Eupithecia ludificata, Mironov & Šumpich, 2022

Mironov, Vladimir & Šumpich, Jan, 2022, New species of the genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from China. Part VII, Zootaxa 5154 (3), pp. 289-304 : 293-294

Eupithecia ludificata sp. n.

( Figs 10 , 24 , 31 )

Type material: Holotype, ♂, China, NW. Sichuan, near Maniganggo , 31°47ʹ22ʺ N, 099°23ʹ27ʺ E, 3.7.2019, H— 3860 m, leg. Butvila & Saldaitis. Gen. prep. J. Procházka 20062, photo J. Šumpich 22007 ( NMPC).

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to Eupithecia saldaitisi sp. n. but slightly darker, with the costal margin of the fore wing straight, and the discal dots smaller and rounded. The male genitalia are distinguished from those of allied species by the different shape of the valve and papillae on the anterior arms of the labides, and also the shape of the horn-like cornuti on the vesica of the aedeagus.

Description. Adult. ( Figs 10 , 24 ). Male. A relatively large, narrow-winged species. Wingspan 23 mm; fore wing 13 mm. Head and notum covered with brown scales. Fore wing elongate and narrow; costal margin straight; terminal margin almost straight also; apex very narrow, rather pointed; wings unicolorous brownish ochreous; transverse lines not visible; discal dots very small, rounded, dark brown; terminal lines narrow, dark brown. Hind wing ovoid, unicolorous, slightly paler than fore wing with traces of two dark transverse lines along anal margin; terminal line dark brownish. Fringe relatively long, unicolorous, brownish.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 31 ). Uncus short, stout, biapical. Valve relatively elongate, slightly broader at base; dorsal margin slightly curved in apical part; sacculus narrowly sclerotized. Vinculum semirounded. Papillae on the anterior arms of the labides elongate, tapered to apices, covered with normal-sized setae. Aedeagus stout. Vesica multiply granulate in apical half, armed with two horn-like apical cornuti (one larger than the other) and two plate-like cornuti at ductus ejaculatorius base. Sternite A8 peg-like, short with obtuse apex near very small, shallow and narrow basal hollow.

Female. Unknown.

Bionomy. Host plant unknown. Holotype was collected by light in early July at an elevation of 3860 m ( Figs 46–47 ).

Distribution. China. Known from province Sichuan.

Note. This species possibly belongs to the innotata species-group.

Etymology. From Latin word “ludificatus” – “mocked” in English.

Figures

FIGURES 8–15. Eupithecia adults, China (scale bar = 10 mm). 8–9. E. saldaitisi sp. n. 8. Holotype. 9. Paratype; 10. E. ludificata sp. n. (holotype); 11. E. butvilai sp. n. (holotype); 12. E. ursina sp. n. (holotype); 13. E. nesciaria sp. n. (holotype); 14. E. oxycedrata (Rambur, 1833); 15. E. phulchokiana Herbulot, 1984.

FIGURES 20–27. Heads of Eupithecia species, China, holotypes. 20. E. prochazkai sp. n.; 21. E. anickae sp. n.; 22. E. divertenta sp. n.; 23. E. saldaitisi sp. n.; 24. E. ludificata sp. n.; 25. E. butvilai sp. n.; 26. E. ursina sp. n.; 27. E. nesciaria sp. n.

FIGURES 28–31. Male genitalia and sternite A8 of Eupithecia species (scale bar = 1 mm; detail of uncus enlarged). 28. E. prochazkai sp. n. (holotype); 29. E. divertenta sp. n. (holotype); 30. E. saldaitisi sp. n. (holotype); 31. E. ludificata sp. n. (holotype).

FIGURES 42–49. Habitats of newly described Eupithecia species, China. 42. Yunnan, Nu Jiang valley, 9.iii.2019, locality of E. prochazkai sp. n.; 43. Yunnan, surroundings of Yongseng, 11.v.2018, locality of E. anickae sp. n.; 44. Sichuan, surroundings of Derge, 15.viii.2009, locality of E. divertenta sp. n.; 45. Gansu, near surroundings of Xiahe, 4.x.2013, locality of E. saldaitisi sp. n.; 46–47. Sichuan, surroundings of Maniganggo, 16.viii.2009, locality of E. ludificata sp. n. and E. nesciaria sp. n.; 48. Yunnan, surroundings of Gongshan, 2.vii.2008, locality of E. butvilai sp. n.; 49. Sichuan, surroundings of Batang, 19.ix.2019, locality of E. ursina sp. n.