Meleonoma verticalis, 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 : 122-124

Meleonoma verticalis sp. nov.

( Figs 22 , 44 , 52 )

Type material. CHINA, Xizang: Holotype ♂, Yadong Village (29.33°N, 95.34°E), Motuo County, 833 m, 16.VIII.2017, leg. MJ Qi & XF Yang, slide No. ZXJ18381 . Paratypes, Xizang: 1♀, same data as holotype, slide No. ZXJ19600 ; Yunnan: 1♂, Xiajinchang, Malipo County, Wenshan , 1470 m, 27.VII.2016, leg. KJ Teng et al., slide No. ZXJ19389 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. dorsolobulata Wang, 2016 in features of the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the ventral margin of the costal part of the valva straight in the distal 1/2, and the sacculus with a band-shaped process at the middle on the dorsal margin. In M. dorsolobulata , the ventral margin of the costal part of the valva is slightly produced, and the sacculus has a lobate process at base on the dorsal margin ( Yin & Wang 2016: 136, fig. 7).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing length 4.0– 4.5 mm.

Head with pale yellow scales. Labial palpus pale yellow; second segment with dense black scales in distal 1/3 on outer surface, black at apex; third segment black medially, approximately half length of second segment.Antenna yellow; scape black basally on dorsal surface; flagellum alternated with black on dorsal surface.

Thorax pale yellow; tegula pale yellow, with dense black scales basally. Legs pale yellow, with exceptions on ventral surface: tibia of foreleg black except pale yellow at middle and at apex, tarsus black except pale yellow at base of basal tarsomere and at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tibia of midleg with scattered black scales distally, tarsus black except pale yellow at apices of basal two tarsomeres and pale yellow at apical one tarsomere, hindleg with sparse black scales on tibia, all femora black apically. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex pointed; ground colour pale yellow, with scattered black scales; costal margin with diffused black scales along basal 1/3; costal spot black, diffused posteriorly; apical patch black; plical spot black, placed at distal 2/5 of fold; discal and discocellular spots black, discocellular spots placed one above the other, spot at posterior angle diffused to connected with tornal spot; fringe yellow, tipped with dark brown. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Fig. 44 ). Uncus wide at base, abruptly narrowed to middle, distal 1/2 uniformly slender. Tegumen arched, almost uniformly wide. Costal part of valva narrow at base, gradually widened to middle length, thereafter distinctly narrowed to pointed apex, densely setose ventrodistally; ventral margin obtusely produced at middle, distal 1/2 straight; costal band slightly convex medially, extending beyond tip of costal margin; transtilla narrowed toward middle, straight at apex. Sacculus wide at base, slightly narrowed to basal 2/3, distal 1/3 uniformly narrow; apex truncate, with a row of verrucaes; dorsal margin heavily sclerotized in distal 1/2, with a curved band-shaped process extended from middle; ventral margin sclerotized, forming a narrow band. Saccus short and broad, slightly longer than uncus. Juxta U-shaped. Phallus longer than costal part of valva, basal 1/2 tubular, distal 1/2 with several curved, irregularly shaped belts; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 52 ). Papillae anales narrowed posteriorly, setose on dorsal surface.Apophyses posteriores approximately twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate spiculate; posterior margin bearing long setae, deeply and narrowly incised medially, forming two large semicircular lateral lobes; anterior margin convex medially. Lamella antevaginalis with posterior margin straight medially, anterior margin concave rectangularly medially, laterally extending outward and forming two lateral lobes. Ductus bursae membranous, posterior 1/2 uniform, anterior 1/2 widened; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae near entrance of corpus bursae. Corpus bursae ovate, longer than ductus bursae; signum small, with several tiny teeth and two large spines.

Distribution. China (Xizang, Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin verticalis (upright), referring to the truncate apex of the sacculus.

Figures

FIGURES 17−22. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 17, M. seorsispina sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 18, M. similicatenata sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 19, M. spicijuxta sp. nov., ♂, paratype; 20, M. tenuicaulis sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 21, M. tenuispina sp. nov., ♀, holotype; 22, M. verticalis sp. nov., ♂, holotype. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 41−44. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 41, M. spicijuxta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19372, 41a, enlarged gnathos, 41b, enlarged juxta, slide No. ZXJ18336; 42, M. tenuicaulis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19390; 43, M. tenuispina sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19384; 44, M. verticalis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19381. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 49−52. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 49, M. crispa sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19612; 50, M. seorsispina sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19615; 51, M. similicatenata sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19609; 52, M. verticalis sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19600. All paratypes. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.