Amphipoea maryamae, Zahiri, Reza & Fibiger, Michael, 2006

Zahiri, Reza & Fibiger, Michael, 2006, A new species of Amphipoea Billberg, 1820, from northwestern Iran (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 1244, pp. 33-39 : 34-37

Amphipoea maryamae , sp. n.

( Figs. 1–4 )

Materials

Holotype. male, Iran, Rezaiyeh [W. Azerbayjan, Urumiyeh], 22.vii.1973, L.T. (Mostaan), genit. prep. 5397 M. Fibiger, coll. HMIM.

Paratypes (3 males and 1 female). 3 males, Iran, Rezaiyeh [W. Azerbaijan, Urumiyeh], Sep. 1974, L.T. (H. Javan­Moghadam). 1 female, Iran, Rezaiyeh [W. Azerbayjan, Urumiyeh], Sep.1974, L.T. (H. Javan­Moghadam), genit. prep. 5401 and coll. M. Fibiger.

Diagnosis

Adults of A. maryamae are conspicuously larger than all other Palaearctic congeners. All species of Amphipoea have strikingly similar male and female genitalia. However, those of A. maryamae are most similar to two other Palaearctic species, A. oculea , and A. bifurcata , with short bifurcate tips of the digitus. A. maryamae can be distinguished from those two species by the following: A. maryamae has a pure whitish reniform, while A. oculea and A. bifurcata have a yellowish­orange reniform stigmata; the uncus of A. maryamae is shorter and subapically much broader than that of A. oculea and A. bifurcata ; the penicullus of A. maryamae is larger and more quadrangular shaped; the outer part of the cucullus is smaller in A. oculea ; the digitus of A. oculea is broader than that of A. maryamae , and that of A. bifurcata is narrower; the bifurcate tips of the digitus are shorter in A. oculea , while those of A. bifurcata are similar; the ampulla of A. oculea and A. bifurcata are smaller; the clavus of A. oculea and A. bifurcata are longer, the latter much longer; the juxta of A. oculea is dorsally much narrower, while that of A. bifurcata is longer (higher); the bunch of cornuti are shorter in A. oculea , while in A. bifurcata they are arranged in tight bundle; the dorsal pouchlike diverticulum is narrower in A. oculea , while in A. bifurcata the vesica is subapically smaller; the ventral plate of the ostium is liplike in A. maryamae , very different from that of A. oculea , which is without a liplike feature (the female genitalia of A. bifurcata are unknown to the authors); and the sclerotized patch by the female genitalia is situated near the ductus bursae in A. maryamae , while in A. oculea it is present posteriorly in the corpus bursae.

Description

Wingspan in male 36–37 mm, in female 40 mm. Labial palps slightly upturned, 1st and 2nd segment heavily tufted vertically, 3rd joint small, cylindrical, 1/5 length of 2nd. Antennae of male ciliate, that of female filiform. Frons smoothly bent. Head, thorax, and ground color of forewing are yellowish brown; wings relatively broad, forewing pointed by apex; all cross lines present, brown; ante­ and postmedian lines double; median shade broad, dominating the median area; orbicular and reniform stigmata well marked, the latter prominent, pure white; claviform stigma absent; fringes brownish. Abdomen beige. Underside of male unicolorous beige with brown fringes; that of female is slightly darker with marked postmedian lines on both wings.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 2 ). Uncus approximately 0.42 X length of valve, bent and cylindrical in basal 1/3, then flattened, spearhead­shaped, apex blunt without hook. Tegumen shorter than vinculum, with huge quadrangular penicullus; pleural sclerite (pleurite) large, dorsal part branchlike, curled; saccus short. Length of valve approximately 0.45 X width, costal margin smoothly S­shaped, outer cucullus broader than medial part; corona present with spines similar with those on inner ventral wall of cucullus; sacculus inconspicuous; clavus a huge thorn clothed with long hairlike setae, reaching dorsad well above the shieldlike juxta; transtilla in a relatively broad band, lightly sclerotized; digitus prominent, apically bifurcate, bent downwards; clasper heavily sclerotized, barlike (0.11 X length of valve); ampulla tiny, thumblike. Aedeagus ( Fig. 3 ) bent; ventral carina area continuing into vesica as a narrow, heavily sclerotized band; vesica projecting dorsad as a balloonlike diverticulum from a smaller, rounded diverticulum originates on the left side; medial left side bears a small patch of spines with eight very long, narrow spines.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 4 ). Ovipositor typical apameine: heavily sclerotized, dorsoventrally flattened, clothed with small and long setae, rounded at tip, and with bubblelike pouches laterally at base; two typical apameine sclerotized bars between ovipositor lobes; eighth abdominal segment almost equally broad and sclerotised throughout; postvaginal plate with spicules, similar to the antevaginal plate, which posteriorly is broad, liplike; anterior and posterior apophyses stout, apically spatulate, the latter a little longer. Ductus bursae posteriorly membranous, anteriorly with a scobinate band extending into basal part of corpus bursae; corpus bursae pear­shaped, with the appendix bursae arising posteriorly on left side parallel to ductus bursae; corpus bursae with four long signa bands.

Distribution and habitat

All specimens of the new species were recorded in Urumiyeh in West Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran ( Fig. 5). The biotope of Urumiyeh is low mountains of approximately 1000 m elevation, at the semi­steppe or semi­desert territories, characterized by vegetation dominated by fruit tress, herbaceous plants, and shrubs. The specimens were taken at light from the end of July to the end of September, in 1973 and 1974. The early stages are unknown.

Etymology

The new species is named in honor of Mrs. Maryam Zahiri, wife of the first author.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype male (top) and and paratype female paratype (below) of Amphipoea maryamae.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of holotype of Amphipoea maryamae.

FIGURE 3. Aedeagus with everted vesica of holotype of Amphipoea maryamae.

FIGURE 4. Female genitalia paratype of Amphipoea maryamae.