Endoclita atayala Buchsbaum & Hsu, 2018

Buchsbaum, Ulf, Hsu, Li-Peng, Chen, Ding-Jia & Grehan, John R., 2018, A new Endoclita (C. &. R. Felder, 1874) from the High Mountains of Taiwan with notes about its evolutionary origins (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Zootaxa 4521 (3), pp. 441-450 : 442-446

Endoclita atayala Buchsbaum & Hsu sp. n.

( Figs 1, 3 ¯6a, 7¯11)

Diagnosis. In Taiwan the presence of a FW costal lobe is shared by Endoclita atayala sp. n. and E. davidi . The scattered and irregular dark brownish-black transverse lines and the crenulated margin of the FW separates E. atayala sp. n. from all other Taiwanese Endoclita , including E. davidi , and all other Endoclita species in Asia except two Chinese species— E. crenilimbata ( Le Cerf, 1919) and E. nodus ( Chu and Wang, 1985). The FW of E. atayala sp. n. differs from these two Chinese species by having a slightly triangular costal lobe (vs evenly rounded), a stronger curve on the outer costa between costal lobe and apex (vs shallow, evenly curved margin) and the presence of a submarginal transverse marking between Rs3 and Rs4 (vs absent).

Description. Female ( Figs 1, 3–5, 6a , 7–11 ). Wingspan: 150 mm, forewing length: 79 mm, width: 32 mm, ratio 2.5: 1; HW length: 71 mm, width: 26 mm, ratio 2.7: 1.

Head. Orangish-brown, antennae missing [broken off]. Eyes prominent. Mouthparts not examined.

Thorax. Orangish-brown, dorsal scales short except for dorsal metathorax, anterior scutum III free of scales, iridescent dark chocolate brown. FW costal margin with prominent lobate extension opposite the common stem of radial sector veins ( Fig. 4 ), immediately distal to lobe slightly concave, then convex, sloping posteriorly to apex ( Fig. 1 ). Termen slightly crenulated, concave between veins, tornus not discernable. Venation ‘hepialine’ with close approximation of the common root of Rs1+2 and Rs3 ( Fig. 3 ). Width between costal margin and Sc broad from wing base to outer edge of costal lobe, then sharply narrow ( Fig. 4 ). Sc1 well developed, subtending apex of costal lobe. Distance between Sc and R narrows beyond costal lobe. Presence of four basal cells not confirmed. Dorsal ground colour pale orangish-brown to pale yellowish brown or pale gray brown distally, with scattered, mostly transverse dark brownish-black lines or partial circles between veins, particularly in the form of two oblique transverse rows in the post discal region; termen with ovoid dark spot centred on each vein, and two curved, submarginal dark curved lines sub-parallel to margin enclosing greyish brown line and central line of pale greyish brown between Rs2 and Rs3 ( Fig. 5 ); outer anterior discal cell with curved longitudinal lines near M2 ( Fig. 6a ); outer half of FW beyond cross veins with irregular, dark, oval to ovoid lines; area between costal margin and Sc with two irregular pale markings edged with black from wing base and costal lobe, and three or four similar markings, much smaller between costal lobe and apex; shallow curved pale yellowish band mottled with pale greyish-brown extends basal to 1A and across the central region between 1A and CuA2. FW ventral ground colour greyish brown to pale yellowish brown anteriorly, especially where piliform scales have been rubbed from specimen. Some dorsal ornamentation present between costal margin and Sc, and along termen and inner margins. HW venation similar to FW except for absence of Sc1; Rs1 almost straight rather than convex relative to costal margin as in FW; dorsal and ventral ground colour greyish brown except for dorsal ornamentation along costal and outer margins. Legs ( Fig. 7 ): foreleg with shorter femur and tibia than middle-leg; (hind-legs missing from specimen after removal of abdomen); epiphysis absent.

Abdomen ( Figs 8, 9 ). Covered with greyish brown scales with pale yellowish brown scales posteriorly on each segment [inferred due to poor condition of abdominal scales]. Tergosternal bar fused with intermediate zone of tergal brace, tergal brace right angled between lateral and dorsal arms, intermediate zone without tergal knob ( Fig. 8 ). Sternite II rectangular with shallow V-shaped anterior margin, anterior lateral arms and anterior margin strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 9 ), apex of lateral arms with sub apical ridge ( Fig.8 )

Genitalia ( Figs 10 ¯11). External genitalia ( Fig. 10 ) roughly shaped as a vertical isosceles triangle; tergum IX (dorsal plate) strongly sclerotized, narrowly fused dorsally, posterior dorsal margin forming an inverted U that ends ventrally at a triangular lobe (= anal papilla of Nielsen & Kristensen 1989) without setae; lamella antevaginalis with each lateral lobe projecting dorsally and a central lobe strongly sclerotized with dorsally triangular projection; sub anal plates weakly sclerotized, vertically oriented. Internal genitalia ( Fig. 11a ) with ductus bursae 15 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, initially narrow, then slightly wider for remaining 2 / 3 distance, distal end with sclerotized spicules ( Fig. 11b ); corpus bursae cylindrical, 17 mm long and 5 mm in diameter.

Distribution. The type locality is on the south slope facing an open valley created by the Madala Stream (Madalaxi) of Kuan Wu in a mountainous area of North Taiwan ( Fig. 12 ). This area ranges between 2,000~2,500 meters a.s.l and is constantly enveloped by fog and clouds. Its climate is cool in winter and warm in summer with a mean annual temperature of 13°C. The vegetation is warm temperate and cold temperate zone forest, a mixed forest composed of coniferous and broadleaf trees ( Fig. 13 ). Japanese Cedar and Formosan Red Cypress grow extensively in a vast area of natural forest, and along with Taiwanese Yellow Cypress, Hemlock, Taiwanese Red Pine, Formosan Alder, Castanopsis carlesii , and Wheel Trees, make up a rich forest ecosystem. It also includes the largest forest of purely Taiwanese Sassafras which is the host plant of the endemic Broad-tailed Swallowtail (Agehana maraho Shiraki & Sonan, 1934 ). Among animals this region also includes the endemic Guanwu Formosan Salamander (Hynobius fuca Lai & Lue, 2008) that lives in nearby small, cold creeks.

Biology. The July record for the type specimen coincides with midsummer and season with the highest rainfall (Tourism Bureau, Republic of China 2016).

Etymology. The species name is of feminine gender in agreement with the generic name. The new species is named after the Taiwanese indigenous tribe living in the region around the type locality. The Atayal (also called Tayal or Tayan) comprise the second largest indigenous population in Taiwan after the Amis in the east of Taiwan. The name means “real human” or “strong man”.

Type material. Holotype female (with the following labels separated by forward slashes): / 24 July 2008, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Meiyun Village, KuanWu Dalu Forest Road East Branch, 6 K, 2360 m a.s.l., 121°05’14 E/ 24°29’59 N, Mercury Lamp, leg. Li-Peng Hsu / Holotype, Endoclita atayala Ulf Buchsbaum & Hsu des 2016/ Dissection N o Tw Hep. 0 1. ( NMNS) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Voucher specimens: Endoclita atayala sp. n., female HT (NMNS). 1a, dorsal; 1b, ventral. Photo by Ulf Buchsbaum. 2, E. crenilimbata female HT (MNHN), dorsal view. Photo by Joël Minet. E. atayala sp. n., morphology: 3, wing venation. Vein connections in basal regions unresolved. 4, costal lobe detail. 5, submarginal transverse band on outer margin of forewing. 6, boundaries of anterior discal cell (blue line) enclosing longitudinal markings: (a) E. atayala sp. n., (b) E. crenilimbata, (c) E. nodus (from Zhu et al. 2004).

FIGURES 7–11. Endoclita atayala sp. n., Appendages and abdomen: 7, foreleg (left), mesoleg (right). 8, tergosternal connection: db—dorsal brace, lb—lateral brace, iz—intermediate zone, tsb—tergosternal bar, ar—apical ridge of sternum II lateral lobe. 9, anterior margin of sternum II with tergum II overlapping as dotted outline: ala—anterior lateral lobe of sternum II. 10, external female genitalia, posterior view: dpl—dorsal plate, ap—anal papilla, pa—paranal lobe, lldp, lateral lobe dorsal projection, mldp—median lobe dorsal projection, l.a-v—lamellar antivaginalis (ventral edge marked as dotted line). 11, internal genitalia. 11a, bursa copulatrix, 11b, ductus bursa spicules.

FIGURES 12–17. Distribution and diversity. 12, type locality of Endoclita atayala sp. n., Miaoli County, Taiwan. 13, Biotope of Endoclita atayala sp. n., Miaoli County, Taiwan. 14, Species numbers of Hepialidae recorded from different countries and regions (data from Nielsen et al. (2000). 15, Regional comparison of Endoclita species numbers by major land units. 16, Grid of species distribution densities for Endoclita. Grid units 15 x 15°. 17, distribution records for E. atayala sp. n. (red circle, Taiwan), E. crenilimbata (blue circles, Ping-fa, Giuzhou and Mupin, Sichuan) and E. nodus (white circles, Yuexi, Anhui, and Lushan, Jiangxi).