Ecpatia sciachroa Hampson, 1926

Pellinen, Markku J. & Mutanen, Marko, 2019, Two new species of Ecpatia Turner, 1902, and the first records of Ecpatia sciachroa Hampson, 1926 and Ecpatia obscura Holloway, 2009 from Thailand (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Noctuinae), Zootaxa 4609 (3), pp. 574-582 : 577-578

Ecpatia sciachroa Hampson, 1926

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:ACB3991

( Figs. 3 a–b, 10a–b and 11)

This species was described from Sri Lanka and has been recorded from the Philippines Hampson, 1926. Thai specimens fit with E. sciachroa , though the concept of this one will however have to be revised because of the fairly wide geographic distribution currently shown by the taxon (from Sri Lanka to the Philippines) (A. Zilli NHM, personal comment).

Specimens found in Thailand: 1 male, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 30.v. 2009, 240 m, 18°18’15’’N, 99°31’06’’E, M. J. Pellinen leg., genitalia slide MJP111. 8 females, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 21.viii. 2007, 240 m, 18°18’15’’N, 99°31’06’’E, idem., 29.viii.2007, Lampang, Mon Kao Kaew, 04.ii. 2008, 300 m, 20°24’00’’N, 99°32’44’’E, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 03.v. 2009, 240m, 18°18’15’’N, 99°31’06’’E, idem., 12.v.2009, idem., 09.vi.2009, Lampang, Phraya Chae, 27.ix. 2009, 350 m, 18°17’75’’N, 99°56’02’’E, genitalia slide MJP112, Lampang, Phraya Chae, 23.xi. 2016, 350 m, 18°17’75’’N, 99°56’02’’E, genitalia slide MJP1156.All specimens collected by first author.

Morphological diagnosis. This species is slightly larger than most other Ecpatia species, with somewhat narrower forewings. Externally it differs from other Ecpatia species in its more hazy brown color and reniform stigma which is positioned diagonally from middle part of the costa to tornus. White area in hindwing is triangular, reaching almost the base. Male genitalia of E. sciachroa ( Fig. 8 .) differ from E. longinquua by the broader saccus and juxta ( Fig. 13 .). (Gen. slide from Teruko Fukuda)

Genetic characterization. The species with the barcode sequence most similar to that of E. sciachroa is E. spiculivalva (6.9%). The sequence of E. longinquua shows no difference from that of E. sciachroa in the barcode region, but we cannot verify the identity of the available specimen of E. longinquua in BOLD (mined from GenBank) as it is not associated with a specimen image.

Description. External characters. Wingspan of both sexes 25–26 mm. Frons smooth, lower half whitish with narrow scales and upper half dull red with wide scales. Labial palps upturned, medium size, covered with light grey and dark scales, third segment about bone third of the second segment. Antennae of males fasciculate, cilia quite short, only same length than flagellomere and filiform in females. Thorax, patagia and tegulae dark grey with wide scales. Legs dark grey, with reddish and grey tips on segments. Forewing variegated brown-grey with yellowish brown patches between postmedial and submarginal lines. Orbicular stigma small, reniform, diagonally stretched toward dorsum, yellowish brown. Postmedial line wavy, almost zigzag-like and partly double, cilia grey brown. Submarginal line unclear white, marginal line black and fragmentary. Hindwings dark-grey, with clear round white area. Underside dark grey, with narrow white sections in the middle parts. Hindwing venation same as in preceding species. Abdomen same color as wings, with tuft of scales on tergites 4–7, underside color grey mixed with white scales. Male genitalia. ( Figs. 9 a–b). Uncus not especially narrow, bent, apically sharp, penicular process in tegumen large quadrangular, juxta unclear triangular, valvae with arrow-shape plate basally on costal margin, sacculus terminating in strong bifid harpe, cucullus small axe-shape, with setae and stronger spines, separated distally with narrow constriction from sacculus. Saccus obtuse-angled triangle. Vesica of aedeagus corrugated with small broad based cornutus and spatulate sclerite. Female genitalia. ( Figs. 10 ) Papillae anales round, apophyses posteriores slightly longer than apophyses anteriores, narrow. Ostium bursae round, posteriorly v-shaped, broader than medium-long ductus bursae. Corpus bursae only slightly corrugated, pyriform with unclear posterior appendix.

The species was collected in Northern Thailand from various biotopes between 240– 350 m. in May–June and August–November.

Biology. Preimaginal stages of the new species are unknown.

Remark. Figures of this species are illustrated in the Moths of Thailand Vol. 3, part two ( Kononenko & Pinratana 2013) as unidentified sp. Plate 42, no 53–54.

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. 1a. Ecpatia grisescens sp. n., paratype male (Thailand, Lampang, Chae Hom, 07.x.2014.), wingspan 23 mm. 1b. E. grisescens sp. n., paratype female (Thailand, Lampang, Chae Hom, 26.vi.2015), wingspan 24 mm. 2a. E. spiculivalva sp. n., paratype male (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 12.vi.2013), wingspan 24 mm. 2b. E. spiculivalva sp. n., paratype female (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 23.v.2015), wingspan 24 mm. 3a. E. sciachroa male (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 30.v.2009), wingspan 27 mm. 3b. E. sciachroa female (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 29.vi.2011), wingspan 27 mm. 4. E. obscura male (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 02.iii.2011), wingspan 26 mm. 5. E. longinquua male (Japan, Kagoshima pref. Amamioshima Is. 08.vi.2010, Teruhiko Fukuda leg.)

FIGURES 6–9. 6a. Male genitalia of E. grisescens sp. n., slide MJP1012 (paratype, Thailand, Lampang, Chae Hom, 17. xii.2016), 6b. aedeagus slide MJP1012 (paratype). 7. Female genitalia, slide MJP825 (paratype, Thailand,Chae Hom,04.v.2015. 8a. Male genitalia of E. spiculivalva sp. n., slide MJP109 (paratype, Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 09.vii.2009), 8b. aedeagus slide MJP109 (paratype). 9. Female genitalia, slide MJP1020 (paratype, Thailand, Chae Hom, 23.v.2015).

FIGURES 10–13. 10a. Male genitalia of E. sciachroa slide MJP111 (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 30.v.2009), 10b. aedeagus slide MJP111. 11. Female genitalia, slide MJP112 (Thailand,27.ix.2009). 12a Male genitalia of E. obscura slide MJP1021 (Thailand, Lampang, Muban Phichai, 02.iii.2011). 12b aedeagus slide MJP1021. 13a Male genitalia of E. longinquua 13b aedeagus, slide of Teruhiko Fukuda Japan, Kagoshima pref. Amamioshima Is. 22.ii.2009.