Thubana rongjiangensis, Yu & Wang, 2025

Yu, Shuai & Wang, Shuxia, 2025, New species and new records of the genus Thubana Walker (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from China, with a checklist of the genus in the country, European Journal of Taxonomy 987, pp. 81-97 : 88-95

Thubana rongjiangensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C9667622-101B-46E4-BCC9-809F929D8721

Figs 2B , 4B

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to Th. albisignis ( Meyrick, 1914) , but it differs by the larger size (via. wingspan 15–16 mm in Th. albisignis ). The species can also be distinguished by the costa of the valva arched inward semi-circularly, and by the juxta with a large V-shaped flap on the dorsal surface and with semi-ovate posterolateral lobes; whereas in Th. albisignis , the costa of the valva is arched inward and forms a broad V shape, the juxta lacks a flap on the dorsal surface and has horn-shaped posterolateral lobes ( Park 2000: 234, fig. 13).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA • ♂; Guizhou Prov., Rongjiang County, Xiaodanjiang ; 26º20′ N, 108º21′ E; 680 m a.s.l.; Jun. 2023; K.J. Teng leg.; slide no. LCU009 ; LCU.

Description

Adult male ( Fig. 2B )

Wingspan 19.5 mm. Head with lateral sides orange white (worn). Antenna orange white. Labial palpus orange white, tinged with pale brown; third palpomere slightly longer than second palpomere. Thorax and tegula dark brown, tinged with purple. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex blunt, termen shallowly concave; ground colour dark brown, tinged with purple; costal patch triangular, orange white, posteriorly narrowed and exceeding upper margin of discal cell, situated at middle; fringe greyish brown. Hindwing dark brown; fringe greyish brown.

MALE GENITALIA ( Fig. 4B ). Uncus elongate, pointed at apex. Gnathos with median process wide at the base, narrowed to basal 3/5 where it is curved, narrowed abruptly from distal 2/5 to pointed apex. Valva extremely broadened, narrowed to bluntly rounded apex; cucullus shorter than half length of valva; costa arched inward semi-circularly; sacculus banded, narrowed from base to middle, uniformly wide in distal half, almost straight ventrally. Vinculum narrow; saccus semi-ovate. Juxta subquadrate, arched inward on posterior margin forming two semi-ovate posterolateral lobes, dorsal surface with a large V-shaped flap (crumpled). Aedeagus slightly shorter than valva, narrowed from base to apex; cornuti consisting of a large plate about 2/3 the length of aedeagus, a sclerotised bar bearing dense granules, a cluster and some dispersed spines.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Guizhou).

Thubana rongjiangensis sp. nov.

TL: China (Yunnan). TD: LCU.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Figures

Fig. 2. Dorsal habitus of Thubana spp. A. Th. quadrilatera sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (slide no. YS19773, NKU). B. Th. rongjiangensis sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (slide no. LCU009, LCU). C. Th. similidalgona sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (slide no. YS20211, NKU). D. Th. yingjingensis sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (slide no. LCU198, NKU). Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

Fig. 4. Male genitalia of Thubana spp. A. Th. quadrilatera sp. nov., holotype (slide no. YS19773, NKU). B. Th. rongjiangensis sp. nov., holotype (slide no. LCU009, LCU). C. Th. similidalgona sp. nov., holotype (slide no. YS20211, NKU). D. Th. yingjingensis sp. nov., paratype (slide no. LCU195, NKU). E. Th. yingjingensis sp. nov., holotype (slide no. LCU198, NKU). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.