Aethes acerba, Sun, Yinghui & Li, Houhun, 2013

Sun, Yinghui & Li, Houhun, 2013, Three new species of Aethes Billberg, 1820 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Cochylini), with a list of the species from China, Zootaxa 3669 (4), pp. 456-468 : 459-460

Aethes acerba , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 , 6 )

Type material. Holotype 3, CHINA: Mt. Baiyun, Song County (34°08ʹN, 112°05ʹE), Henan Province, 1580 m, 20.vii.2002, leg. Xinpu Wang.

Paratypes: 2 3, same data as holotype, but 18−24.vii.2002 (genitalia slide No. SYH12053).

Diagnosis. This new species is morphologically similar to A. mesomelana (Walker, 1863) , but A. acerba can be distinguished by the forewing ground color yellowish white; the phallus with the distal 1/4 thorn-shaped, and the cornutus about 1/4 length of the phallus in the male genitalia. In A. mesomelana , the forewing ground color is white; the phallus is stout distally and pointed at the apex, and the cornutus is about 1/2 length of the phallus in the male genitalia.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 2 ). Wingspan 13.5−14.0 mm. Head: Vertex and frons pale yellowish white. Antenna yellowish brown, mixed with brownish black scales. Labial palpus slender, length about twice the diameter of the compound eye, yellowish white mixed with pale yellowish brown scales on outer surface, yellowish white on inner surface. Thorax: Dorsum and tegula yellowish brown, tegula with brownish black scales at base. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, termen oblique; ground color yellowish white; costal margin sparsely mixed with small brown spots; basal patch occupied basal 1/4 of forewing, pale yellowish brown except brownish black on costal margin; median fascia extending from middle of costal margin obliquely outward, interrupted at anterior 1/3, then extending obliquely inward to basal 2/5 of dorsum, brown mixed with brownish black except pale yellowish brown between anterior 1/6 and 1/3; subapical fascia extending from distal 1/5 of costal margin to tornus, pale yellowish brown except brown on anterior 1/4, with a short yellowish brown stripe mixed with brownish black adjacent to its inner margin; subtornal spot small, brownish black, situated at distal 1/4 of dorsum; dorsum with an irregular pale yellowish brown spot from between median fascia and subtornal spot reaching anteriorly cross 2/5 width of forewing; cilia yellowish white. Hindwing and cilia gray. Fore- and midlegs yellowish brown mixed with brownish black; hindleg yellowish white, with sparse brownish black scales. Abdomen: Brownish black.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 6 ). Valva with basal 1/3 broad, gradually narrowed from basal 1/3 to rounded apex; costa narrowly sclerotized to apex of valva; transtilla gradually narrowed from base to middle, median process about 1/2 length of transtilla, gradually narrowed from base to rounded apex. Sacculus about 1/2 length of costa, heavily sclerotized basally, protruding dorso-basally. Vinculum slender, heavily sclerotized. Juxta nearly rounded. Phallus about equal in length to valva, basal 3/4 cylindrical, abruptly narrowed in distal 1/4 into an aculeate, thick thornshape; cornutus nail-shaped, about 1/4 length of phallus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Henan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin acerbus, meaning aculeate, referring to the aculeate distal 1/4 of phallus.

Figures

FIGURES 2 − 5. Adults of Aethes spp. 2. A. acerba, sp. nov., holotype, 3; 3. A. semicircularis, sp. nov., paratype, Ƥ; 4. A. subcitreoflava, sp. nov., holotype, 3; 5. A. fennicana (Hering), 3.

FIGURES 6 − 9. Male genitalia of Aethes spp. 6. A. acerba, sp. nov., paratype, slide no. SYH 12053; 7. A. semicircularis, sp. nov., holotype, slide no. SYH 11287; 8. A. subcitreoflava, sp. nov., holotype, slide no. SYH 11260; 9. A. fennicana (Hering), slide no. SYH 11440.