Stigmatophora palmata (Moore, 1878)

Volynkin, Anton V., Huang, Si-Yao & Dubatolov, Vladimir V., 2021, A review of the Stigmatophora palmata (Moore, 1878) species-group (Lepidoptera Erebidae: Arctiinae) with description of a new species from China, Zootaxa 4999 (3), pp. 243-257 : 244-245

The S. palmata species-group

Diagnosis. Species of the species-group are characterized by the pale or deep yellow ground colour of wings with the black forewing pattern consisting of interrupted transverse lines and long and wide black longitudinal streaks between the veins in the postmedial and subterminal areas. The male genitalia are characterized by the small or reduced ampulla, the valva slightly tapered distally and the relatively short distal saccular process not reaching the tip of the valva. The female genitalia of the species-group have no significant differences from those of other species-groups of the genus.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–23 ). Forewing length 13–18 mm in both sexes. Antennae of both sexes ciliate. Body yellow, thorax with black spots. Forewing elongate with rounded apex. Forewing ground colour yellow, darker terminally. Forewing pattern black. Subbasal line as spot. Ante- and postmedial line interrupted to series of spots. Postmedial and subterminal areas with elongate longitudinal streaks between veins. Hindwing pale yellow, with diffuse blackish spots between veins subapically. Male genitalia ( Figs 24 –31). Uncus narrow, laterally flattened, somewhat dilated subapically, apically pointed. Scaphium thin, weakly sclerotized. Tegumen relatively narrow, as long as vinculum. Vinculum elongate, with narrowly U-shaped or pointed V-shaped tip. Juxta shield-like, moderately sclerotized. Valva elongate, with slightly sinuous costal margin. Ampulla small or reduced, positioned subbasally. In certain species, clasper with short triangular process directed ventrally. Sacculus moderately wide, with relatively short distal process not reaching tip of valva. Aedeagus elongate and narrow, somewhat S-like curved. Vesica globular, with two or three short conical diverticula and two clusters of varioussized short but robust triangular cornuti. Female genitalia ( Figs 32–37 ). Papillae anales trapezoid with rounded corners. Apophyses elongate and thin, of more or less equal length. Ductus bursae strongly elongate, dorso-ventrally flattened, moderately sclerotized medially and weakly sclerotized laterally. Corpus bursae globular or elliptical, strongly spinulose scobinated. Appendix bursae strongly elongate, conical distally, scobinated basally and distally, directed posteriorly.

Distribution. Species of the species-group are widely distributed in Himalaya, south-western, southern and south-eastern China, and northern and central Indochina.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Stigmatophora spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 in NHMUK (© The Trustees of NHMUK); 2 and 3 in MWM/ZSM; 4 and 5 in CKC; 6 and 7 in ICZAS (photo by unknown photographer, © ICZAS).

FIGURES 8–15. Stigmatophora spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 8–12 in MWM/ZSM; 13 in CKC; 14 and 15 in ZFMK.

FIGURES 16–23. Stigmatophora spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 16, 17, 21–23 in MWM/ZSM; 18 and 19 in ZFMK; 20 in NHMUK (© The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 24–27. Stigmatophora spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 24, 26 and 27 in MWM/ZSM; 25 in CKC.

FIGURES 32–37. Stigmatophora spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 32 and 34 in CKC; 33, 36 and 37 in MWM/ZSM; 35 in ZFMK.