Meleonoma apicula, 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 : 106-107

Meleonoma apicula sp. nov.

( Figs 4 , 26 , 47 )

Type material. CHINA, Yunnan: Holotype ♂, Qinlangdang (27.69°N, 98.27°E), Mt. Gaoligong , 380 m, 28.V.2017, leg. KJ Teng et al., slide No. ZXJ19606 . Paratypes, Yunnan: 1♂ 1♀, same data as holotype, slide No. ZXJ19607 ♀; 2♂, same data as holotype, except 30.V.2017, slide No. ZXJ19608 ; 1♂, 19.VIII.2014, 2♂, 2.IX.2014, Taiyang River , 1450 m, leg. ZG Zhang, slide No. ZXJ19611 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. auriculata sp. nov. in the shape of the costal part of the valva in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the sacculus not bilobed, the saccus as long as the uncus, and the phallus without a curved process. In M. auriculata , the sacculus is bilobed apically, the saccus is 1.5 times the length of the uncus, and the phallus has a curved process.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 4 ). Forewing length 5.0 mm.

Head with yellowish white scales tipped with black laterally on occiput. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with scattered black scales, denser on outer surface, and black at apex; third segment black in distal 1/2 except yellow at apex, approximately 2/3 length of second segment. Antenna yellow; scape black at base of dorsal surface; flagellum alternated with black on dorsal surface.

Thorax and tegula black. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: coxa of foreleg with sparse black scales, femora of fore- and midlegs black mixed with yellow scales, femur of hindleg black, tibia of foreleg black, tibiae of mid- and hindlegs black except yellow at middle and at apex, 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 three black, yellow at apices. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex narrowly rounded; ground colour yellow, with scattered black scales; costal margin with dense black scales along basal 2/5, forming a wide stripe, attenuate from base to 2/5 length of costal margin; costal spot black, large, diffuse posteriorly; apical patch black, large; tornal spot black, diffused to apical patch along termen; plical spot small, placed at distal 1/3 of fold; discal and discocellular spots black, discal spot small, composed of a few scales, discocellular spots larger, one above the other, spot at anterior angle of cell confluent with costal spot, spot at posterior angle confluent with tornal spot; fringe black, with a yellow basal line. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 26 ). Uncus elongate lanceolate, setose. Tegumen arched, narrow, almost uniformly banded, sclerotized on inner margin. Costal part of valva narrow at base, widened to middle, distal half parallel to apex, setose distally, apex obtuse, with a short ventroapical spine; costal band widened from base to 2/3 its length then narrowed to tip of costal margin; transtilla slender, narrowed toward middle, pointed at apex. Sacculus subtriangular, widest at base, narrowed distally, distal 2/5 somewhat digitate, rounded at apex. Saccus wide at base, narrowed to rounded apex, approximately as long as uncus. Juxta U-shaped. Phallus shorter than costal part of valva, tubular, bent medially.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 47 ). Papillae anales narrowed posteriorly, setose. Apophyses posteriores approximately twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate spiculate; posterior margin notched at middle, lined with long setae, distinctly produced medially on anterior margin. Lamella antevaginalis rectangular, slightly concave medially on anterior margin. Ductus bursae membranous, widened anteriorly, with fine wrinkles, with a dentate sclerite anteriorly; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae near entrance of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae shorter than ductus bursae, rounded; signum large, dentate.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin apiculus (small point), referring to the short ventroapical spine of the costal part of the valva.

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.

FIGURES 45−48. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 45, M. acutidens sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19604; 46, M. angularis sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19630; 47, M. apicula sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19607; 48, M. biloata, slide No. ZXJ19632. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.