Meleonoma acuminata, Zhu & Wang, 2025

Zhu, Xiaoju & Wang, Shuxia, 2025, Five new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, European Journal of Taxonomy 997, pp. 131-143 : 132-133

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.997.2929

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:490CED5F-274B-4490-AC41-DD189E1CD1F5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15690423

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CEED77-A77A-DA18-FD80-FCB1FEF1FBFF

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Meleonoma acuminata
status

sp. nov.

Meleonoma acuminata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FFADBF87-65BA-4468-B65D-5C987362297D

Figs 1A View Fig , 2A View Fig , 3A View Fig

Diagnosis

The new species can be distinguished from other known species of the group by the roundly arched outward lateral arms of the gnathos far exceeding the anterior margin of the tegumen, the ventral margin of the costal part of the valva which is produced triangularly dorsad before the apex, and the elongated saccus twice as long as the uncus. The new species is similar to M. oxygona sp. nov. in the male genitalia, and can be distinguished from it by the costal part of the valva lacking a cluster of tiny processes before the apex, and the sacculus lacking a long digitiform process dorso-apically. In M. oxygona , the costal part of the valva has a cluster of tiny processes before the apex, and the sacculus is produced to a long digitiform process dorso-apically.

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘ acuminatus ’, meaning ‘acute’ in English, which refers to the costal part of the valva pointed at the apex. The specific epithet is an adjective in the feminine gender.

Type material

Holotype CHINA – Xizang Autonomous Region [Tibet] • ♂; Motuo Road , Motuo County; 29°40′ N, 95°29′ E; 2076 m a.s.l.; 28 Jul. 2018; M.J. Qi leg.; slide No. ZXJ19398 ; NKU. GoogleMaps

Description

Male

ADULT ( Fig. 1A View Fig ). Forewing length 5.5 mm. Head greyish brown, pale yellow along dorsal margin of eyes and occiput. Labial palpus pale yellow; first palpomere dark brown on outer surface; second palpomere with scattered dark brown scales, dark brown at apex; third palpomere with scattered dark brown scales dorsally in basal half. Antenna with scape pale yellow mixed with dark brown scales; flagellum pale yellow, alternating with dark brown on dorsal surface. Mesonotum dark brown dorsally, yellow laterally; tegula predominantly dark brown, yellow distally. Forewing lanceolate, pointed at apex; ground colour dark brown, with yellow scales; costal margin with inner yellow spot sub-rectangular, outer yellow spot larger, with black dot anteriorly; fold yellow along basal ⅓, with yellow spot at its end; termen yellow, interrupted by dark brown; fringe greyish black, mixed with yellow. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs yellow, except on ventral surface: foreleg greyish brown except tibia yellow at middle and at apex respectively, tarsus yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of all tarsomeres, femur of midleg greyish brown distally, tibia with scattered greyish brown scales distally, tarsus with basal three tarsomeres greyish brown except yellow at apices, femur and tibia of hindleg with sparse greyish brown scales, tarsus with scattered greyish brown scales on basal two tarsomeres.

MALE GENITALIA ( Figs 2A View Fig , 3A View Fig ). Uncus cone-shaped, tapered from base to apex. Gnathos with lateral arm sclerotized and roundly arched outward, far exceeding anterior margin of tegumen, invisible anteriorly. Tegumen narrowly banded, roundly arched. Costal part of valva narrowly elongated, produced to a horn distally; ventral margin heavily sclerotized, banded, triangularly produced dorsad before distal horn and exceeding costa; costa with dense long setae from near base to before middle; transtilla weakly sclerotized, setose distally. Sacculus quadrangular, slightly narrowed to apex; dorsal margin sclerotized, forming a band sharply pointed apically. Saccus clavate, tapered to apex, approx. 2 × as long as uncus. Juxta slender. Aedeagus ca 1.7× length of costal part of valva; basal half tubular, distal half with slender belt, pointed at apex; cornutus spine-shaped, placed in vesica.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Xizang).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

SuperFamily

Gelechioidea

Family

Cosmopterigidae

Genus

Meleonoma

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