Homoplectra flagelliformis, Nozaki, 2025

Homoplectra flagelliformis sp. nov.

( Figs 6 View FIGURE 6 , 13 View FIGURE 13 )

Diplectrona japonica View in CoL nec Banks 1906: Kawase & Hayashi 2010, p. 85. Misidentification.

Diplectroninae Gen. japonica View in CoL Species Complex: Nojima 2017 (in part), p. 119.

Diagnosis. The male of this species is very similar to that of H. japonica in the short antennal scapes and the shape of the phallic apparatus; but can be distinguished by the shape of the ventral processes of the phallotheca and aedeagus: In this species, the ventral processes of the phallotheca are almost straight apically ( Figs 6D, 6H View FIGURE 6 ), and the stem of the aedeagus bears a pair of round lobes apically in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ); but in H. japonica , the ventral processes of phallotheca curve dotsomesad apically ( Figs 3D, 3E View FIGURE 3 ), and the posterior margin of the aedeagal stem is truncate in lateral aspect ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ).

The female of this species is similar to that of Homoplectra shikoku sp. nov., in having a trapezoidal basoventral lobe on the vulvar scale but these species can be easily distinguished from each other by the shape of the lateral lobes of segment VIII: The mesal margin of each lateral lobe is concave in the middle in this species ( Fig. 6K View FIGURE 6 ), but it is smoothly convex in H. shikoku sp. nov. ( Fig. 7K View FIGURE 7 ).

Description

Adult. Length of antennal scape and general coloration of body and wings very similar to those of H. japonica . Wings occasionally uniformly dark brown in female. Forewings each 8.5–10 mm in male (n = 10), 10.5–13 mm in female (n = 10), 9.7 mm in male holotype.

Male genitalia ( Figs 6A–6H View FIGURE 6 ). Ventrolateral sides of synsclerotized segment IX protruding anterad and round on each side in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ); posteroventral lobe long and rectangular in ventral aspect ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ), its apex weakly bilobed in ventral aspect. Dorsal part of segment IX subtriangular, apically round in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ), fused with segment X laterally ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ). Segment X bilobed in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ), with pair of large posterolateral setose areas ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ); each ventrolateral margin sclerotized, recessed into segment IX ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ). Inferior appendages each without distal segment, long and finger-like in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ), extending beyond apex of segment X, slightly curved upward apically; slightly convex subapicomesally, with about 10 spine-like setae ( Figs 6A–6C View FIGURE 6 ). In phallotheca, long dorsal process thin, whip-like in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ), gradually curving posteroventrad (specimens macerated by KOH solution often strongly curved or recurved apically as in Fig. 6F View FIGURE 6 ); broad basally and tapering to acute apex in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 6E View FIGURE 6 ); lateral processes absent; pair of ventral processes in lateral and dorsal aspect ( Figs 6D–6F View FIGURE 6 ) slender, almost straight, approximately half as long as dorsal process. Aedeagus evenly curved ventrad in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ); stem half-pipe-like, with pair of posterior lobes, each lobe oval in lateral aspect ( Figs 6D View FIGURE 6 ) and concave mesally ( Fig. 6E View FIGURE 6 ); with head approximately 1/4 as long as basal stem ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 6I–6L View FIGURE 6 ). Lateral lobes of sternum VIII widely separated from each other in ventral aspect ( Fig. 6K View FIGURE 6 ), each with mesal margin concave in middle. Segment IX oblique rectangular in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6I View FIGURE 6 ), subpentagonal with round lateral and apical margins in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 6J View FIGURE 6 ); pair of mesal lobes sclerotized, semicircular in lateral aspect ( Fig. 6I View FIGURE 6 ); pair of sclerotized ribs forming wide trapezoidal lobe on vulvar scale basoventrally ( Fig. 6K View FIGURE 6 ). Vulvar scale large, membranous and convex apically. Vaginal apparatus long pentagonal in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 6J View FIGURE 6 ), tapering to duct of bursa copulatrix; posterodorsal part semimembranous, with complicated wrinkles, with pair of longitudinal ridges dorsally, opening of duct of spermatheca situated between ridges near middle, with dark inverted V-shaped mark dorsally, partially surrounding opening of duct of spermatheca ( Fig. 6J View FIGURE 6 ).

Geographic variations of male and female genitalia ( Figs 6G, 6H, 6L View FIGURE 6 ). In males collected from Okayama and Hiroshima Prefectures, the posteroventral lobe of segment IX is short ( Fig. 6G View FIGURE 6 ). The ventral processes of the phallotheca are approximately the same length as the dorsal process of the phallotheca in specimens collected from Hiroshima Prefecture ( Fig. 6H View FIGURE 6 ). In females collected from Hiroshima Prefecture, the posterior margin of basoventral lobe on the vulvar scale is shallowly concave ( Fig. 6L View FIGURE 6 ).

Immature stages. Unknown.

Holotype. Male (in alcohol): Takezaki, Okuizumo-cho , Shimane, 35.1693°N, 133.1751°E, alt. 761 m, 16– 28.v.2007, M. Hayashi, Malaise trap ( KPM-NK TN00580 ). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. 10 males, GoogleMaps 5 females (in alcohol), same data as holotype ( KPM-NK TN00590 , KPM-NK TN00600 ) GoogleMaps .

Other specimens examined. JAPAN: HONSHU: Tottori: 1 male, 2 females, Funadani-gawa, Kofu-cho, alt. 750 m, 25.v.1993, N. Kuhara (KuN). Shimane: 25 males, 12 females, same data as holotype (20 males, 7 females: NK). Okayama: 5 males, 1 female, Oosaooino, Niimi-shi, 8.v.2016, K. Nojima ( KN); 3 males, 1 female, Hiruzenkamifukuda, Maniwa-shi, 5.v.2016 ( KN). Hiroshima: 1 male, 2 females, Yoshiwa, Hatsukaichi-shi, 11.v.1976, K. Baba ( KPM); 3 males, Hosomi-dani, Yoshiwa, Hatsukaichi-shi , 11.v.2005, I. Mori.

Etymology. The species epithet (Latin adjective, whip-like) refers to the whip-like dorsal process of the phallotheca.

Distribution. Western Honshu (Chugoku District).

Biology. Many adults of this species were collected in May using a Malaise trap over a small spring flow at the type locality ( Kawase and Hayashi 2010).

Japanese name. Muchio-kimadara-shima-tobikera.