Palaeophanes lativalva

Palaeophanes lativalva

MALE (Figure 87).—Forewing length 4.7–5.0 mm.

Head: Vestiture dark brownish fuscous, slightly paler and more grayish on lower frons. Antenna ∼0.4 × length of forewing, 33- or 34-segmented; scape, pedicel, and first 1 or 2 segments of flagellum dark brownish fuscous; next 12–14 flagellomeres with pale cream scales dorsally; remainder of flagellum naked, dark brown. Labial palpus predominantly dark brownish fuscous, paler and more grayish mesally.

Thorax (Figure 38): Dark brownish fuscous dorsally, shiny gray ventrally. Forewing dark brownish fuscous, lightly marked with small, pale cream spots; pattern differs from that of P. taiwanensis in having basal costal spot smaller, more slender, and situated more distad toward middle of costa; apical spot also smaller and more slender, with a narrow band of dark scales separating pale cream of fringe; termenal spot below apex continuous into fringe; a small spot along basal one-third of hind margin and 3 or 4 smaller spots scattered across middle of wing; fringe same color as wing except where interrupted by pale cream as described. Forelegs mostly dark brownish fuscous, with extreme apex of tibia and tarsomeres 1–3 pale cream; apex of 3 tipped with brownish fuscous; apex of 5 sometimes pale cream; mid- and hindlegs brownish fuscous dorsally, paler, gray to pale cream ventrally; most tarsomeres narrowly ringed with pale cream.

Abdomen (Figures 41, 42): Dark brownish fuscous dorsally, dark shiny gray ventrally. Sternum 8 with a bilateral pair of short coremata present.

Genitalia (Figures 125–128): Vinculum-saccus T-shaped; saccus moderately short, ∼0.2 × length of valva. Anellus membranous, connected to vinculum by an elongate, laterally compressed, sinuate juxta. Valva extremely broad (Figure 127), width ∼0.55 × length; dorsal (cucullar) lobe very slender, digitate, separated approximately one-third length of valva; ventral (saccular) lobe very broad, with a slender, curved spinose process near dorsal lobe; ventral apex extending total length of valva. Aedoeagus an elongate, dorsally arched, acute rod (Figure 128); basal, ventral keel elongate, projecting caudally approximately twice its linear width; apex with asymmetrical orifice, the right margin excavated.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

HOLOTYPE (Figure 87).—TAIWAN: CHAIYI-HSIEN: Fennchihwu, 1450 m, , 2–4 Jul 1985, J.[B.] Heppner & H. Wang (NMT, on indefinite loan to FSCA).

PARATYPES.—TAIWAN: CHAIYI-HSIEN: Fennchihwu, 1400 m: 2, 17 Jul 1984, Y. Arita, slide DRD 3757 (FSCA, USNM). Fennchihwu, 1450 m: 3, 2–4 Jul 1985, J.[B.] Heppner & H. Wang, slides DRD 3759, JBH 2019 (FSCA, NMT).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—July.

MAP 1.—Distribution of Notiophanes fuscata, Palaeophanes brevispina, P. lativalva, P. taiwanensis, P. xoutha, and P. sp.

DISTRIBUTION (Map 1).—Known only from the type locality, which is situated in a wet forested area in the central mountain range of Taiwan, at an elevation of approximately 1400 m.

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific name is derived from the Latin latus (broad) and valva (leaf of a folding door, valve), in reference to the principal apomorphy of this species—the extremely broad valvae of the male genitalia.