Thysanoplisna brevimacula ( Alphéraky, 1897 )

Volynkin, Anton V., 2024, Taxonomic review of the Thysanoptyx Hampson generic complex (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini). II. The genus Thysanoplisna Volynkin with descriptions of seven new species from Vietnam and mainland China, Zootaxa 5506 (3), pp. 428-450 : 431

Thysanoplisna brevimacula ( Alphéraky, 1897)

( Figs 1–4 , 41 , 56 )

Thysanoptyx brevimacula Alphéraky, 1897 , Mémoires sur les lépidoptères, 9: 130, pl. 13: fig. 5 (Type locality: [ China, Sichuan] “Ta-Choui-van”).

Type material examined. Photographs of the holotype (by monotypy): ♂ “Ta-Shui-van | 2 IX. Sytschuan. [Sichuan]” / dark pink label “Brevimacula | Alph. | Original.” / “coll. Acad. | Petrop.”, gen. prep. in glycerol by V . Dubatolov ( ZISP).

Additional material examined. CHINA: 1 ♂, [Sichuan Prov., Baoxing] Moupin , Kricheldorf coll., June 1890 / Leech Coll. 1900–64, unique ID: NHMUK010606154 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010313553 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♀, [Sichuan Prov., Mount Omei] Omei-Shan, 3500 ft., Native coll., June & July 1890 / Leech Coll. 1900–64, unique ID: NHMUK010606155 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010313554 ( NHMUK) ; 2 ♂♂, Hubei Prov., NE of Wuhan City, Tapieh Shan , mid vi–early viii.1999, 900–1600m, J. Li leg., gen. prep. No.: MWM 35.972 (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 ♂, NE Sichuan, NE Guangyuan, Longmen Shan , 32°36.913'N 105°31.913'E, 2.viii. 2016, 630m, [A.] Floriani & [A.] Saldaitis leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7538 ( AFM) ; 2 ♀♀, E Sichuan, 30 km SE from Ping Wu , 1420m, 32°20.725'N 104°36.650'E, 1.viii.2016, [A.] Floriani & [A.] Saldaitis leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7540 ( AFM) .

Note. In the original description, Alphéraky (1897) erroneously determined the sex of the single type specimen as female.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.5–16.5 mm in males and 16.0–17.0 mm in females. Thysanoplisna brevimacula is externally reminiscent of Th. signata but distinguished by the somewhat darker, brownish-grey forewing ground colour, which is ochreous brown in the congener. The male genital capsules of the two species are alike while the phallus of Th. brevimacula is somewhat longer than in Th. signata . The main diagnostic characters are found in the vesica configurations: compare to Th. signata , the vesica of Th. brevimacula is considerably broader, has a broad and prominent dorsal medial diverticulum (it is reduced in Th. signata ), a longer and broader ventral medial diverticulum, and a somewhat longer distal diverticulum bearing a slightly thicker and basally wider cornutus. The female genitalia of the two species are very similar but the ductus of Th. brevimacula is considerably narrower than in the congener.

Distribution. Southwestern and Central China (Sichuan and Hubei Provinces). The specimen illustrated by Fang (2000: pl. XI, fig. 23) as ‘ Thysanoptyx brevimacula ’ is Th. directa .

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Adults of Thysanoplisna spp. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 7 and 8 in MWM/ZSM; 2, 5 and 6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 3 and 4 in AFM.

FIGURES 41–44. Male genitalia of Thysanoplisna spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 56–61. Female genitalia of Thysanoplisna spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 56 and 57 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 58–61 in MWM/ZSM.