Hellinsia alena, 2021

Ustjuzhanin, P. Ya., Kovtunovich, V. N., Saldaitis, A. & Streltzov, A. N., 2021, New species of plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from China, Sichuan Province, Russian Entomological Journal 30 (3), pp. 323-327 : 325-326

Hellinsia alena

Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich et Saldaitis, sp.n.

Figs 7–9 .

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype — ♂, ( ZISP, gen. pr. N 1955) China, NW Sichuan, near Derge , h≈ 3400m, 31°49´S, 98°34´E, 04.vii.2009, J. Butvila & A. Saldaitis leg.

DESCRIPTION: External characters ( Fig. 7 ). Head, thorax and tegulae yellow-grey. Labial palpi brown, apically acute, equal to longitudinal eye diameter in length. Antennae yellowish-brown. Wingspan 20 mm. Fore wings light-greenish-yellow, interspersed with tiny brownish scales.Two brown strokes distally on costal edge of first lobe. Fringe inside cleft light-yellow, almost white. Hind wings brownish-grey, unicolorous, noticeably darker than fore wings.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 8 ). Valves asymmetric, left noticeably wider than right. Harpe on left valve thin, long, extending beyond middle of valve in length, apically smoothly bent almost at right angle. Anellus arms distally extended, apically acute, right arm wider than left one. Uncus thin, smoothly curved, apically acute.Aedeagus medially slightly concave, almost twice shorter than valve, distally with cluster of tine cornuti.

Female unknown.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS. In the light-greenish-yellow color of the wings and absence of the dark strokes along the outer edge of the second lobe, the species is similar to Hellinsia osteodactyla (Zeller, 1841) , but differs in the two brown strokes on the wing costal edge distally and in the absence of the noticeable dark spot at the cleft base. The male genitalia of the new species are similar to those of Hellinsia distincta (Herrich- Schäffer, 1855), but differ in the long bent harpe on the left valve and in the cluster of tiny cornuti in the aedeagus distally, while in H. distincta , the harpe on the left valve is almost straight, bent only slightly, and the aedeagus lacks cornuti.

BIONOMICS. Single male was collected at light beginning of July in the remote part of West China Sichuan Province near the Derge. The new species was collected at altitude ranging 3400 meters in a dry, narrow and stony river valley sparsely covered by mixed bushes ( Fig. 9 ).

ETYMOLOGY. The species is dedicated to Alena Kazakevich (Lida, Belarus) for her deep understanding and support of the entomological activities of the third author.

Figures

Figs 7–9. Hellinsia alena Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich et Saldaitis, sp.n.: 7 — habitus (Holotype, ZISP); 8 — male genitalia (Holotype, ZISP, gen.pr. Nr 1955); 9 — biotope: China, NW Sichuan, near Derge, h≈3400m. Photo by A. Saldaitis. Рис. 7–9. Hellinsia alena Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich et Saldaitis, sp.n.: 7 — внешний вид (голотип, ZISP); 8 — гениталии самца (голотип, ZISP, gen.pr. Nr 1955); 9 — биотоп: Китай, СЗ Сычуань, блиЗ Дерге, h≈3400м. Фото А. Салдаитиса.