Pulcheria Alphéraky, 1887

Volynkin, Anton V. & Matov, Alexej Yu., 2015, A review of the genus Pulcheria Alphéraky, 1887 with description of a new species from southeastern Kazakhstan (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3974 (2), pp. 196-202 : 196-197

Genus Pulcheria Alphéraky, 1887

Pulcheria Alphéraky, 1887 , Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 48: 170 (Type-species: Pulcheria catomelas Alphéraky, 1887 , by monotypy).

Draudt (1938) combined Pulcheria with numerous other genera from the present subfamilies Oncocnemidinae , Condicinae , Amphipyrinae and Xyleninae into the subfamily “ Amphipyrinae ”. According the structure of the genitalia, at present Pulcheria belongs to the tribe Xylenini of the subfamily Xyleninae Guenée, 1837 . This compact genus comprises three known species, one of them is described below as new. All three species are Central Asiatic and have relatively small ranges.

External morphology of adults. Medium-sized moths with more or less indistinct pattern. Male antennae bipectinate, with moderately long branches; female antennae ciliate. Forewing relatively broad, with pointed apex. Females have somewhat narrower forewings and paler wing colouration than males. Head, thorax and abdomen have same coloration as forewings. Hindwings very dark, with much paler subbasal area. Male genitalia. Uncus long, narrow, pointed apically. Tegumen short, penicular lobes large, well separated. Vinculum relatively short, U- or V-shaped. Valva elongated, broadened basally, its distal part slightly curved; corona presented. Sacculus relatively broad; costa strongly sclerotised, digitus very short, broad, trigonal, weakly sclerotised. Clasper elongated and narrow; harpe strong, curved, rounded apically, slightly broadened basally. Aedeagus elongated, curved; carina has two strongly dentate sclerotised lateral bands; vesica membranous, tubular, distally directed, with short and broad ventral subbasal diverticulum. Female genitalia. Ovipositor moderately long; gonapophyses long and thin, apophyses anteriores much shorter than apophyses posteriores. Ostium bursae narrow, with narrow moderately or strongly sclerotised margin. Ductus bursae relatively short, narrow, moderately sclerotised posteriorly and slightly sclerotised anteriorly. Appendix bursae small, sack-like, positioned laterally. Corpus bursae elongated long and narrow, drop-like broadened anteriorly.