Micardia distincta Chen & Xue

Chen, Fuqiang & Xue, Dayong, 2012, A review of Micardia Butler, 1878 from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Eustrotiinae, Zootaxa 3417, pp. 45-52 : 48-49

Micardia distincta Chen & Xue , sp. nov.

Figs. 6 , 13

Eustrotia pulcherrima (Moore) , sensu Chen, 1982, Icon. Het. Sin., 3: 331 (part misidentification). Micardia pulcherrima (Moore) , sensu Chen, 1999, Fauna Sinica, 16: 912 (part misidentification).

Description. Head. Frons pale yellowish brown, darker on both edges; labial palpi upturned, fuscous on outer side and pale yellowish brown on inner side, slightly longer than diameter of compound eyes, the second segment covered with long scales ventrally; antennae yellowish brown. Thorax. Dorsally, laterally and legs yellow. Forewing length 14mm. Wing pattern. Antemedial line straight arising from costa to ventral margin of cell, then outcurved to 1A+2A, incurved to inner margin at last; the posterior basal area pale yellow; a pale yellow longitudinal stripe present between costa and vein Sc; a triangular white stripe on terminal 2/5 of ventral margin of cell; discocellular fascia fuscous, crescentic; a white oblique line arising from apex to middle of inner margin, terminal half covered with pink scales, terminal 1/4 crescentic; outer area of the oblique line pale yellow, but fuscous between M2 and CuA2, three pale yellow longitudinal stripes between them; terminal line a series of dark grayish brown spots between veins; fringes pale yellow, but fuscous between M2 and CuA2; underside mostly area fuscous, except for pale yellow apex and anal angle. Hindwing. Ground color fuscous; discocellular spot and postmedial line indistinct; terminal line a series of dark grayish brown spots between veins; fringes fuscous; underside pale yellow mixed with fuscous scales, discocellular spot present; postmedial line indistinct. Abdomen. Yellow. Male genitalia. Uncus slender and elongate, curved ventrally; base broadened; terminal half with dense long setae dorsally; tip sharply pointed. Tegumen trapezoidal, peniculus densely covered with long setae; vinculum almost as long as tegumen; saccus small, projecting dorsally. Juxta pyriform. Valva asymmetric; transtilla platelike, extending towards uncus; left valva with base wide, constricting toward apex, apex bifid, costa well developed, strongly sclerotized, a small finger-like harpe present at middle of costa, sacculus well developed, a tuberculiform process present at basal 1/4; right valva obviously broader than left one, with slightly bifurcated apex. Aedeagus sclerotized ventrally; ductus ejaculatorius arising from middle of aedeagus. Female genitalia. Unknown.

Diagnosis. The species is close to M. pulcherrima , but differs by the presence of distinct antemedial line on forewing and a triangular white stripe on the terminal 2/5 of ventral margin of cell. In the male genitalia, the tip of uncus does not have the additional acute hook as in M. pulcherrima ; the left valva is bifid apically, right valva apex is slightly bifurcated.

Material Examined. Holotype, 3 (Slide No.: Noct-00272), CHINA, Sichuan: Mt. Emei, Jiulaodong, 1800–1900m, 31.VII.1957, coll. Lu Youcai ( IZCAS). Paratype, 13, Sichuan: Mt. Emei, Jiulaodong, 1800–1900m, 28.VII.1957, coll. Huang Keren ( IZCAS).

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin " distinct ", corresponding to the distinct antemedial line on forewing.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Adults. 1 – 3. Micardia pulcherrima. 1, male, holotype (BMNH); 2, male (Gyirong, Tibet); 3, male (Cona, Tibet). 4 – 5. M. pallens sp. nov. 4, male, holotype; 5, female, paratype. 6, M. distincta sp. nov., male, holotype. 7, M. minuta sp. nov., male, holotype. 8, M. munda, male, holotype (BMNH). 9, M. argentata, male, holotype (BMNH). Scales: 1 cm.

FIGURES 10 – 18. Genitalia and sternite. 10 – 14. male genitalia. 10, Micardia pulcherrima (Noct- 00275); 11, M. pulcherrima (Noct- 00273); 12, M. pallens sp. nov. (Noct- 00271); 13, M. distincta sp. nov. (Noct- 00272); 14, M. minuta sp. nov. (Noct- 00274). 15 – 16. female genitalia. 15, M. pallens sp. nov. (Noct- 00277); 16, M. munda (Noct- 00276). 17 – 18. eighth abdominal sternite of female. 17, M. pallens sp. nov. (Noct- 00277); 18, M. munda (Noct- 00276). Scales: 1 mm.