Palpifer chui Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke, 2023

Ignatev, Nikolai, Grehan, John R., Mielke, Carlos G. C., Shih, Li-Cheng & Müller, Günter C., 2023, Three new Chinese species of Palpifer Hampson from the collection of Franz Daniel (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Zootaxa 5284 (2), pp. 322-336 : 326-327

Palpifer chui Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke , sp. n.

( Figs 2 , 6a, 6b , 10a , 11h , 12b , 13d, 13,e, 13f , 14b, 15b , 16b, 17b, 18b , 20b, 21b )

Palpifer pellicia ( Daniel 1940)

Type material: Holotype ♂: (with the following labels separated by forward slashes [no collection date]): Lingping [ Guangxi ], Südchina, H Höne / Palpifer pellicia Smh. Det F. Daniel / ZFMK Lep 155605 / ZFMK dissection 148052 . / Palpifer chui ♂: Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke des. 2023. Deposited in the collection of ZFMK .

Diagnosis. The subequal length of the valva digitiform branch and blade distinguishes P. chui sp. n. ( Fig. 14b ) from the Malaysian P. hylandae Grehan & Mielke, 2019 ( Fig. 22b ) and P. climoi sp. n. ( Fig. 14d ), each with a shorter digitiform branch, and from the Himalayan P. murinus ( Moore, 1879) that lacks a digitiform branch ( Fig. 22d ). Within the cluster of species with a subequal digitiform branch, P. chui sp. n. has a medially oriented and wide pseudoteguminal arms apex that distinguishes it from P. boonei of Laos, P. hylandae , and the Himalayan P. sexnotatus and P. falkneri , that have a narrow pointed pseudoteguminal arms apex ( Fig. 22 ). The medially oriented and broad apex of P. chui sp. n. ( Fig. 20b ) distinguishes this species from P. nielseni sp. n. with an anteriorly oriented and narrowed pseudoteguminal apex ( Fig. 20a ). These two species also differ from each other by the posteriorly narrowed medial ridge in the fultura inferior of P. chui sp. n. ( Fig. 21c ). The short, deep anterior convex lateral margins of the fultura inferior of P. chui sp. n. ( Fig. 21b ) distinguish this species from P. hopponis with a broad and shallow anterior concave margin ( Fig. 21b ).

Description. Male. Wingspan (HT): ~ 27 mm; forewing length: 11 mm, width: 5 mm; hindwing length: 9 mm, width: 4 mm.

Head ( Figs 6a–b , 10a ): As for P. nielseni sp. n., except that ocular-antenna scales were not observed due to disturbed scale condition of specimen. Labial palps not dissected.

Thorax: Body and legs ( Fig. 12b ) as for P. nielseni sp. n. Forewing with white outer discal spot ( Fig. 11h ).

Pregenital abdomen ( Figs 13d–f ): Sternum I removed intact, membranous ( Fig. 13e ). Hook-shaped spur on dorsal brace of tergosternal sclerite is an artefact of flattening the integument for imaging ( Fig.13d ); sternum II ( Fig. 13e ) proportionately broader with a more strongly curved lateral ridge than in P. nielseni sp. n.

Genitalia ( Figs 14b, 15b , 16b, 17b, 18b ). Medially oriented apex of pseudoteguminal arms broad, rounded, without strong distal sclerotization ( Fig. 20b ). Fultura inferior with medial ridge slightly coiled and narrowing postero-dorsally ( Fig. 21b ).

Habitat and Phenology. Unknown. No collection date and location not precise.

Distribution. Known from type locality only ( Fig. 25 ).

Etymology. Named for Hong-Fu Chu, a leading entomologist of China who published extensively on new species and genera of Chinese Hepialidae .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Antennae of the new Chinese Palpifer spp. Basal portion only for male of P. climoi sp. n. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 11. Wing venation and forewing patterns of Chinese Palpifer spp. Basal forewing scent gland outlined in red.

FIGURE 12. Chinese Palpifer spp.: legs. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 13. Abdominal sclerites of Chinese Palpifer spp.: P. nielseni sp. n. male a, tergosternal sclerite; b, anterior sclerites; c, posterior sclerites; P. chui sp. n. male d, tergosternal sclerite (hook-shaped spur on dorsal brace of tergosternal sclerite is a positional artefact as the specimen was flattened for microscopic examination); e, anterior segments; f, posterior segments; P. climoi sp. n. male g, anterior segments [sternum II not recovered]; h, posterior segments; i, female posterior segments. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 22. Published male genitalia (ventral view) of Palpifer spp. Figs 18a–b from Grehan & Mielke (2019); 18c–d, from Tindale (1942: figs 18–19); 18e from Viette (1968); 18f from Viette (1950).

FIGURE 25. Distribution records of Palpifer. Blue star P. climoi sp. n., red star P. chui sp. n., white star P. nielseni sp. n. Yellow circles, published specimens or photographic records of Palpifer species (see Grehan & Mielke 2019).

FIGURES 1–4. Adults of Chinese species. 1a–d, Palpifer nielseni sp. n., dorsal and ventral for HT; 2, P. chui sp. n., HT dorsal and ventral; 3, P. climoi sp. n., dorsal and ventral for HT; 4, P. hopponis from Taiwan (Jiji, Nantou. 4 March 2020). HT—holotype, PT—paratype. Scale = 10 mm. Figs 1–3 by Nikolai Ingatev, Fig. 4 by Li-Cheng Shih.

FIGURES 5–9. Body structures: Holotype of Palpifer nielseni sp. n.: 5a–b, dorsal and lateral head; 8, lateral body; 9a, labial palp. Holotype of P. chui sp. n.: 6a–b, dorsal and lateral head. Holotype of P. climoi sp. n.: 7a, lateral head, male; 7b, lateral head, female; 9b, labial palp, male. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURES 14–15. Male genitalia of Chinese Palpifer spp. In ventral and dorsal views. Photos 14c, 15c by Li-Cheng Shih, rest by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURES 16–18. Male genitalia of Chinese Palpifer spp. In ventral and dorsal views. Photos 17c, 17c by Li-Cheng Shih, rest by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURES 20–21. Comparison of male genitalia structures of Chinese and Taiwanese Palpifer. Row 19, pseudoteguminal arms; row 20, fultura inferior.