Lithophane gansuana, Kononenko, 2009

Kononenko, Vladimir, 2009, Two new species of the subfamily Xyleninae from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 1993, pp. 53-60 : 56-58

Lithophane gansuana sp. n.

( Figs. 7, 9 )

Material examined. Holotype: male, CHINA Gansu Prov . , 50 km West from Wudu, 33°30ʹN 104°35ʹE, Min Shan Mts. , 2350 m, 27.vii–14.viii.2000, leg. Sinjaev & Plutenko (Coll. A.V. Nekrasov, at present in ZISP). Genitalia prep. 751 VK IBSS. The holotype of the new species is preserved in the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia .

Diagnosis. The new species is allied to L. pacifica ( Fig. 8 ) and represents its sister species. L. gansuana practically differs from L. pacifica in its somewhat larger size and less expressed whitish-gray suffusion in the costal and subterminal areas of the forewing. The male genitalia of the new species ( Fig. 9 ) differ from those of L. pacifica ( Fig. 10 ) by more massive size, shield-shaped juxta, wider valva, shape of apical part of valva and shape and armature of vesica.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Wingspan 37 mm (that of L. pacifica 32–34 mm). Antennae fasciculate, ciliated. Labial palpi short, compressed (unlike other species of Lithophane ), their 3rd segment short, 2.5–3 times shorter than 2nd. Head and thorax covered by hairs forming comb on head. Tegulae and patagia brownish-gray bordered by thin black borderline. Ground color of body and forewing grayish-brown, slightly reddish medially and with light suffusion of ash-gray scales in costal and subterminal areas. Basal line thin, black, extending from costa to Cu-trunk; antemedial line black, thin, waved, bordered outside by thin brown borderline; medial field with reddish patch in center; claviform indistinct, diffused brown spot; orbicular brown spot with thin brown borderline, more rounded than in L. pacifica ; reniform 8-shaped, with dark-brown center, bordered by thin pale and brown lines; medial shade brown, diffused, expressed in costal area; postmedial line black, thin, dentate, bordered outside by thin pale line and with narrow brown suffusion; subterminal area with light pale-gray suffusion and row of indistinct diffused streaks; subterminal line pale, thin, diffused; terminal line as row of dark transversal streaks; cilia brown. Hindwing brownish-gray, with weakly traceable diffused discal spot and pale-brown cilia. Underside pale brownish-gray with traceable postmedial line on forewing and discal spot and medial line on hindwing. Male genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). All structures more massive than in L. pacifica ( Fig. 10 ). Uncus straight, slightly constricted on apex; tegumen wide, with large peniculus; juxta wide, shield-shaped (that of L. pacifica anchor-shaped). Valva wide basally, much wider than in L. pacifica ; sacculus large; costa curved in mid part; apically valva with parallel costal and ventral margins (in L. pacifica valva almost straight, constricted apically, sacculus much smaller, costa not curved medially); clasper strong, arch-like; harpe slightly shorter and more massive than in pacifica ; costa stronger and wider than in L. pacifica ; in apical part of valva costa angled 90° forming quadrangular apex of valva; cucullus weakly sclerotized, corona not present. Aedeagus and vesica similar in shape to those of L. pacifica , but more massive; vesica tubular, with basal diverticulum and small, but rather long subapical diverticulum on dorsal side, shorter than in L. pacifica , armed with long patch of dense thin spines (in L. pacifica subapical diverticulum weakly expressed, armed with small patch of few spines); subbasal area at ventral side with narrow sclerotized plate and patch of dense short cornuti over it (in L. pacifica with small diverticulum and patch of dense cornuti, without sclerotized plate). Basal abdominals hair brushes present. The female is unknown.

Distribution and biology. ( Fig. 13 ). The species is known only from the type locality, Prov. Gansu in Central China. The specimens were collected at elevation 2350 m from late July to mid August.

Etymology. The name refers to the distribution of the species in Gansu Province of China.

Figures

FIGURES 7–11. Lithophane spp., adults and genitalia. 7. L. gansuana, China, male, holotype; 8. L. pacifica, Russia, male, paratype (IBSS); 9. L. gansuana, genitalia, China, male, holotype, genitalia prep. 751 VK IBSS; 10, 11. L. pacifica, genitalia, Russia, Primorye Terr.; 10. male, paratype, genitalia prep. 674 VK IBSS, 11. female, paratype, genitalia prep. 706 VK IBSS.

FIGURES 12–13. Chasminodes and Lithophane spp., distribution maps. 12. C. ussurica and C. behouneki; 13. L. pacifica and L. gansuana.