Meleonoma angularis, 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 : 105-106

Meleonoma angularis sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 25 , 46 )

Type material. CHINA, Xizang: Holotype ♂, Motuo Road, Motuo County, 2076 m, 8.VII.2018, leg. MJ Qi, slide No. ZXJ19376 . Paratype, Xizang: 1♀, same data as holotype, except 28.VII.2018, slide No. ZXJ19630 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. dorsolobulata Wang, 2016 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the costal part of the valva widened from the base to 1/2 its length, the sacculus with a horn-shaped process on the dorsal margin, and the phallus approximately 1.5 times the length of the costal part of the valva. In M. dorsolobulata , the costal part of the valva is uniformly wide from the base to approximately 3/4 its length, the sacculus has a lobate process on the dorsal margin, and the phallus is shorter than the costal part of the valva ( Yin & Wang 2016: 136, fig. 7). Meleonoma angularis sp. nov. is also similar to M. seorsispina sp. nov., and the differences between them can be found in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 3 ). Forewing length 4.5–5.5 mm.

Head with yellow scales tipped with black on vertex. Labial palpus yellow; first and second segments with black scales on outer surface, denser in distal 2/3 of second segment, and black at apex; third segment with a black spot at middle dorsally, 2/3 length of second segment. Antenna yellow; scape with scattered black scales dorsally; flagellum annulated with dark brown on dorsal surface.

Thorax yellow, black basally; tegula black, yellow distally. Legs yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: coxa of foreleg with scattered black scales, femur black, femur of midleg with sparse black scales, tibia of foreleg black, tibia of midleg black except yellow at middle and at apex, tibia of hindleg with scattered black scales distally, tarsus of foreleg black at middle of basal tarsomere and at apical three tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg black except yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two tarsomeres, tarsus of hindleg with sparse black scales. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex rounded; ground colour yellow, mixed with black scales, with a black stripe along basal 2/5 of costal margin, wider at base; costal spot black, semicircular, situated at beyond middle; apical patch black, extending from distal part of costal margin along termen to tornal spot; plical spot small, black, at middle of fold; discal and discocellular spots black, at middle and at outer margin of cell respectively, discocellular spots placed one above the other, spot at posterior angle touching with tornal spot; fringe black. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ). Uncus slender, pointed at apex. Tegumen slightly widened medially, laterally uniform in width, rounded at anterior end. Costal part of valva narrow at base, widened to middle, then slightly narrowed to rounded apex, upturned, setose ventrodistally; ventral margin produced medially; costa concave distally; transtilla short, rounded at apex. Sacculus sub-triangular, wide at base, gradually narrowed to pointed apex, base as long as maximum width of costal part; dorsal margin with a horn-shaped process arising from near base. Saccus triangular, wide at base, gradually narrowed to narrowly rounded apex, as long as uncus. Juxta slender, Vshaped. Phallus approximately 1.5 times length of costal part of valva, tubular, densely verrucous from basal 2/3 to before apex; cornutus stout, approximately 4/5 length of phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 46 ). Papillae anales sub-rectangular, setose. Apophyses posteriores approximately twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate spiculate; posterior margin notched at middle, lined with long setae. Lamella antevaginalis sub-rectangular. Ductus bursae membranous, with fine rumples anteriorly; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae near entrance of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae shorter than ductus bursae, ovate; signum quadrangular, with a small basal spine and larger apical spine.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin angularis (having angles), referring to the horn-shaped process on the dorsal margin of the sacculus.

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.