilated at apex. Tegumen banded, arched in U shape, slightly produced posterolaterally, rounded anterolaterally. Costal part of valva in sea horse shape, parallel sided from base to basal 1/3, narrowed between basal 1/3 and 1/2, widened from middle to basal 2/3 and quadrate from basal 2/3 to apex, with dense setae distally; apex with a small dorsal spine, below it set a tiny process, concave above ventral angle, forming a slender ventral process; ventral margin heavily sclerotized, distinctly concave beyond middle; costa sinuate, slightly concave medially, straight distally; transtilla short, rounded at apex. Sacculus sub-quadrate, sclerotized on margins; dorsal margin with a sub-ovate sclerite basally, distally produced triangularly; apex with two apex-rounded lobes: dorsal lobe shorter and narrower, ventral lobe longer and wider. Saccus approximately twice as long as uncus, wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex. Juxta U-shaped. Phallus 1.5 times as long as costal part of valva, basal 1/2 tubular, distal 1/2 irregularly banded, splitting apart, forming four short distal bands.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek heteros (different) and - oides (suffix denoting likeness), referring to the two differently shaped apical lobes of the sacculus.

Figures

FIGURES 9−16. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 9, M. crispa sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 10, M. heteroidea sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 11, M. licina sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 12, M. magnifica sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 13, M. microda sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 14, M. montana, ♂; 15, M. oxydonta sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 16, M. segregacantha, ♂. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 29−34. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 29, M. bilobata, slide No. ZXJ19380; 30, M. costiclavata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19360; 31, M. crispa sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15571; 32, M. heteroidea sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19358; 33, M. licina sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19601; 34, M. magnifica sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZML17558. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.