Gluphisia irene, Saldaitis, Aidas & Pekarsky, Oleg, 2016

Saldaitis, Aidas & Pekarsky, Oleg, 2016, Gluphisia irene, a new species (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) from China and some taxonomical remarks about the palaearctic Gluphisia Boisduval, 1828, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 381-386 : 381-385

Gluphisia irene sp. n.

( Figs 1, 2 , 9, 10 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( Fig. 1 ), China, West Sichuan, near Litang , H- 4000 m, N29°49.136′, E100°20.576′, 18.vi.2015, leg. Floriani & Saldaitis, (Slide No. OP 3358m) (coll. ASV/ WIGJ).

Paratypes: 3 males ( Fig. 2 ) (Slide No. OP 3498m), with the same data as the holotype ; 1 male, the same locality as the holotype, but 15.vi.2015 ; 1 male, the same locality as the holotype, but 4.v. 2016, leg. Saldaitis ; 1 male, the same locality as the holotype, but 9-10.v.2016, leg. Saldaitis, in the AFM, ASV, OP and PMM collections.

Diagnosis. The new species externally close to North American Gluphisia severa H. Edwards, 1886 ( Fig. 6 ). Gluphisia irene is related to G. crenata ( Fig. 3 ), G. meridionalis ( Fig. 4 ) and G. tristis ( Fig. 5 ) but can be distinguished from each by external and genital features. Externally the new species is characterized by grey colour of head, acutely pointed forewing apex, very rounded shape of the margin of the forewings, well-developed wing pattern, practically vertical antemedial line, and also well distinguished straight medial line and prominent black anal blotches on hindwings, whereas all relatives have black head, less developed wing pattern, less acute tips of the forewings, nearly vertical rather than oblique antemedial line, and prominent straight medial hindwing line. Male genitalia of the G. irene ( Figs 9, 10 ) unlike these others ( Figs 11–14 ) have a shorter uncus which is wider at the base with practically straight lateral edges, shorter and wider gnathos process, larger and wider shield-like juxta with large concavity on posterior margin, and by carinal plate with large teeth on aedeagus, whereas all congeners characterized by larger and longer, narrower at base uncus with not straight lateral edges, longer and narrower gnathos process with more acute tip, small, not developed juxta ( G. crenata and G. meridionalis ) or medium sized juxta with two long, narrow posterior processes ( G. tristis ), and also carinal plate of aedeagus without tooth.

The new species externally somewhat resembles Rhegmatophila Standfuss and Micromelalopha Nagano ( Rhegmatophila vinculum Hering, 1936 ( Fig. 7 ) and Micromelalopha dorsimacula Kiriakoff, 1963 ( Fig. 8 ) genus, but strikingly differs in genital structure ( Figs 15, 16 ).

Description. Wingspan 28–31 mm (holotype 31 mm). Antenna bipectinate; flagellomeres bearing numerous sensilla; scape bearing a tuft of long light-grey hair-like scales; labial palpi short, porrect. Head, frons, collar, thorax and tegulae dark grey; forewing grey with irrorated dark and white scales; reniform spot lunulate, creamy white; costa nearly straight, slightly concave; basal line as a small black patch; subbasal line dentate with white fascia; antemedial line vertical, undulate with white fascia; medial line traceable, oblique; postmedial line oblique with white fascia, forming a whitish streak-like preapical spot at costa; subterminal line groups of black scales; cilia black checked with creamy white. Hindwings as ground colour with light medial line; cilia as on forewing. Male genitalia (9, 10). Uncus subconical, bilobed with a single short, tough, basally wide gnathos process; tegumen and gnathos strong, massive; juxta large, wide, shield-like with concave posterior margin; valva rounded, saccular, membranous in medial part. Distal part of small, short aedeagus slightly curved with strong carinal teeth; vesica globular, membranous. Female unknown.

Remarks. Examination of male genitalia of G. tristis ( Figs 13, 14 ) and G. meridionalis ( Fig. 12 ) leads to the conclusion of their distinction from G. crenata ( Fig. 11 ) on a species level. The distal portions of the uncus of both G. tristis and G. meridionalis have parallel edges and the uncus of G. meridionalis is longer with a much narrower, elongated proximal part. Gluphisia tristis has two long, narrow posterior processes on the margin, its 8th tergite has two sclerotized oblique bends forming a pyramid and its 8th sternite has a sclerotized plate with an obtuse posterior margin. The 8th tergite of G. meridionalis has two sclerotized, narrow, undulate, symmetrical bars and its 8th sternite is a sclerotized plate with an obtuse posterior margin. Gluphisia crenata can be differentiated by the rounded margins of the posterior part of its uncus, small, weakly-developed juxta without processes, 8th tergite with two sclerotized, medium wide, concave bars and an 8th sternite with acuminate posterior margin ( Fig. 11 ).

Biology and distribution. Seven males were collected at ultraviolet light during two trips from 15-18 June, 2015 and early May, 2016 in a remote part of Litang County in southwestern Sichuan Province’s Shaluli Shan mountain range. The new species was collected at altitudes of approximately 4000 meters in mountain mixed forests dominated by various conifer trees, bushes and rhododendron.

Etymology. The new species is named in memory of the beautiful Irene Floriani (Milan, Italy), who was a good friend and perfect partner on many collecting trips to China.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Gluphisia, Rhegmatophila & Micromelalopha ssp., adults, males. 1. G. irene sp. n., male, holotype, China, W. Sichuan (ASV / WIGJ); 2. G. irene sp. n., paratype, China, W. Sichuan (OPB); 3. G. c re n at a, Hungary (OPB); 4. G. meridionalis, China, S. Sichuan (OPB); 5. G. tristis, China, N. Sichuan (OPB); 6. G. severa, USA, Idaho (ASD); 7. R. vinculum, China, N. Sichuan (OPB); 8. M. dorsimacula, China, N. Sichuan (OPB).

FIGURES 9 – 11. Gluphisia ssp. male genitalia, clasping apparatus, aedeagus and 8 th abdominal segment. 9. G. i re ne sp. n., holotype, prep. OP 3358 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 10. G. ire ne sp. n., paratype, prep. OP 3498 m, (OPB); 11. G. crenata, prep. OP 3372 m, (OPB).

FIGURES 15 – 16. Rhegmatophila & Micromelalopha ssp. male genitalia, clasping apparatus, aedeagus and 8 th abdominal segment. 15. R. vinculum, prep. OP 3357 m, (OPB); 16. M. dorsimacula, prep. OP 3385 m, (OPB).

FIGURES 12 – 14. Gluphisia ssp. male genitalia, clasping apparatus, aedeagus and 8 th abdominal segment. 12. G. meridionalis, prep. OP 3468 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 13. G. tristis, prep. OP 3368 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 14. G. tristis, prep. OP 3467 m, (AFM).