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Research Article
Two new species and one new record of the genus Torodora Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) from China
expand article infoShuai Yu‡§, Lin Liu‡, Xueqing Li‡, Shuxia Wang§
‡ Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
§ Nankai University, Tianjin, China

Corresponding author: Shuxia Wang ( shxwang@nankai.edu.cn )

Academic editor: Mark Metz
© 2024 Shuai Yu, Lin Liu, Xueqing Li, Shuxia Wang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Yu S, Liu L, Li X, Wang S (2024) Two new species and one new record of the genus Torodora Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) from China. ZooKeys 1218: 287-293. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1218.135814
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D9A89177-6911-4A05-950A-59987D262461
Open Access

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Torodora Meyrick, 1894 are described from China: T. lichi sp. nov. and T. mici sp. nov. Additionally, T. silvatica Park, 2007 is newly recorded for China. Images of the adults and their genitalia are provided.

Key words

Gelechioidea, morphology, taxonomy, Torodorinae

Introduction

Torodora Meyrick, 1894 is the largest and type genus of the subfamily Torodorinae (Lecithoceridae). It is distributed in the Oriental, Palearctic, Ethiopian, and Australian region, and comprises more than 230 species (Park et al. 2022). Eighty-eight species of Torodora are recorded in China. The genus is characterized by having the following combination of characters: forewing with M1 and M2 free, M3 separated or stalked with R4+5, R4 and R5 stalked; M1, M2, and M3 free; CuA1 and CuA2 stalked; hindwing with M2 present; M3 and CuA1 stalked or coincident; genitalia morphologically varied and abdominal tergites with zones of spiniform setae. Here, we describe two new species of Torodora, as well as the first report of T. silvatica Park, 2007 from China.

Materials and methods

The specimens were collected at the locations indicated below. Each image was collected using GYZ 450 W high-pressure mercury lamps (Yaming, China). Morphological terminology in the descriptions was in accordance with Gozmány (1978). The wingspan was measured from the tips of the left and right forewings of fully well spread specimens. Slides of genitalia were prepared following Li (2002). Photographs of adults were taken using an M205A stereomicroscope, and photographs of genitalia were taken using a DM750 microscope with Leica Application Suite software version 4.6 (all from Leica, Germany). All photographs were manipulated in Photoshop CC (Adobe, USA).

The examined materials, including the type series of the new species, are deposited at Liaocheng University (LCU), Liaocheng, China.

Taxonomic accounts

Torodora Meyrick, 1894

Torodora Meyrick, 1894: 16. Type species: Torodora characteris Meyrick, 1894, by original designation.

Habrogenes Meyrick, 1918: 102. Type species: Habrogenes eupatris Meyrick, 1918, by original designation.

Panplatyceros Diakonoff, 1951: 76. Type species: Panplatyceros serpentina Diakonoff, 1951, by monotypy.

Toxotarca Wu, 1994: 123. Type species: Toxotarca parotidosa Wu, 1994, by monotypy.

Torodora lichi Yu & Wang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/084DF877-08EC-4580-B044-11AFEF6951F6
Figs 1A, B, 2A

Type materials

Holotype : China • ♂; Yunnan Prov., Menghai County, Nabanhe; 22.243°N, 100.599°E; 810 m elev.; 2 Aug. 2022; Shuai Yu & Kaijian Teng leg.; slide no. YUS004, in LCU.

Diagnosis

Torodora lichi is externally similar to the Thailand’s species, T. epicharis Park, 2002. It can be distinguished by the forewing absent of a postmedian line, in the male genitalia by the foot-shaped cucullus, and the juxta with a triangular median process below the posterior margin; T. epicharis has a postmedian line in the forewing and has an ovate cucullus and a juxta lacking the median process (Park 2002: 156).

Description

Wingspan 15.0 mm (Fig. 1A). Head pale yellow. Antennae pale yellow, scape apically dark brown. Labial palpus with second palpomere white, roughly scaled ventrally; third palpomere white dorsally, dark brown ventrally, as long as second palpomere. Patagium white. Thorax and tegula white, mixed with pale, orange-yellow scales. Forewing with a slightly arched costal margin, apex triangularly produced, termen concave; ground color pale orange-yellow, with three white spots along the distal half of the costal margin; basal 1/4 with two straight, white lines running from the costal margin to the dorsum; a large black patch before the middle, mixed with white scales, anteriorly reaching below the costal margin of the forewing, posteriorly reaching the dorsum; outer margin sinuate; median line white, extending from the costal margin of the forewing along the outer margin of the patch to the dorsum; a crescent pale yellow spot at the distal 2/3 anterior of M2; area between median line and termen brown along posterior 2/3; fringe pale orange yellow; venation with R3, R4, and R5 stalked, M1, M2, and M3 free, and CuA1 and CuA2 stalked. Hindwing and fringe pale, greyish brown; fringe with a pale-yellow basal line; venation with M3 and CuA1 stalked basally, distant from CuA2 at base (Fig. 1B).

Figure 1. 

External features and wing venation of Torodora spp. A external features of T. lichi Yu & Wang, sp. nov., holotype, male, slide No. YUS004 B right wing venation of T. lichi Yu & Wang, sp. nov., holotype, male, slide No. YUS004 C external features of T. mici Yu & Wang, sp. nov., paratype, male, LCU204 D right wing venation of T. mici Yu & Wang, sp. nov., paratype, male, LCU033 E external features of T. silvatica Park, 2007, male, slide No. LCU218 F right wing venation of T. silvatica Park, 2007, male, slide No. LCU217. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2A). Uncus elongated and triangular. Gnathos with median process wide at base, slightly narrowed toward the distal 2/5 where it curves and sharply tapers to a pointed apex. Valva wide basally, narrowed medially; cucullus foot-shaped, widened basally, narrowing toward a narrowly rounded apex; outer margin concave, ventral margin round, produced distally; costa deeply concave broadly; sacculus band-shaped. Vinculum U-shaped. Juxta rectangular, longer than wide, with a heavily sclerotized, triangular median process along the posterior margin; posterolateral lobes elongated, horn-shaped; posterior lobes near the posterolateral lobes, weakly sclerotized, digitate, setose; anterior margin with an imbricate process near middle. Phallus wide at the base, gradually narrowing toward a blunt apex, curved; cornuti located distally, consisting of two small spinose plates, with two elongate spiculose bars.

Figure 2. 

Genitalia of Torodora spp. A male genitalia of T. lichi Yu & Wang, sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YUS004 B male genitalia of T. mici Yu & Wang, sp. nov., holotype, slide No. LCU034 C male genitalia of T. silvatica Park, 2007, slide No. LCU217 D female genitalia of T. mici Yu & Wang, sp. nov., paratype, slide No. LCU219. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution

China (Yunnan Province).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from Mandarin li (beautiful) and chi (wing), referring to the colorful forewing.

Torodora mici Yu & Wang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/A7BB5155-311A-4E8E-8106-269201037072
Figs 1C, D, 2B, D

Type materials

Holotype : China • ♂; Xizang Autonomous Region [Tibet], Motuo County [Mêdog], Beibengxiang; 29.242°N, 95.171°E; 1239 m elev.; 14 Jun. 2023; Shuai Yu leg.; slide no. LCU034, in LCU. Paratypes: 3 ♂ 1 ♀; same data as holotype; slide nos. LCU033♂, LCU204♂, LCU219♀, in LCU.

Diagnosis

Torodora mici is similar to T. reniformis Yu & Wang, 2022 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the blackish brown forewing, the juxta reaching near posterior margin of the tegumen, and the cornutus an elongate bar; Torodora reniformis has a forewing that is dark brown on the basal 3/4 and orange white on the distal 1/4 (Yu et al. 2022: 16), the juxta reaches far from the posterior margin of the tegumen, and the cornuti consists of needle-like spines (Yu et al. 2022: 24).

Description

Wingspan 13.5–14.0 mm (Fig. 1C). Head dark brown, orange-yellow along lateral surfaces. Antennae yellow. Labial palpus dark brown, distally yellow on second palpomere; third paplomere slender, as long as the second. Thorax and tegula dark brown. Forewing with costal margin nearly straight, slightly curved distally, apex slightly down-curved, termen slightly concave; ground color dark brown, mixed with scattered yellow scales, distal 1/4 of the costal margin yellow; discal stigma rounded, black, outer margin edged with yellow scales; plical stigma nearly rounded, black, anteriorly extending toward discal stigma, outer margin edged with yellow scales; discocellular stigma small, paired, located one above another, with a yellow outer margin; subterminal line yellow, extending from 1/4 of the costal margin sinuated to the distal 1/5 of the dorsum; fringe dark brown, with a yellow basal line; venation with R1, R2 free, R3, R4, and R5 stalked, R5 extending to apex, M1, M2, M3 free, CuA1 and CuA2 stalked distally. Hindwing greyish brown; fringe greyish brown, with a yellow basal line; venation with M2 free, M3 and CuA1 stalked basally, CuA2 distant from M3+CuA1 at the base (Fig. 1D).

Male genitalia (Fig. 2B). Uncus elongated with widened base. Gnathos with basal plate rounded on posterior margin, median process absent. Valva wide at the base, gradually narrowing to cucullus; cucullus extending obliquely dorsad, apical margin broadly rounded, costal margin nearly straight throughout length, abruptly curved upwards forming inner margin of cucullus; sacculus wide, elongate, densely spiculose. Vinculum U shaped, nearly straight on anterior margin. Juxta rectangular, longer than wide, with a longitudinal median line; posterolateral lobes digitate, reaching near the posterior margin of the tegumen, apex narrowly rounded, setose. Phallus shorter than the valva, straight, uniformly wide basally, narrowing apically; vesica densely granulate; cornutus an elongate bar near apex of vesica.

Female genitalia (Fig. 2D). Eighth abdominal sternite medially concave on posterior margin, forming two lateral parts broadly rounded posteriorly. Apophyses posteriores longer than apophyses anteriores. Antrum cup-shaped and membranous. Ductus bursae nearly wide throughout length, bearing sparse spines; ductus seminalis slender, arising from approximately the posterior 1/4 of ductus bursae, with dense spinules on the inner wall. Corpus bursae elliptical; signum on posterior end, a transverse plate, bearing dense spinules.

Distribution

China (Xizang Autonomous Region [Tibet]).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Mandarin mi (dense) and ci (spine), referring to the densely spined sacculus of the male genitalia.

Torodora silvatica Park, 2007

Figs 1E, F, 2C

Torodora silvatica Park, 2007: 23. Holotype male collected in Thailand, deposited at the University of Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan (OPU).

Thubana silvatica (Park): Park et al. 2013: 312.

Thubana seimaensis Park, 2013: 312. Holotype male collected in Cambodia, deposited at the University of Incheon, Incheon, South Korea (UIK).

Specimens examined

China • 1 ♂; Yunnan Prov., Menghai County, Nabanhe; 22.243°N, 100.599°E; 810 m elev.; 2–3 Aug. 2022; Shuai Yu & Kaijian Teng leg., in LCU • 1 ♂; Yunnan Prov., Jinghong City, Mt. Jinuo; 21.982°N, 100.889°E; 1425 m elev.; 6–7 Aug. 2022; Shuai Yu & Kaijian Teng leg.; slide no. LCU218, in LCU • 1 ♂; Yunnan Prov., Jinghong City, Yexianggu; 22.100°N, 100.520°E; 852 m elev.; 8 Aug. 2022; Shuai Yu & Kaijian Teng leg.; slide no. LCU217, in LCU.

Description

Adult wingspan 16.0–16.5 mm (Fig. 1E).

Distribution

China (Yunnan Province, new record), Cambodia, Thailand.

Remarks

Park (2007) firstly described T. silvatica from Thailand, and he later transferred the species to Thubana Walker, 1864 (Park et al. 2013). Park et al. (2022) transferred Th. silvatica back to Torodora. An explanation for this reversal is given: “the venation of forewing differs from that of the type species of Torodora, having M3 and CuA1+2 on a common stalk, as well as that of Thubana Walker, but it is no doubt that the forewing color pattern and the male genital characters are closer to the genus Torodora” (Park et al. 2022: 368). We follow Park et al.’s treatment and concur with the taxonomic status of Torodora silvatica.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr Kaijian Teng (Shandong Normal University, China) for his participating in the fieldwork. We express our cordial thanks to Dr David Adamski (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, USA) and Dr Kyu-Tek Park (Korean Academy of Science and Technology, South Korea) for their positive comments and linguistic assistance.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (no. ZR2022QD130).

Author contributions

Resources: SY, SXW. Writing – original draft: SY. Writing – review and editing: SXW. Visualization: LL, XQL. Supervision: SXW.

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.

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