Eupithecia saldaitisi, Mironov & Šumpich, 2022

Mironov, Vladimir & Šumpich, Jan, 2022, New species of the genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from China. Part VII, Zootaxa 5154 (3), pp. 289-304 : 293

Eupithecia saldaitisi sp. n.

( Figs 8–9 , 23 , 30 )

Type material: Holotype, ♂, China, SW. Gansu, near Xiahe (Labramg), H— 2900 m, 35°11,968ʹ N, 102°33,545ʹ E, 23.v.2017, leg. A. Saldaitis. Gen. prep. J. Procházka 20040, photo J. Šumpich 22009 ( NMPC) . Paratype 1 ♂, the same locality, data and collector. Photo J. Šumpich 22011 ( NMPC) .

Diagnosis. This species may belong to the innotata species-group. Externally it is most similar to E. paupera Dietze, 1910 ( Mironov & Galsworthy 2014). However, the transverse lines are not visible on the wings of the new species and the fore wings are unicolorous rusty ochreous. The combination of the shape of the valves and vinculum, the cornuti on the vesica of the aedeagus in the male genitalia, as well as the shape of the eighth sternite distinguish this species from any other.

Description. Adult. ( Figs 8–9 , 23 ). Male. A relatively large narrow-winged species, wingspan 24.5 mm, fore wing 13.5 mm. Head and notum covered with ochreous scales. Fore wing narrow, elongate; costal margin slightly curved; apex narrow; unicolorous, pale rusty ochreous; transverse lines not visible; terminal line narrow, brownish; discal dot narrow, elongate, blackish. Hind wing ovoid, unicolorous pale rusty ochreous, paler than fore wing; transverse lines absent, terminal line as on the fore wing; discal dot small, rounded, brownish. Fringe relatively long, unicolorous rusty ochreous.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 30 ). Uncus elongate, narrow, biapical. Valva shaped like an orange segment, relatively elongate, narrow, sharply narrowed from middle to apex; sacculus parallel to dorsal margin, lightly sclerotized; apex very narrow, rounded. Vinculum relatively short, narrow, slightly pointed at apex. Papillae on the anterior arms of the labides elongate, curved, covered with normal-sized setae at apices. Aedeagus rather broad and short. Vesica armed with one sharp cornutus with a broad base and one smaller apical cornutus, and also two smaller irregular cornuti near ductus ejaculatorius base. Sternite A8 short, peg-like with two very short, pointed and inwardly curved apical arms; basal hollow narrow and shallow.

Female. Unknown.

Bionomy. Host plant unknown. Holotype was collected by light in late May at an elevation of 2900 m ( Fig. 45 ).

Distribution. China. Known from Gansu province.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the Lithuanian entomologist Aidas Saldaitis (Vilnius, Lithuania) who collected many Chinese moths.

Figures

FIGURES 8–15. Eupithecia adults, China (scale bar = 10 mm). 8–9. E. saldaitisi sp. n. 8. Holotype. 9. Paratype; 10. E. ludificata sp. n. (holotype); 11. E. butvilai sp. n. (holotype); 12. E. ursina sp. n. (holotype); 13. E. nesciaria sp. n. (holotype); 14. E. oxycedrata (Rambur, 1833); 15. E. phulchokiana Herbulot, 1984.

FIGURES 20–27. Heads of Eupithecia species, China, holotypes. 20. E. prochazkai sp. n.; 21. E. anickae sp. n.; 22. E. divertenta sp. n.; 23. E. saldaitisi sp. n.; 24. E. ludificata sp. n.; 25. E. butvilai sp. n.; 26. E. ursina sp. n.; 27. E. nesciaria sp. n.

FIGURES 28–31. Male genitalia and sternite A8 of Eupithecia species (scale bar = 1 mm; detail of uncus enlarged). 28. E. prochazkai sp. n. (holotype); 29. E. divertenta sp. n. (holotype); 30. E. saldaitisi sp. n. (holotype); 31. E. ludificata sp. n. (holotype).

FIGURES 42–49. Habitats of newly described Eupithecia species, China. 42. Yunnan, Nu Jiang valley, 9.iii.2019, locality of E. prochazkai sp. n.; 43. Yunnan, surroundings of Yongseng, 11.v.2018, locality of E. anickae sp. n.; 44. Sichuan, surroundings of Derge, 15.viii.2009, locality of E. divertenta sp. n.; 45. Gansu, near surroundings of Xiahe, 4.x.2013, locality of E. saldaitisi sp. n.; 46–47. Sichuan, surroundings of Maniganggo, 16.viii.2009, locality of E. ludificata sp. n. and E. nesciaria sp. n.; 48. Yunnan, surroundings of Gongshan, 2.vii.2008, locality of E. butvilai sp. n.; 49. Sichuan, surroundings of Batang, 19.ix.2019, locality of E. ursina sp. n.