Saigonita paradoxa Kiriakoff, 1971

Huang, Si-Yao, Hou, Yong-Xiang & Chen, Liu-Sheng, 2024, Rediscovery of the genus Saigonita Kiriakoff (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Agaristinae), with an updated checklist of Agaristinae from China, Zootaxa 5433 (2), pp. 277-288 : 278-284

Saigonita paradoxa Kiriakoff, 1971

Figs. 1–7 , 9–23

Saigonita paradoxa Kiriakoff, 1971: 7 , fig. 2. (type locality: Saigon)

Saigonita paradoxa : Kiriakoff 1977: 98, fig. 19.

Material examined. Holotype. ( Figs 1–3 , 9 ) ♂, printed and handwritten white label “ Dr. S.G. Kiriakoff det, | SAIGONITA gen.nov. | S. paradoxa sp. nov. | HOLOTYPE (upperside) | Lambillionea | LXXI – 1971 | p. 7. (underside)” / pale yellow label “GENITALIA ♂ | P. VIETTE | PRÉP. NO.5134” / handwritten yellow label “Saigon | jardin | 1946. 47” / yellow label “ MUSEUM PARIS | O. Faconeau | 1949” / printed red label “ TYPE ” / printed institutional label with QR-code “ MNHN, Paris | EL83511” ( MNHN) . Additional specimens examined: CHINA: 1 male, 26. V.2021, Sanya , Hainan, leg. Hao Huang, genitalia preparation No. SY 1 ( CHSY) ; 1 male, 10. V.2013, Bawangling , Hainan, N: 19.06°, E: 109.05°, H: 169 m, leg. Xiao-hua Chen, light trap, genitalia preparation No. En-318493 ( CSYSU) .

Diagnosis. Length of forewing 18.5–20 mm (20 mm in holotype). Externally, Saigonita paradoxa is only reminiscent of the monotypic madagascan genus Pemphigostola Strand, 1909 (type species P. synemonistis Strand, 1909 ) ( Fig. 8 ), and from which it differs in the more pointed and elongated forewing, the less protruding apex of hindwing and the different wing pattern on both sides of wings. From all the other species of Agaristinae from Palaearctic and Oriental realms, Saigonita differs clearly by the strongly dilated antennae, the swollen basal section of the costa of forewing, the brown ground color of both wings and the white metallic lustre on the cilia near anal angle on hindwing. In male genitalia, the tubus analis is short and the juxta is shovel-shaped, with a long dorsal process.

Remarks: (1) The Hainan population differs from the Vietnamese population by the slightly narrower black discal band on both sides of the hindwing, suggesting that the newly discovered population might represent a different subspecies. However more individuals from Vietnam shall be examined to confirm such assumption. (2) In the detailed descriptions and diagnosis of adult as well as the male genitalia of Saigonita, Kiriakoff (1971 , 1977) stated that the areole on forewing is absent. However after examing the holotype and the two newly collected specimens from China, the first author found that the areole ( Figs 12, 13 ) still exists, right at the uppercorner of discal cell. We also took this chance to illustrate some other diagnostic Agaristine or Noctuid structures ( Figs. 14– 19 ) (e. g. bulla abdominalis on tergite A1, cone-shaped structure (protuberance) on fron etc.) of Saigonita to better elaborate the belonging of this weird-looking species.

Distribution. Southern China (Hainan island, new to Chinese fauna) and southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) ( Fig. 23 ).

Biology. This species is probably nocturnal judging from its dim coloration of forewing usually found in typical nocturnal Agaristinid genera such as Alloasteropetes , Maikona and Sarbanissa and the record (En-318493) taken with light trap, and the record ( Figs 20–22 , for SY1) collected in daytime is probably only the result of being disturbed when resting.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Agaristinae adults and labels. 1, Saigonita paradoxa, holotype, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), S. Vietnam, upperside; 2, ditto, underside; 3, ditto, labels; 4, Saigonita paradoxa, SY1, upperside; 5, ditto, underside; 6, Saigonita paradoxa, En318493, upperside; 7, ditto, underside; 8, Pemphigostola synemonistis, after Strand (1930). Scale for figures 1, 2, 4–7.

FIGURES 9–11. Male genitalia of Saigonita paradoxa. Depositories of slides: 9 in MNHN; 10 in CHSY; 11 in CSYSU. Scale for figures 10 & 11.

FIGURES 12–13. Underside of forewing of Saigonita paradoxa specimens showing the position of aereole. 12, right forewing of the holotype; 13, left forewing of the specimen with voucher number SY1.

FIGURES 14–19. Agaristine structures of Saigonita paradoxa, photographed from specimen with voucher number SY1. 14, cone-shaped structure (protuberance); 15, inner view of the ex-skeleton of the abdomen; 16, abdomen segment A8; 17, tergite A1, showing the vesicle (bulla abdominalis); 18, sternite A2, showing the positions of the Stobbe’s glands; 19, magnifined view of the Stobbe’s gland.

FIGURES 20–23. Captured individual of Saigonita paradoxa (voucher number SY1, photographed by Hao Huang) and distribution map of Saigonita. 20, underside viewed from left side; 21, upperside; 22, underside viewed from right side, in an opened triangular bag; 23, distribution map.