Mercedula Ponomarenko & M. Omelko, 2025

Mercedula Ponomarenko & M. Omelko View in CoL , gen. nov.

Type species. Mercedula fuscomarginata Ponomarenko & M. Omelko View in CoL , sp. nov. by present designation.

Diagnosis. The new genus can be distinguished from the genera of tribe Gelechiini by the male genitalia with long narrow uncus; longitudinally elongated tegumen, anterior part of which with complex apodeme; an absent gnathos; valva deeply divided into narrow dorsal part and ventral part broadened distally; shifted caudally phallic complex consisting of vinculum, juxta and aedeagus. Also, it differs by female genitalia with 8 th segment, consisting of two lateral sclerotisations and membranous areas between them, and two signa in corpus bursae.

Description. Adult. Head whitish with appressed large scales. Basal antennal segment (scapus) slightly flattened dorso-ventrally, brownish on upper side and light beige on under side, flagellum with light beige segments alternating with ones brownish on upper side and with black ones formed rings. Labial palpi with very short first segment, second segment 1.3–1.8 times longer than third segment, greyish brown on outer side and beige on inner side; third segment beige with two dark brown rings near the base and before apex ( Figs 2, 7 View FIGURES 1–11 ).

Thorax, patagia and tegulae whitish or light beige. Forewings length 3.1–3.3 mm; light beige, with yellowish-brown stripe along costal margin from base to 3/5 or 4/5 of wing length, which widened distally, distinct small black spot at cell end formed by raised scales and large greyish brown spot posteriad the latter ( Figs 1, 5, 6 View FIGURES 1–11 ); fringe beige on the costal and outer edges of wing, and grey on posterior margin, with 7 sparse black dots around wing apex. Hindwings and fringe grey. Forelegs and middle legs light beige with brownish darkening on outer side of femur and tibia, and dark brown darkening on tarsi; hind legs light beige with brush of hair-like scales of same colour on upper and under sides of tibia and with light beige spurs, for except the outer spur of second pair, which dark brown.

Second abdominal sternite with well-developed relatively long apodemes curved medially, long and sinuous venulae and medial fold arising from U-shaped narrow sclerotisation in proximal part of sternite ( Figs 17, 24 View FIGURES 12–24 ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 12, 13 View FIGURES 12–24 ) (based on the male genitalia of M. fuscomarginata sp. nov.). Uncus narrow and long. Gnathos absent. Tegumen elongated caudally and widened at basal 2/5, with well-developed apodeme in anterior part bearing two pairs of longitudinal folds and rounded dorsal notch. Valva deeply divided into two separate parts joined with tegumen and vinculum through of short transversal basal sclerite. Valval dorsal part sclerotised, narrow and with pointed apex, broadened basally and parallel-sided beyond basal 2/5. Valval ventral part enlarged at about 3/5 of length and with rounded apex. Sternal phallic complex, consisting of vinculum, juxta and aedeagus, shifted caudally and joined with rest genital structures by lateral arms of vinculum, which long and narrow. Vinculum of complex morphology: two lateral arms widened distally in triangular lateral plates located on sides of aedeagus and fused with juxta, its ventral part scletotised and with narrow band anteriorly; without saccus. Juxta integrated with vinculum, relatively large, with wedge-shaped ventral notch and two ventro-lateral lobes bearing beak-like apices directed ventrally, it wraps aedeagus from ventral and lateral sides. Aedeagus fixed in sternal phallic complex, it curved dorsally at basal 2/5, with inflated basal part and tube-like distal one, without caecum and with truncated apex. Vesica with minute needle-like cornuti ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 12–24 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 14–16, 18–23 View FIGURES 12–24 ). Papillae anales scletotised. Ovipositor short, membrane between segments 9 and 8 shorter than papillae anales, 8th segment consisting of two lateral sclerotisations with rounded posterior angles and membranous areas between them, of which dorsal one narrower. Ostium and antrum shifted anteriorly, ostium almost at level of posterior edge of 7th segment. Antrum sclerotised, funnel-shaped or cup-shaped, joined with posterior edge of 7 th segment ( Figs 18, 20 View FIGURES 12–24 ), ductus bursae membranous and tubular. Corpus bursae oval, membranous and with two signa each of which on underlying sclerotisation.

Distribution. Malaysia ( Sabah) and Indonesia ( Sumatra).

Etymology. The generic name is derived from Latin word “ mercedula ” meaning a small reward, which corresponds to the satisfaction from discovery of the new taxa as a result of tropical material study; generic name is feminine.