Dichomeris stellata Kim, 2025

Park, Jinsung, Cho, Ha-Young & Kim, Sora, 2025, A new species, Dichomeris stellata sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), with a checklist of the genus from Korea, Zootaxa 5665 (3), pp. 410-422 : 411-418

Dichomeris stellata Kim , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:53F69AA9-8D66-4F5C-88E5-0F3B98A6F26A

Figs 1 , 2

Type material. Holotype: Male, South Korea, Gyeongsangbuk Province, Gyeongju-si, Yangnam-myeon , (35 o 42’ N, 129 o 27’ E), 26. viii. 2016, Sora Kim, genitalia slide No. 9821/ S. Kim.

Diagnosis. This species is externally similar to D. chinganella ( Christoph, 1882) in having a similar wing shape, especially narrow forewing and widely developed hindwing, but the new species is easily distinguished from D. chinganella by the prominent, antemedial dots on forewing and the same colour of wings. Dichomeris chinganella has different colour of forewings and hindwings without distinct dots on the forewing. The male genitalia of the new species are close to that of D. issikii ( Okada, 1961) in having vinculum without lateral lobes but can be easily differentiated by the semi-oval uncus and three pairs of appendix appendiculars and largely developed sicae.

Description. Male. Wingspan 22.5 mm. Head pale grayish brown, vertex brown. Ocellus present. Scape of antenna almost of the same length as the diameter of the eye, dark brown and pale yellow alternately on the dorsal surface, pale gray on the ventral surface. The second segment of labial palpus with triangular scale tuft, dark brown on the inner surface, pale gray on the outer surface; 3rd segment upcurved, gray entirely, tinged with dark brown apically; 2 nd segment longer than half of the length of 3 rd segment. Thorax and tegula pale grayish brown; mesothorax without hair pencil arising from anepisternum. Forewing ground colour pale grayish brown with numerous, scattered tiny, fuscous scales; antemedial dots at 1/5 of the posterior margin of the forewing: one large dot ( Fig. 1 Ba) situated within the medial cell; another dot ( Fig. 1 Bb) just on cubitus basal vein. Hindwing ground colour pale grayish brown, tinged with dark brown, streches to apex and termen; fringe pale grayish brown.

Male genitalia. Uncus semi-oval, slightly broad basally, entirely setose. Gnathos stout, strongly sclerotised, cylindrical, apically tipped, sharp, slightly curved in 1/3 from the base, as long as the length of the uncus. Culcitula with distal margin nearly trapezoidal. Tegumen sclerotised, as long as gnathos. Valva slightly concaved antemedially and gradually convex after middle, setose near apex and on ventral margin, longer than uncus+ tegumen complex, narrow from base to 1/3, broadened after 1/3 to 2/3, slightly narrowed to rounded cucullus. Appendix appendicular of three pairs, digitate, setose distally: one pair situated at the inner margin of vinculum posteriorly; other pair situated at the posterior-lateral margin of vinculum; another pair positioned under the previous pairs, on the inner-medial margin of vinculum. Vinculum narrow without lateral lobe, almost of the same length as uncus+ tegumen complex. Saccal region sclerotised, widely developed at the basal middle margin, gradually narrowed and connected to each sica. Sicae bifurcate, oblique, slightly concave medially; each sica a hook-shaped, bent in opposite directions, setose: right one with a thickened middle part bearing pointed apex; left sica gradually narrowed to apex. Aedeagus narrowed at base; coecum gradually widened; two sclerotised lobes initiate from coecum, curved inward at the antemedial part of each lobe: right one longer than the left one, slightly longer than half of aedeagus; two internal lobes on main body of aedeagus: cornutus present in right one, left one bears a sclerotized area in the middle of the right lobe.

Female. unknown.

Distribution. Korea (this study).

Etymology

The species name is derived from the Latin, stellatus (= starry), referring to the scales scattered like stars on the forewings.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adult of Dichomeris stellata sp. nov. A, lateral view of head; B, right wing: a, antemedial large dot on posterior margin of forewing; b, another small dot just on cubitus basal vein; C, entire view.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Dichomeris stellata sp. nov. A, male genitalia; B, uncus; C, gnathos; D, appendix appendiculars; E, sicae; F, aedeagus. Scale bar: 0.5 mm