Nephelobotys brevis Zhang, 2024

Zhang, Dandan, Chen, Kai, Xiang, Lanbin & Kou, Zongqing, 2024, Revision of the genus Nephelobotys Munroe & Mutuura, 1970 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Pyraustinae), Zootaxa 5403 (3), pp. 301-319 : 311-313

Nephelobotys brevis Zhang , sp. nov.

Figs 7 , 17 , 24

Diagnosis. This species is similar to Nephelobotys flavicilialis in appearance, but can be distinguished from it by yellowish brown body and forewing ( Fig. 7 ), by much thicker setae of uncus, outside sella with dorsal process distinctly shorter than half length of ventral process and ventral process extending beyond ventral margin of inside sella, wider distal protrusion approximately 1/3 length of sacculus in male genitalia ( Fig. 17 ).

Description ( Fig. 7 ). Head. Frons yellowish brown, with white stripes laterally. Vertex yellowish brown, sometimes paler. Labial palpus yellowish brown, whitish at base beneath. Maxillary palpus yellowish brown, paler terminally. Basal scales of proboscis white. Antenna yellowish brown; basal part with anterior surface white or pale yellow. Thorax. Tegula and thorax yellowish brown above, creamy white or light yellow beneath except the whitish most anterior part. Foreleg pale brown or yellowish brown, tibia with apex white and outside with a white spot near base; tarsus white with 3 rd tarsomere tip and last two tarsomeres pale brown or yellowish brown. Midleg pale brown, outside of tibia and tarsus white. Hindleg creamy white and pale yellow, with outer spurs about 1/8–1/6 length of inner spurs in male. Wing. Wingspan 20.0–25.0 mm. Forewing yellowish brown, with markings brown; antemedial line extending from costal 1/4 and weakly oblique to distal 2/5; orbicular stigma invisible; reniform stigma bent, streak-shaped; postmedial line stretching from costal 3/4, weakly concave to M 3, retracted to 2/5 of CuA 2, forming a convex angle between CuA 2 and 1A, then almost straight to dorsal 3/5; subterminal area scattered pale brown scales between veins forming indistinct subterminal band; termen yellow, usually with brown dots on veins end; fringe yellow, weakly brown at apex and tornus. Basal part of forewing absent small glandular fovea in male, but beneath with a greyish brown scale-tuft on the position of the fovea. Hindwing pale brown, scattered with brown scales and gradually dense towards to apex and termen; postmedial line brown, only with part from M 1 to CuA 2 visible, nearly straight; anterior half of termen with brown dots on veins end; fringe yellow, gradually pale yellow to tornus, weakly brown at apex and middle part. Abdomen. Yellowish brown above, gradually deep to the end, and posterior margin of each segment white; whitish yellow beneath.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 17 ). Uncus gradually narrow to the rounded apex, with base slightly inflated, almost entirely setose laterally and dorsally except the base, dorsal setae shorter and thicker than all other species in the genus, terminally forked. Valva with basal 1/2–2/3 width evenly and distal 1/2–1/3 gradually tapering to the rounded apex; costal margin nearly straight, ventral margin evenly convex; inside sella almost a parallelogram and dorsal part with inner angle produced, almost entirely setose, dorsal part bearing thick, long and simple setae; outside sella with dorsal process thick, remarkably shorter than half length of ventral process, ventral process moderately thick, and roughly straight or slightly curved, extending beyond ventral margin of inside sella; sacculus with an asymmetrically semicircular distal protrusion approximately 1/3 length of sacculus and with dorsal margin thickly bearing spines. Juxta with basal and lateral margins slightly ridged, bifid vary from 1/5 to 1/3, arms thick and nearly straight or slightly curved. Phallus with base slightly curved and distal half stout, apical wall of phallus partly sclerotized and forming a transversely hook-shaped sclerite.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 24 ). Posterior apophysis as wide as anterior apophysis, anterior apophysis about 1.5 times length of posterior apophysis. Antrum developed and sclerotized, bearing crisscross wrinkled markings, most anterior part membranous; ductus bursae approximately 3–4 times length of corpus bursae; colliculum with width evenly. Corpus bursae oval or globular, the accessory sac small; signum slightly longer than half length of corpus bursae, with carinate angles acute or nearly square, other two angles slightly produced.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Guangdong: Mt. Heishiding, Fengkai , 23.47°N, 111.90°E, alt. 214 m, 9.VII.2017, leg. Zhang Dandan.

Paratypes: CHINA, Guangdong: 12 ♀ , same data as holotype, genitalia slide No. SYSU1201 ; 3 ♂, 16 ♀, Mt. Heishiding, Fengkai , 23.47°N, 111.90°E, alt. 214 m, 14.VI.2009, 13.VIII.2010, 1–2.V., 2.VIII., 3.XI.2011, 19– 24.VII.2018, leg. He Fengxia, Chen Haidong, Jia Fenglong, Tong Bo, Zhang Dandan, Li Yun, Xie Jiaqin, genitalia slide No. SYSU0701 (♀), SYSU0712 (♂), SYSU0791 (♀) ; 4 ♂, 2 ♀, Mt. Dawuling, Xinyi , alt. 900–1400 m, 8, 11–12.VIII.2003, leg. Zhang Dandan, Jian Yuening, Pang Hong, Lin Meiying, Deng Kebo, genitalia slide No. ZDD03048 (♂), SYSU0649 (♂), SYSU0732 (♂), SYSU0776 (♀) ; Guangxi: 3 ♂, Jinxiu , 24.08°N, 110.11°E, alt. 550 m, 15.IV.2002, leg. Hao Shulian, Xue Huaijun, genitalia slide No. ZDD02240 ( NKU) ; 2 ♂, Shangsi , alt. 510 m, 6.IV.2002, leg. Hao Shulian, Xue Huaijun ( NKU) ; 1 ♂, Dalongping, Mt. Cenwanglaoshan , alt. 1290 m, 6.VIII.2014, leg. Wei Xueli, Ran Chao, genitalia slide No. SYSU0727 ; 1 ♂, Langping, Mt. Cenwanglaoshan , alt. 1450 m, 7.VIII.2014, leg. Wei Xueli, Ran Chao, genitalia slide No. SYSU0735 ; Sichuan: 3 ♂, 1 ♀ , Qingyin’ge, Mt. Emeishan , alt. 891 m, 25, 28.VII.2011, leg. Cao Jianbo, genitalia slide No. SYSU0798 (♂), SYSU0799 (♀) ; Yunnan: 1 ♂ , Dahaoping, Tengchong , alt. 2020 m, 6.VIII.2007, leg. Zhan Dandan, genitalia slide No. SYSU0720 ; 1 ♂, Mt. Baihualing, Baoshan , alt. 1520 m, 13.VIII.2007, leg. Zhang Dandan, genitalia slide No. SYSU0728 ; 3 ♂, Mt. Daweishan, Honghe , alt. 2363 m, 18–19. V.2015, leg. Wei Xueli, genitalia slide No. SYSU0731, SYSU0737, SYSU0739 ; 10 ♂, 1 ♀, Mt. Gaoligongshan, Baoshan , 24.82°N, 98.78°E, alt. 1700 m, 22–23. V.2016, leg. Duan Yongjiang, genitalia slide No. SYSU0698 (♂), SYSU0713 (♂), SYSU0714 (♂), SYSU0724 (♂), SYSU0725 (♂), SYSU0726 (♂), SYSU0740 (♂), SYSU 0743 (♂), SYSU0744 (♂), SYSU0755 (♂), SYSU0774 (♀) ; 1 ♂ , Taiyanghe Reserve, Pu’er , 9. VI.2015, leg. Zhang Zhenguo, genitalia slide No. ZDD12029 ( NKU) .

Distribution. China (Guangxi, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin brevis (= short), corresponding to the short dorsal process of the outside sella.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Adults of Nephelobotys spp. 1 N. apiculata sp. nov., holotype, male (Yunnan). 2 N. habisalis, male (Guangxi). 3 N. nephelistalis, male (Zhejiang). 4 N. evenoralis, male (Hunan). 5 N. denticulatus, male (Guangxi). 6 N. semicircularis sp. nov., paratype, male (Yunnan). 7 N. brevis sp. nov., paratype, male (Guangdong). 8–10 N. flavicilialis, male (8–9 Yunnan, 10 Sichuan). Scale bars: 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 17–18. Male genitalia of Nephelobotys spp. 17 N. brevis sp. nov., paratype, Yunnan (genitalia slide No. SYSU0714). 18 N. flavicilialis, Yunnan (genitalia slide No. SYSU0719). a Whole genitalia. b Enlarged detail of base part of valva.

FIGURES 23–24. Female genitalia of Nephelobotys spp. 23 N. semicircularis sp. nov., paratype, Yunnan (genitalia slide No. SYSU0779). 24 N. brevis sp. nov., paratype, Guangdong (genitalia slide No. SYSU0791).