Marcinistra, Benedek & Volynkin & Saldaitis & Tóth, 2022

Benedek, Balázs, Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas & Tóth, Balázs, 2022, On the taxonomy of the Conistra generic complex with descriptions of three new genera and a new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), Zootaxa 5141 (5), pp. 442-458 : 445-446

Genus Marcinistra gen. n.

Type species: “ Conistra ” metallica Hreblay & L. Ronkay, 1998 .

Diagnosis. Species of the new genus ( Figs 1–4 ) are reminiscent of Conistra ( Figs 9–16 ) but separated by the less robust body with a cylindrical abdomen (it is dorso-ventrally flattened in Conistra ) and the shiny, metallic green suffusion on the forewing. The male genital capsule of Marcinistra gen. n. ( Figs 21, 22 ) is similar to Conistra ( Figs 24–27 ), Baimistra gen. n. ( Fig. 23 ), Suginistra ( Fig. 28 ) and Vargalorta gen. n. ( Fig. 29 ) but differs in the juxta structure: in Marcinistra gen. n., it bears a swollen, heavily sclerotised, short ventral protrusion while the juxta is flattened in the related genera. The posterior section of the juxta is only slightly narrower than the anterior one and has a broad medial depression whereas in the related genera, the posterior section of the juxta is conspicuously narrower than the anterior one and has a narrow medial incision. Additionally, the sacculus of Marcinistra gen. n. bears a serrulate clavus and a tiny, tubercle-like distal process which are absent in the related genera. The latter one is present in certain species of the genera Eupsilia and Lithophane Hübner. The phallus of the new genus is shorter than in the related genera (in proportion to the genital capsule), with carina bearing a robust, long, thorn-like lateral process directed anteriorly (a feature unique for the genus). The vesica of the new genus lacks cornuti and spinules which are present in Conistra, Suginistra and Vargalorta gen. n. but has a long but narrow, weakly sclerotised and rugose bar which is an extension of the carina (a feature unique within the Conistra generic complex). In the female genitalia of Marcinistra gen. n. ( Figs 30, 31 ), the antrum is short, gelatinous, with two swollen, serrulate, sclerotised postero-lateral subostial ventral lobes, whereas in Conistra ( Figs 34–37 ), Suginistra ( Fig. 38 ) and Vargalorta gen. n. ( Fig. 39 ), the antrum is long, dorso-ventrally flattened and well-sclerotised, and in Baimistra gen. n. ( Figs 32, 33 ), the antrum is narrower, weakly sclerotised, and bears smaller postero-lateral subostial lobes. The anterior section of the ductus bursae of Marcinistra gen. n. is membranous with granulation and a lateral heavily sclerotised lateral plate, whereas in the related genera, the anterior section of the ductus bursae is sclerotised and dorso-ventrally flattened. Additionally, the appendix bursae is membranous in the new genus whereas it has sclerotised areas in Conistra, Suginistra and Vargalorta gen. n., and a latero-basal protrusion of the ductus bursae sclerotisation in Baimistra gen. n.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–4 ). Forewing length 11–14 mm in males and 12–15 mm in females. Antenna filiform in both sexes. Head dark brown. Thorax dark brown with admixture of pale brown scales; abdomen dark brown with whitish transverse stripes ventrally. Forewing elongate, relatively narrow, with convex anal and outer margins. Forewing ground colour pale brown with intense dark brown suffusion in medial area and shiny metallic green suffusion forming spots along costa and within transverse lines. Subbasal, ante- and postmedial lines sinuous, double. Subterminal line thin, zigzagged, diffuse. Terminal line interrupted into small spots between veins. Orbicular and reniform stigmata pale brown, encircled with black scales. Medial area with intense black or dark brown suffusion outward from reniform stigma. Hindwing monotonous brown. Male genitalia ( Figs 21, 22 ). Uncus slender, subbasally down curved, laterally flattened, gradually tapered distally and pointed apically. Tegumen short, with short subuncal lobe and relatively short and apically rounded peniculus. Vinculum more or less equal in length to tegumen, V-shaped. Valva narrowed distally with slightly down curved distal section, apically tapered, ventral margin with short subapical protrusion. Clasper straight, parallel to ventral margin of valva; harpe long, narrow but heavily sclerotised, medially curved outwards, dilated distally. Sacculus with short and serrulate clavus and tiny tubercle-like process distally. Juxta shield-like, with shallow medial posterior depression and short but heavily sclerotised, swollen ventral protrusion medially. Anellus granulose. Phallus cylindrical, somewhat dilated and down curved distally, with short and apically rounded coecum. Carina with robust, long, thorn-like lateral process directed anteriorly, long and thin rugose distal bar deeply protruding in vesica, and dorsal dentate plate in certain species. Vesica tubular, equal in length to phallus or somewhat shorter than it, curved dorsally, granulose, with short semiglobular distal diverticulum, lacking cornuti. Female genitalia ( Figs 30, 31 ). Papilla analis short and narrow, triangular and apically rounded, setose. Ovipositor strongly elongate and narrow. Apophyses thin, slightly dilated and flattened distally and rectangular apically. Apophysis posterioris ca. 3–3.5 times longer than apophysis anterioris. Ostium bursae broad. Antrum short, gelatinous, caliciform with sclerotised postero-lateral subostial lobes ventrally. Posterior section of corpus bursae very short, tubular, membranous. Anterior section of ductus bursae short, tubular, somewhat narrower than antrum, membranous with heavily sclerotised curved plate laterally. Corpus bursae elongate pear-shaped with weakly rugose anterior section bearing one or four small elliptical serrulate signa with medial groove. Appendix bursae more or less elliptical, membranous with weakly gelatinous lateral area, originating from posterior section of corpus bursae laterally.

Distribution. Species of the genus are known from Nepal and south-western China.

Etymology. The genus name is an aggregation of the diminutive name Marci and the genus group name Conistra . The new genus is dedicated to the memory of the late Márton Hreblay, one of authors of the type species and an early mentor of the senior author.

Number of taxa. The genus comprises two species reviewed below.

Remark. No overwintered specimens of the genus are known ( Hreblay & Ronkay 1998; present study) whereas members of the closely related Baimistra gen. n. and Conistra have overwintering adults.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Marcinistra gen. n. and Baimistra gen. n. spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in HNHM; 3–6 in AFM; 7 and 8 in ZSM.

FIGURES 9–16. Type species of subgenera of Conistra: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10 and 16 in HNHM; 11, 12 and 15 in BBT; 13 and 14 in GGF.

FIGURES 21–23. Marcinistra gen. n. and Baimistra gen. n. spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in HNHM; 22 and 23 in AFM.

FIGURES 24–26. Type species of subgenera of Conistra: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 24 and 26 in HNHM; 25 in BBT.

FIGURES 27–29. Type species of Conistra (Dasycampa), Suginistra and Vargalorta gen. n.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 27 in BBT; 28 and 29 in HNHM.

FIGURES 30–35. Marcinistra gen. n., Baimistra gen. n. and Conistra spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 30 and 34 in HNHM; 31 in AFM; 32 and 33 in ZSM; 35 in BBT.

FIGURES 36–39. Conistra, Suginistra and Vargalorta gen. n. spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 36 and 39 in HNHM; 37 in BBT; 38 after Ronkay et al. (2017).