Wittonola, László, Gyula M., Ronkay, Gábor & Ronkay, László, 2015

László, Gyula M., Ronkay, Gábor & Ronkay, László, 2015, Contribution to the knowledge on the Palaearctic and Oriental taxa of the Meganola s. l. (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Nolidae, Nolinae) generic complex with descriptions of 4 new genera and 11 new species, Zootaxa 4052 (2), pp. 251-296 : 278-279

Wittonola gen. n.

(Plate 4, Figs 3–6 ; gen. figs 25, 26)

Type-species: Wittonola latifasciata sp. n.

Diagnosis. The external appearance of the type-species of the new genus is rather unique, resembling somewhat Ctenane labuana (Swinhoe, 1904) (Plate 4, Figs 7, 8 ; gen. figs 27, 28) due to the presence of the similar, oblique dark forewing medial stripe and the postmedial line which is replaced by a wavy row of blackish dots. This similarity is only superficial, the genitalia of both sexes show the closer relationship of Wittonola not with Ctenane but with the Meganola lineage, according to the robust, long, evenly tapering, apically pointed uncus, the simple, relatively narrow, slightly arcuate valva with parallel margins and the harpe arising rather medially on the basal part of valva, however the very short, button-like harpe is unknown in Meganola . The generic level separation of Wittonola from Ctenane is supported also by the hindwing venation as in Wittonola the vein M3+CuA1 is entirely fused while in Ctenane they are variably long stalked.

The configuration of the female genitalia displays further distinctive characters between Wittonola and Meganola . Wittonola has narrow, elongate papillae anales (this phenomenon is also known in certain speciesgroups of Nola ) with extraordinarily long apophyses; these characters are unknown in Meganola . The single, thorn-like signum of Wittonola resembles rather to a signum of the Manoba species than to any other Meganola taxa.

The genus Wittonola shares certain genitalia characters with Meganola and Manoba (Plate 5, figs 1–2 and gen. figs 29–30) but, due to the above combination of the external and genital characters, it cannot be unified with any of them. Thus, this lineage is considered here as a distinct genus.

Description. The only known species of the genus is rather small in size with the wingspan 11–15 mm, length of forewing 5–7 mm. Head and eyes relatively small; antennae bipectinate in male, filiform in female; frons, vertex, tegulae and thorax covered with pale brown scales, collar dark brown. Forewing elongate, apically rounded; ground colour pale brown with reddish sheen; costal margin dark brown from the base to the middle; median area with conspicuous, thick, oblique dark brown stripe; postmedial and terminal areas dark brown; all but one crosslines deleted, postmedial line present but replaced by a row of small dark brown dots. Hindwing pale brown, without discal spot and transverse lines.

Male genitalia. Uncus rather long, robust, evenly tapering, apically pointed, tegumen short, relatively broad, valva simple, relatively narrow, slightly arcuate, margins parallel, costal sclerotization rather narrow and weak. Harpe very short, button-like, arising in the middle of basal part of valva, vinculum well developed, pointed, Vshaped. Aedeagus simple, tubular, relatively short and thin, without apical carinal process; vesica with small, finger-shaped, finely scobinated section.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor relatively long, very narrow, apically expanded, papillae anales very long, thin, eighth tergite rather short, ostium bursae relatively broad, cup-shaped, ductus bursae medium-long, distal half strongly sclerotized, proximal half membraneous, corpus bursae elongate, distal half gradually broadening, proximal one ovoidal; signum bursae single, relatively large, acute, thorn-like.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Male genitalia of Meganola species.

FIGURES 4 – 6. Genitalia of Meganola species.

FIGURES 7 – 9. Genitalia of Meganola and Hampsonola species.