Lasianobia dvoraki Saldaitis, Volynkin & Truuverk, 2018

Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V. & Truuverk, Andro, 2018, Three new species of the genus Lasianobia Hampson, 1905 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) from China, with a revised checklist for the genus, Zootaxa 4472 (2), pp. 343-357 : 344-347

Lasianobia dvoraki Saldaitis, Volynkin & Truuverk , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–4 , 13–16 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( Figs 1 , 13 ), China, W Sichuan, near Litang, H- 4000 m, N29°49.136’ E100°20.576’, 04.V.2016, Saldaitis leg., slide AV3085 ♂ Volynkin (coll. AFM).

Paratypes: 1 ♂ ( Fig. 3 ), same data as in the holotype, slide AV3082 ♂ Volynkin ; 2 ♂, same data as in the holotype, but 9–10.V.2016 ; 3 ♂ ( Fig. 4 ), China, W Sichuan, Shaluli Shan, 40 km NW from Daocheng , H- 4060 m, N29°17.401’ E100°05.068’, 03.V.2016 , Saldaitis leg., slide AV3083 ♂ Volynkin ; 4 ♂, same data, but 12– 13.V.2016 ; 1 ♂ ( Fig. 2 ), China, W Sichuan, road Daocheng / Litang , H- 4100 m, N29°36.788’ E100°19.825, 11.V.2016, stones , Saldaitis leg., slide AV3084 ♂ Volynkin (colls AFM, ASV & M. Dvořák ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is dedicated to Marek Dvořák (Smrčná, Czech Republic), a well-known collector of Noctuidae and friend of the authors.

Diagnosis. Lasianobia dvoraki ( Figs 1–4 ) is externally most similar to L. labranga sp. nov. ( Fig. 9 ) and L. fickleri ( Fig. 8 ), but differs from L. labranga in having a smaller reniform stigmata with a shorter extensions along the cubital veins; and from L. fickleri in its slightly larger size, broader forewings, slightly thinner submedial longitudinal dash, the paler, whitish orbicular and reniform stigmata not fused along the cubital vein, smaller reniform stigma with shorter extensions along the cubital veins, and the darker, grayish brown hindwings. In L. fickleri , the forewing is broader, the submedial longitudinal dash slightly broader, the orbicular and reniform stigmata are pale brown and fused along the cubital vein, the reniform stigma is broader, and with significantly longer extensions along the cubital veins; the hindwings are lighter, pale brown. The male genitalia of L. dvoraki ( Figs 13–16 ) are similar to those of L. labranga ( Fig. 20 ), L. albilinea ( Figs 17–19 ) and L. superba ( Fig. 21 ), but differ from L. labranga ( Fig. 20 ) in the slightly weaker digitus, the presence of a broad cluster of spinules on the 1 st medial ventral diverticulum of the aedeagus vesica, the smaller 2nd medial ventral diverticulum, and a shorter distal section of the vesica; from L. albilinea ( Figs 17–19 ) they differ in having the uncus less narrowed basally, broader penicular lobes, shorter and weaker digitus, slightly weaker distal saccular process, more robust carinal thorn of the aedeagus, presence of subbasal ventral cluster of spinules, broader 1 st medial ventral diverticulum armed with a broader cluster of spinules, shorter distal section of the vesica, and smaller, row-like distal cluster of spines (while in L. albilinea this cluster is broad and encircles the dorsal surface of the vesica). From L. superba ( Fig. 21 ) they differ by having an uncus narrower basally, slightly broader cucullus, absence of an ampulla on the costa, somewhat shorter distal saccular process, shorter aedeagus with more robust carinal thorn, presence of subbasal dorsal cluster of spinules, larger cluster of spinules on the 1 st ventral medial diverticulum, the 2nd ventral medial diverticulum with no spinules, shorter distal section of the vesica, and the larger distal cluster of spinules.

Molecular analysis. Barcodes for twelve L. dvoraki showed 0.0–1.1% divergence. Pairwise comparisons between L. dvoraki and the holotype of L. labranga differ by 4.2–4.4%. Four specimens of L. albilinea differ from L. dvoraki by 3.9–4.4%, anddifferences between L. dvoraki and two specimens of L. superba were 3.0–3.2%.

Description. Adult ( Figs 1–4 ). Forewing length 12–15 mm in males. Male antennae bipectinate, grayish brown. Coloration of body and forewings reddish brown, in some specimens with intense gray suffusion. Forewing ground colour somewhat darker than thorax, with intense pale gray suffusion along the costa; subbasal line absent; ante- and postmedial lines thin, brown, curved; submedial longitudinal dash thin, creamy yellowish, outlined with fine black scales, slightly curved; subterminal line thin, yellowish creamy, angled at apex; terminal line interrupted into a row of brown dots between veins; orbicular stigma small, rounded, yellowish creamy; reniform stigma with short trigonal extensions along the cubital veins; cilia grayish brown. Hindwing dark brownish gray, slightly lightened basally; discal spot short, semilunar, diffuse; cilia dark grayish brown. Male genitalia ( Figs 13–16 ): Uncus dorso-ventrally flattened, broad, trapezoidal, with distally rounded corners, weakly hairy; tegument relatively short but broad; penicular lobes broad, ear-shaped; juxta elongated, conical in shape; vinculum V-shaped, with rounded apex; valves symmetrical, evenly curved medially; costa heavily sclerotized; costal margin evenly curved, heavily sclerotized; digitus large, its base broad, distally narrow, apically tapered; cucullus narrow, trigonal with rounded corners, weakly setose; neck of cucullus elongate, narrow; sacculus well-developed, broad, its dorsal surface with short rounded protrusion medially; distal saccular process robust, long, peak-shaped, with broad basal plate; clasper short, trigonal with no processes; aedeagus short, broad, cylindrical; carina with trigonal thorn; vesica tubular, its middle section curved dorsally; subbasal section with two band-like clusters of robust spinules dorsally and ventrally; 1 st medial diverticulum short and broad, armed with a broad cluster of short spinules; 2nd medial diverticulum small, conical, with no spinules; subapical diverticulum broad, short, with band-like cluster of short but robust spinules.

Female unknown.

Bionomics and distribution. Twelve males were collected at ultraviolet light in May 2016 in remote parts of the southwestern part of China’s Sichuan Province, near Litang and Daocheng (Fig. 31). Specimens of the new species were collected at altitudes ranging from 4000 to 4100 m in mountainous mixed forests dominated by various conifers, rhododendrons, and various shrubs.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Lasianobia spp., male adults. 1, L. dvoraki, holotype, China, W SiChuan (AFM); 2, L. dvoraki, paratype, China, W SiChuan (ASV); 3, L. dvoraki, paratype, China, W SiChuan (AFM); 4, L. dvoraki, paratype, China, W SiChuan (ASV); 5, L. albilinea albilinea, China, NW Yunnan (AFM); 6, L. albilinea albilinea, China, W SiChuan (Pekarsky); 7, L. qinghana, holotype, China, Qinghai (Coll. AFM); 8, L. fickleri, holotype, China, East Tibet (PGM/HNHM).

FIGURES 13–16. Lasianobia dvoraki, male genitalia. 13, holotype, China, W SiChuan, slide AV3085 Volynkin; 14, paratype, China, W SiChuan, slide AV3084 Volynkin; 15, paratype, China, W SiChuan, slide AV3083 Volynkin; 16, paratype, China, W SiChuan, slide AV3082 Volynkin.

FIGURES 9–12. Lasianobia spp., male adults. 9, L. labranga, holotype, China, SW Gansu (AFM); 10, L. superba, China, NW Yunnan (AFM); 11, L. pensottii, holotype, China, NW Yunnan (GBG/ZSM); 12, L. pensottii, paratype, China, NW Yunnan (ASV).

FIGURES 20–22. Lasianobia spp., male genitalia. 20, L. labranga, holotype, China, SW Gansu, slide AV3086 Volynkin; 21, L. superba, China, Tibet, slide BJ2070 BabiCs; 22, L. pensottii, holotype, China, NW Yunnan, slide BJ2064 BabiCs.

FIGURES 17–19. Lasianobia albilinea albilinea, male genitalia. 17, W SiChuan, slide OP3251 Pekarsky; 18, NW Yunnan, slide BJ2067 BabiCs; 19, W SiChuan, slide OP3250 Pekarsky.