Belciana pratti (Bethune-Baker, 1906)

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A revision of the genus Belciana Walker, 1862 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae) from East and South East Asia. Revision of Pantheinae, contribution XII, Zootaxa 4027 (3), pp. 341-365 : 348-349

Belciana pratti (Bethune-Baker, 1906)

( Figs 10, 11 , 35 , 47 )

Polydesma pratti Bethune-Baker, 1906 , Novitates Zoologicae 13: 250. Holotype: New Guinea, Kebea Range (NHM).

References: Poole 1989: 160 ( Belciana ).

Material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 4 males, 1 female, Central Prov., Fane, 1300-1400 m, 05°00′ S, 142°45′ E, Willner B. leg., 14-18.x.1985, slides, GB7364, GB7382 males, GB7700 female, coll. GB/ ZSM; 4 specimen, breed material, from Morobe and Madang ( USNM).

Note. The species has been identified by Dr. Scott E. Miller (Smithsonian Institute, USA) in the NHM. The barcoding and photographs of imago, male and female can be accessed in the BOLD data base (http: //www. boldsystems. org/). The specimen labelled as USNM ENT 0 0 797518 has been used for DNA barcoding analysis. Molecular distance based on the Kimura two-parameter model for COI DNA barcodes between nearest B. pratti and B. hreblayi is 4,55%.

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs 10, 11 ). Wingspan 37–39 mm. B. pratti and the next species represent pratti species group which compared with biformis -group could be characterised by stronger sclerotisation and well formed valva with sclerotised ventral margin, weakly developed basal coremata and by short thick shape of aedeagus. B. pratti , especially female externally close to species of biformis -group having pale bluish-green ground colour of forewing and blackish-brown subbasal field and patches in subapical-apical and tornal areas; costal mark compared with other species is rather small; central part of wing with marked blackish medial line, which not reach costal mark and traceable whitish ante- and post medial lines; subterminal line blackish, broken, outlined with whitish; subterminal and terminal field with brown-blackish patches. Hindwing dark greyish outwardly, pale greyishyellow inwardly and along tornal margin, with traceable discal spot and indistinct medial band; terminal line blackish, continuous, with thin whitish bordering; cilia brownish-grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 35 ). Compared with species of biformis- group B. pratti has more solid uncus, well formed valva with normally sclerotised ventral margin, bigger sacculus, strong clasper with short pointed bifurcated harpe, fused by lover branch with surface of valva. Aedeagus rather short, but thick, extended apically; carina consisting with two sclerotised scobinate bands; vesica bulbous basally, with two broad basal diverticula, bearing two small cornuti ad small patch of tiny spines in joining with one branch of carina.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 47 ). In the the female genitalia antrum well formed, ante and postvaginal plates deeply cut, their margins not form protuberance; ductus bursae very short, sclerotised ribbed area in joining of ductus with corpus bursae small and well defined; corpus bursae sack-like, with rounded bottom and short caudal extension.

Distribution and bionomics. Papua New Guinea. The species occurs in mountain regions at elevation 1300– 1400. Moths flying in October. The foodplant of the larvae is Sterculia ampla (Malvaceae) according to pers. com. Scott E. Miller, USNM, Washington (2012).

Belciana hreblayi sp. n. ( Figs 12, 13 , 36 )

Type material. Holotype. TAIWAN: male, Prov. Taitung, Taroko National-Park, Tupan, 2 km N, 500-700 m, 22°29′ N, 120°52′ E, 29.v.1995, Hreblay M. & Stéger P. leg., slide GB7358 male, coll. GB/ ZSM. Paratypes: 1 male, Taiwan, Prov. Taitung, Chihpen Hot Springs, 400 m, 10-11.vi.1997, B. Herczig & L. Ronkay leg., coll. GR; 1 male, Taiwan, Shanping, 600 m, 11-20.iv.1988 J. Rawlins, C. Young, R. Davidson leg. ( CMNH); 1 male, Taiwan, Prov. Prov. Kaohsiung, nr Chuang-liu, 22°13′ N, 120°45′ E, Chen M.-Y. & Buchsbaum U. leg., 17.v.2001, slide GB/ ZSM N4299 ( ZSM).

Note. The specimen labelled as BC ZSM Lep 65177 has been used for barcoding. Molecular distance based on the Kimura two-parameter model for COI DNA barcodes between nearest B. hreblayi and B. hemodi is 3,17%.

Diagnosis. The new species differs from its congeners by smaller size, more robust habitus, details of wing pattern, particularly by having of broad, diffuse medial line, more developed whitish elements of wing pattern; in the male genitalia it differs from other Belciana spp. by shorter vinculum, shorter, but much stronger and less curved uncus; shorter, rounded sclerotised valva, small basal coremata and by strong short triangular harpe; vesica of aedeagus armed with patch of thin needle-like cornuti, not observed in other species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 12, 13 ). Wingspan 38 mm. Tegulae and patagia bluish-green, bordered with blackish, the thorax dorsally between patagia bluish-green. Ground colour of forewing pale bluish-green, like in B. biformisgroup ; subbasal field filled with black-brown, broader and darker than in B. biformis and B. hemodoides ; medial field bluish-green, with light dusting of blackish scales; antemedial line whitish, diffused; orbicular and reniform marked by whitish spots, reniform with blackish dot in bottom; medial line wide, diffused, formed by blackish scales, not reaching triangular costal spot, more distinct in tornal margin; submedial line as row of diffused whitish spots; subterminal line blackish, broken, outlined with whitish; subapical-apical batch brown with blackish shadow; subtornal patch brown, bordered with black; terminal line as a row of blackish vertical streaks; cilia brownish-grey, pale in base, interrupted with bluish-green opposite veins. Hindwing with dark greyish terminal band, pale greyish-yellow inwardly, with well traceable discal spot and medial band; terminal line blackish, cilia grey, interrupted with yellowish-grey opposite veins.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 36 ). Compared with B. pratti the new species has relatively short, strong solid less curved uncus which is abrupt and hooked apically, shorter rounded valva, strong triangular harpe and plate-like juxta. Aedeagus strong, robust, slightly extended apically, abrupted, bearing; carina bilobate, with strong broad lobes; vesica with basal globular diverticula, bearing 18–20 thin needle-like cornuti and dense patch of spines in joining with carina; apical part of vesica tubular.

Female genitalia. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species name is dedicated to our friend, famous Hungarian Noctuidae specialist on the Oriental Noctuidae the late Dr. Marton Hreblay.

Distribution and bionomics. Taiwan. The species was collected in primary forest at elevation 500–700 m in April and May.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Belciana spp., adults. 9. B. sp., female, Indonesia, Lombok Isl., slide GB 7362 (GB); 10. B. pratti, male, Papua New Guinea, slide GB 7364 (GB); 11. B. pratti, female, Papua New Guinea, slide GB 7700 (GB); 12. B. hreblayi sp. n., male, holotype, Taiwan, slide GB 7358 (GB); 13. B. hreblayi sp. n., male, paratype, Taiwan (GR); 14. B. prasina, male, Sumatra, slide N GB / ZSM N 4147 (ZSM); 15. B. prasina, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4148 (ZSM); 16. B. prasina, male, China, Guangdong, slide HHL- 1968 - 1 (NEFU).

FIGURES 35 – 37. Belciana spp., male genitalia. 35. B. pratti, Papua New Guinea, slide GB 7364 (GB); 36. B. hreblayi sp. n., holotype, Taiwan, slide GB 7358 (GB); 37. B. prasina, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4148 (ZSM). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.

FIGURES 46 – 52. Belciana spp., female genitalia. 46. B. sp., Indonesia, Lombok I., slide GB 7362 (GB); 47. B. pratti, Papua New Guinea, slide GB 7700 (GB); 48. B. prasina, Sumatra, slide GB 7708 (GB). 49. B. bicolor, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4227 (ZSM); 50. B. hemodi, Laos, slide GB 12169 (GB); 51. B. sp., China, Shaanxi, slide RL 10996 (GR); 52. B. pinratanai sp. n., holotype, Thailand, slide GB 12177 (AB / ZSM); 53. B. scorpio, Thailand, slide GB 8252 (GB). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.