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Research Article
First report of the genus Woonpaikia Park, 2010 (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) from China, with the description of two new species
expand article infoShuai Yu§, Shuxia Wang§
‡ Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
§ Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Abstract

The lecithocerid genus Woonpaikia Park, 2010 and Woonpaikia angoonae Park, 2010 are newly recorded from China. Woonpaikia similangoonae Yu & Wang, sp. nov. and W. imperspicua Yu & Wang, sp. nov. are described as new to science. Images of adults of the Chinese Woonpaikia species are provided, along with a key to the males of all the known species of Woonpaikia.

Key words

Gelechioidea, Lecithocerinae, new record

Introduction

Woonpaikia Park, 2010 is a small genus of lepidopteran classified in the family Lecithoceridae, subfamily Lecithocerinae. Park (2010) erected the genus to accommodate W. villosa and W. angoonae from Thailand, with W. villosa as the type species. Since then, no more species have been described. Woonpaikia is morphologically similar to the type genus of Lecithoceridae, Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853, in sharing a similar wing pattern and venation, but it can be distinguished by presence of a ventrodistal pectin-like scale tuft on the scape of the antennae, labial palpi dorsally with dense, long, hair-like scales, male genitalia with the juxta decrescent and the sacculus produced apically to form a process.

Here we describe two new species of Woonpaikia. We also provide new distribution records for other known species in China, as well as a key to identify males of all the known species of this genus.

Materials and methods

The specimens examined were collected in China using 450 W high-pressure mercury lamps. Morphological terminology in the descriptions follows Gozmány (1978). Wingspan was measured from the tips of the left to right forewings. Slides of genitalia were prepared following the methods introduced by Li (2002). Photographs of the adults were taken with a Leica M205A stereomicroscope, and photographs of genitalia were taken with a Leica DM750 microscope plus the Leica Application Suite v. 4.6. All photographs were refined with Photoshop CC.

Materials examined, including the type series of the new species, are deposited in Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China (LCU), except for several specimens of W. angoonae, which are deposited in the Insect Collection of Nankai University, Tianjin, China (NKU).

Taxonomic accounts

Woonpaikia Park, 2010

Woonpaikia Park, 2010: 239. Type species: Woonpaikia villosa Park, 2010.

Key to the males of Woonpaikia

1 Apical process of sacculus extending posteriorly at least as far as apex of cucullus (Fig. 3A, C) 2
Apical process of sacculus extending much less than length of cucullus (as in Fig. 3B) 3
2 Cucullus capitate; aedeagus with a needle-like apical extension (Fig. 3C) W. similangoonae sp. nov.
Cucullus acuminate; aedeagus without apical extension (Fig. 3A) W. angoonae
3 Apical process of sacculus triangular; width of cucullus at middle about twice width at base (Fig. 3B) W. imperspicua sp. nov.
Apical process of sacculus horn-shaped; width of cucullus at only middle slightly greater than at base (Park 2010: 241, fig. 10) W. villosa

Woonpaikia angoonae Park, 2010

Figs 1A–C, 3A

Woonpaikia angoonae Park, 2010: 241. Holotype male collected in Thailand (Chiang Mai) deposited in Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan (OPU).

Materials examined

China • 1♂; Yunnan, Mengla County, Bubeng; 21.60°N, 101.60°E; 652 m elev.; 14 July 2013; SR Li et al. leg.; slide no. YS19297, NKU • 1♂; Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Yexianggu; 22.17°N, 100.87°E; 762 m elev.; 9 July 2015; KJ Teng & X Bai leg.; slide no. YS19298, NKU • 1♂; Yunnan, Jinghong; 21.90°N, 100.77°E; 640 m elev.; 2 Aug. 2016; KJ Teng et al.; slide no. YS19293, NKU • 1♂; Yunnan, Menghai County, Nabanhe; 22.25°N, 100.61°E; 1210 m elev.; 4–5 Aug. 2022; S Yu & KJ Teng leg.; slide no. YUS061, LCU • 3♂; Yunnan, Jinghong, Mt Jinuo; 21.98°N, 100.89°E; 1425 m elev.; 6–7 Aug. 2022; S Yu & KJ Teng leg.; slide no. YUS063, LCU.

Description

Adult wingspan 10.5‒12.5 mm (Fig. 1A).

Figure 1. 

External features of Woonpaikia spp. A–C W. angoonae Park, 2010, male, YUS063 B lateral view of head C close-up of scape D–F W. imperspicua sp. nov., holotype, male, YUS064 E lateral view of head F close-up of scape G–I W. similangoonae sp. nov., male, YUS062 H lateral view of head I close-up of scape. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Diagnosis

This species can be recognized by the smoothly arcuate apical process of the sacculus which extends posteriorly beyond the apex of the cucullus (Fig. 3A). It is most similar to the new species, W. similangoonae. The differences between these species are detailed below.

Distribution

China (Yunnan, new record), Thailand.

Remarks

This species was originally described from Thailand based on a single male. It is recorded here from China for the first time.

Woonpaikia imperspicua Yu & Wang, sp. nov.

Figs 1D–F, 2A, 3B

Type materials

Holotype : China • ♂; Yunnan, Jinghong, Mt Jinuo; 21.98°N, 100.89°E; 1425 m elev.; 6 Aug. 2022; S Yu & KJ Teng leg.; slide no. YUS064, LCU. Paratype: 1♂; same data as holotype; slide no. YUS060, LCU.

Diagnosis

The new species can be distinguished by the triangular apical process of the sacculus which extends for less than 1/2 the length of the cucullus, and by the aedeagus which has dorsal and ventral extensions at the apex; in W. similangoonae and W. angoonae, the apical process of the sacculus is long, extending posteriorly at least as far as the apex of the cucullus (sometimes further). Woonpaikia villosa has a transverse fascia in the hindwing (Park 2010: 240, fig. 1), whereas W. imperspicua lacks this fascia.

Description

Wingspan 13.5‒14.0 mm (Figs 1D, 2A). Head brown. Antenna orange white; scape with a small imperceptible pectin-like scale tuft ventrodistally. Labial palpus dorsally with dense, long, hair-like scales; third palpomere shorter than second palpomere. Forewing slightly widened distally, costal margin almost straight, apex produced, termen gently concave; ground color dark brown; orange-yellow along costal margin from before middle to apex; discal stigma black, small, rounded; plical stigma black; discocellular stigma black, larger than plical stigma; fringe greyish brown, with an orange-white basal line; R3, R4 and R5 stalked, R5 to termen, CuA1 and CuA2 with short stalk. Hindwing and fringe pale greyish brown; M3 and CuA1 stalked.

Figure 2. 

Wing venation of Woonpaikia spp. A W. imperspicua sp. nov., paratype, slide no. YUS060 B W. similangoonae sp. nov. paratype, slide no. YUS075. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Male genitalia (Fig. 3B). Uncus with caudal lobes thumb-shaped. Gnathos with basal plate distally semi-ovate, with rounded apex; median process almost uniformly wide in basal 2/3, thereafter sharply narrowed to a pointed apex, curved ventrad at basal 2/3 by a right angle. Costal bar narrow, taenioid. Valva with basal part subquadrate; cucullus arising from upper corner of basal part of valva, narrowed at base, widened to middle, width at middle about twice width of base, thereafter narrowed to blunt apex, nearly straight on costal margin, bearing a row of needle-like setae along ventral margin; sacculus wide, straight on its ventral margin, with a triangular apical process extending less than 1/2 length of cucullus and bearing a row of needle-like setae. Juxta elliptical, wider than long, with a subquadrate process at middle on anterior margin. Vinculum rounded on anterior margin. Aedeagus slightly shorter than valva, almost uniformly wide, with a horn-like dorsal extension and a spiniform ventral extension; cornuti consisting of a flake-like plate placed beyond middle and three spinules near apex.

Figure 3. 

Male genitalia of Woonpaikia spp. A W. angoonae Park, 2010, slide no. YUS063 B W. imperspicua sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YUS064 C W. similangoonae sp. nov., slide no. YUS062. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin imperspicuus, referring to the small imperceptible pectin-like scale tuft on the scape of the antenna.

Woonpaikia similangoonae Yu & Wang, sp. nov.

Figs 1G–I, 2B, 3C

Type materials

Holotype : China • ♂; Yunnan, Mang City, Mt Banggunjian; 24.39°N, 97.84°E; 1758 m elev.; 14 Aug. 2022; S Yu & KJ Teng leg.; slide no. YUS062, LCU. Paratype: 1♂; same data as holotype; slide no. YUS075, LCU.

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to W. angoonae, but it can be distinguished by the capitate cucullus and the aedeagus with a needle-like apical extension. In W. angoonae, the cucullus is acuminate and the aedeagus lacks an extension on the apex.

Description

Wingspan 14.0‒15.0 mm (Figs 1G, 2B). Head yellowish brown. Antenna yellow; scape ventrodistally with a small imperceptible pectin-like scale tuft. Labial palpus with dense, long, hair-like scales dorsally; third palpomere shorter than second palpomere. Forewing slightly widened distally, with costal margin almost straight, apex produced, termen gently concave; ground color yellowish brown; orange-yellow along costal margin from about basal 2/5 to apex; discal stigma black, rounded; plical stigma black, nearly same size as discal stigma; discocellular stigma black, elliptical; fringe greyish brown, with an orange-white basal line; R3, R4, and R5 stalked, R5 to termen, CuA1 and CuA2 with short stalk. Hindwing and fringe yellow, dark brown scales along vein M2; M3 and CuA1 shortly stalked.

Male genitalia (Fig. 3C). Uncus nearly inverted trapezoidal; caudal lobes semi-ovate. Gnathos with basal plate roundly produced on posterior margin; median process narrowed slightly from base to basal 2/3, thereafter sharply narrowed to a pointed apex, curved ventrad at basal 2/3 by a right angle. Costal bar narrow, arched taenioid. Valva with basal part trapezoidal; cucullus capitate, arising from upper corner of basal part of valva, sinuate, narrow basally, widened to about basal 2/3, thereafter narrowed slightly to rounded apex, costal margin arched in basal 1/2 and straight in distal 1/2; sacculus wide, straight on its ventral margin, with a long, apical process extending posteriorly as far as apex of cucullus. Juxta elliptical, wider than long, with a thumbed process at middle on anterior margin. Vinculum subrounded on anterior margin. Aedeagus slightly shorter than valva, wide at base, narrowed to apex, with a needle-like apical extension; cornuti consisting of two needle-like spines of different sizes and a flake-like plate bearing three spinules.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin simile (likeness) and angoonae, referring to the similarity between this new species and W. angoonae.

Acknowledgements

We express our cordial thanks to the reviewers, Kyu-Tek Park (Incheon National University, South Korea) and Yang-Seop Bae (Incheon National University, South Korea) for their valuable suggestions. We also thank all the team members for their participating in the field collection.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. ZR2022QD130).

Author contributions

All authors have contributed equally.

Author ORCIDs

Shuai Yu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3670-2701

Shuxia Wang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9316-6661

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

References

  • Gozmány L (1978) Lecithoceridae. In: Amsel HG, Reisser H,& Gregor F (Eds) Microlepidoptera Palaearctica, Vol. 5 Georg Fromme & Co., Vienna, 306 pp.
  • Herrich-Schäffer GAW (1847‒1855) Systematische Bearbeitung der Schmetterlinge Von Europa, zugleich als Text, Revision und Supplement zu Jakob Hübner’s Sammlung europäischer Schmetterlinge, Fünfter Band. Die Schaben und Federmotten. Regensburg, 394 pp.
  • Li HH (2002) The Gelechiidae of China (I) (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea). Nankai University Press, Tianjin, 504 pp.
  • Park KT (2010) A new genus Woonpaikia Park, gen. nov. (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) with descriptions of two new species. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 13(3): 239–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2010.04.004
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