Apamea permixta, Kononenko, Vladimir, 2006

Kononenko, Vladimir, 2006, Apamea permixta, sp. n., from China — the putative sister species of A. commixta (Butler) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Xyleninae: Apameini), Zootaxa 1371, pp. 37-43 : 38-42

Apamea permixta , sp. n.

( Figs 1 , 4, 6 )

Diagnosis. The adult of the new species is superficially similar to Apamea commixta (Butler) from Japan ( Fig. 2 ) and probably represents its sister-species. The two species are similar in appearance to the dark form of A. crenata (Esper) , with a uniform pattern of the forewing extensively suffused by dark reddish-brown ( crenata f. alepecuris Esper). Superficially, A. permixta does not differ from A. commixta , but it can be separated by details of the structures of the male and especially the female genitalia. The male genitalia of the new species ( Fig. 4 ) differ from those of A. commixta ( Fig. 3 ) by a slightly shorter and broader valva, a broader juxta, a smaller and thinner harpe and digitus, a more rounded cucullus, and the absence of a prominent spine on the ventral angle of the cucullus, which is present in A. commixta . The aedeagus is more massive, compared with that of A. commixta , with a narrower, but more acute sclerotised apical part (carina). The vesica is wider than in A. commixta , with a bulbous portion at the base and a stronger, fairly large, apical spinelike cornutus.

The female genitalia of A. permixta (fig. 6) show more conspicuous differences from those of A. commixta (fig. 7), having narrower and more curved lobes of the ovipositor, narrower anterior and posterior apophyses, a narrower ductus bursae, a sclerotised triangular projection on the ductus bursae, and the presence of a sacklike appendix bursae, which is absent in A. commixta . The two species comprise a well defined species-group in the genus Apamea . The group shares the following characters in the male and female genitalia: shape of valva, short digitus in the central part of valva, rather strong harpe, structures of the vesica in males, structure of the oviposior, and the width of the anterior and posterior apophyses in the females. A related species-group is not known in the European or Far Eastern fauna.

Description. Adult. ( Fig. 1 ). Wing expanse 37 mm, length of forewing 24 mm. Antennae of male ciliate, those of female filiform. Palpi relatively short, laterally flattened, third segment approximately one-third length of second, ventrally covered by long dark-brownish scales. Head: Blackish-brown suffused with grey scales, and with tufts of black hairlike scales. Thorax: Covered by brown scales, mixed with yellowish-grey hairlike scales. Tegulae and patagia rufous at base, outlined with a dark-brown line. Abdomen: Grey, dorsally with tufts formed by dark brown scales. Forewing: Ground colour of upper surface dark rufous-brown, with paler rufous–brown suffusion in the central part of the wing; elements of wing pattern obscure, darker or lighter than ground colour. Basal line and basal streak represented by black dashes on costal and mid part of base of wings. Basal area from costa to basal streak filled with rufous brown. Antemedial line represented by wide black dash on costa continuing as thin black line crossing wing, outlined inside by pale line. Antemedial field filled with dark-brown scales. Stigmata pale rufous, lighter than ground colour, with brown filling inside and outlined with dark brown. Claviform black, streaklike, connecting the antemedial and postmedial lines. Medial field downwards from the claviform dark-brown, in the central part pale, rufous-brown. Medial line marked only by costa by a black dash. Postmedial line defined by rufous on the outer side, bent outward below costa, then minutely dentate to vein M2, then strongly incurved. Postmedial field dark rufous-brown. Subterminal line rufous, pale, thin, indistinct, defined on inner side above and below veins M1 and M2 by narrow black streaks. Terminal field dark reddish-brown, terminal line is a row of semi-lunar black streaks. Fringes brown with fine pale line at base. Hindwing: Greyish, tinged with brown, paler in basal and central parts, with a black discal spot and traceable curved postmedial line with broad fuscous band beyond it.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 4 ). Abdomen: Coremata absent. Genitalia: Uncus simple, moderately wide. Tegumen with moderate and quadrangular peniculus covered with hairlike setae. Juxta tip arrow-shaped. Valva moderate in width, wider apically. Sacculus small. Costa well developed, basally bent, outwards straight. Pointed sclerotised costal process (digitus) directed ventrally, not reaching triangular cucullus. Clasper barlike, sclerotised. Harpe (ampulla) sclerotised, relatively short, slightly curved. Outer ventral part of valva less sclerotised. Cucullus large, about one-third length of valva, well separated, trigonate, with well defined ‘neck’, its apical margin moderately convex; ventral angle of cucullus without prominent anal spine as in A. commixta . Corona well developed with a row of numerous spines of equal size. Surface of cucullus covered by irregular rows of strong setae, more dense in apical part and ventral angle. Aedeagus relatively small, straight, with apical part (carina) strongly sclerotised, slightly curved. Vesica relatively short, about half the length of aedeagus, bulbous ventrally, armed by a short, strong spine with a wide base.

Female genitalia (Ffig. 6). Ovipositor strongly sclerotized, papillae annales large, heavily sclerotised, curved ventrally. Anterior and posterior apophyses large, wide, moderately sclerotised, about equal in length, spatulate towards the end, but narrower than in A. commixta . Antrum with a short heavily sclerotised ventral band. Ductus bursae relatively short and slightly sclerotised, narrower than in A. commixta , with two heavily sclerotised patches laterally, one forming a sclerotised triangular projection. Bursae copulatrix membranous, rounded, with a large, slightly sclerotised, elongate appendix bursae, which is absent in A. commixta .

Type material. Holotype: male, with label [ China, Prov. Fujan] Kuatun (300 m). 27° 40' n, Br. 117° 40' o. L.J. Klapperich. 1 Jun 1938 (Fukion); paratypes: 2 males, same locality and collector, 12 Jun 1936 (Genitalia praep. ZFMK 1852VK); 1 female with label: [ China, Prov. Guangdong] Linping, Sudchina Pr., Kwangtung, H.Höne. Genitalia prep. VSK9/ 050698.

Distribution ( Fig. 3 ). The species is known only from the type locality in the southeastern part of China, Fujan and Guangdong Province.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Adults and distribution map of A. permixta and A. commixta. 1. A. permixta sp. n., male, holotype, China, Prov. Fujan. 2. A. commixta, male, Japan, Honshu. 3. Geographic distribution of A. permixta (black dot) and A. commixta (hatched area).

FIGURES 4 – 7. Genitalia of Apamea spp. 4. A. permixta sp. n., male, paratype. China, Prov. Fujan. Genitalia prep. ZFMK 1852 VK. 5. A. commixta sp. n., male, Japan, Honshu. Genitalia prep. ZFMK 1830 VK. 6. A. permixta sp. n., female, paratype. China, Prov. Guandong. Genitalia prep. VSK 9 / 050698. 7. A. commixta sp. n., female, Japan, Honshu. Genitalia prep. VSK 10 / 050698.