Vangatinea sontraensis Heppner & Bae 2023, sp. nov.

Vangatinea sontraensis Heppner & Bae, sp. nov.

(Figs. 1-3, 6, 9, 12)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9049044D-891E-43A5-9162-133718592689

Type locality: Vietnam (Son Tra Forest Reserve, Danang Prov.).

Type materials. Holotype: ♁, Son Tra Forest Reserve (400–500m), Danang (Son Tra Peninsula), Danang Prov., Vietnam, 20–22 Apr 2012, J. B. Heppner (gen. slide JBH–2997; adult photo 11237) (MGCL) (deposited at MGCL). Paratypes: 2♁, same site data as holotype (head and wing slide JBH–4257) (MGCL).

Diagnosis. This species is distinctive in having the distal half of the forewing mostly golden-orange (mostly purple-brown with orange patches in the other two species), and the male genitalia with valvae of mandible-like shape with tooth-like saccular edge (similar to typical lepidopteran larval mandibles), and uncus developed as bifurcate dorsal projections.

Description. Wing expanse: 10.7–11.4 mm male (n = 3). Male (Fig. 3). Head (Fig. 6): vertex orange-yellow; frons yellow-white; caudal eye margin yellow; labial palpus light yellow to white, with bristles light brown; antenna dark gray, with basal 1/5 yellow; scape light yellow. Thorax: bronze-golden (lighter medially near patagia); venter dark golden; legs yellow-white to white, with dark brown intersegmental rings. Forewing (Fig. 3): basal half dark bronzegolden, with small round spot of equal color on costa just beyond 1/2, and larger semi-triangular mark on costa at 3/4, distal thin line near apex, and thicker long tornal marginal line; remainder of forewing golden-yellow to light orange; fringe golden-yellow around apex, then brown along termen and tornus; venter dark brown, with tan emargination on costa to tornus; light tan-white on cubital section. Hindwing: pale white, with distal dull brown from 1/2 along costa and along termen to tornus; fringe pale brown to whitish distally, with mostly white along anal margin; venter dark brown, with thin tan emargination from apex to tornus. Abdomen: dark bronze-golden (lighter on T1–2); venter golden-white; genital tufts golden; small lateral pregenital coremata on S6 (Fig. 9b); S6 and T6 caudally concave. Male genitalia (Fig. 9): compact and strongly sclerotized tegumen-vinculum cylinder; uncus projected dorsally as bifurcate finger-like appendages, distally slightly recurved; valva quadratic and mandible-like, with tooth-like saccular margin (somewhat asymmetrical, with saccular margin of left valva convex and of right valva distally projected) (Note: Fig. 9 shows the valvae in ventral view), and termen rounded from strongly sclerotized dorsal margin; apparent saccus very short and turned inwards; juxta-anellus fused as short tubular complex; saccus indistinct inward spur; aedeagus narrow and long; cornutus a long tubule (subequal to aedeagus length). Female: unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after the Son Tra Forest Reserve, Danang, Vietnam (see Fig. 13).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from central coastal Vietnam (Danang) (Fig. 12 map).

Discussion. The new species was discovered on the Son Tra Peninsula, next to northeast Danang, which is a small isolated forested mountain (to 500m) and peninsula, now protected as the Son Tra Forest Reserve (Fig. 13). This site has a remnant coastal forest of diverse small trees and shrubs where the moths of this new species were found at lights, but likely are day-fliers.