Gaea, Kallies, Axel, Arita, Yutaka, Owada, Mamoru & Wang, Min, 2014

Kallies, Axel, Arita, Yutaka, Owada, Mamoru & Wang, Min, 2014, Laetosphecia, a new genus of clearwing moths from south-eastern China, with a brief review of the Sesiini from China (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae), Zootaxa 3895 (4), pp. 581-589 : 584

Laetosphecia leucozona ( Hampson, 1919) , Gaea comb. nov.

( Figs 5, 6 )

Literature. Gaede 1933: 781 (as Gaea ); Heppner & Duckworth 1981: 24 (as Euhagena ); Pühringer & Kallies 2014 (as Euhagena ).

Material examined. Type material. Syntypes. ♂ “ Type ” “Khasis, May 1895. Nat. Coll.” “ Gaea leucozona , type ♂, Hmpsn.” “Tring Mus 66” “Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1.” ( BMNH); ♀ “ Type ” “Khasis, May 1895. Nat. Coll.” “ Gaea leucozona , type ♀, Hmpsn.” “Tring Mus 66” “Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1.” ( BMNH).

This species was described in Gaea Beutenmüller, 1896 (synonym of Euhagena Edwards, 1881 ), a genus in Paranthrenini . Although it could not be examined in detail, it is here transferred to the genus Laetosphecia in Sesiini based on its venation, antennal morphology and external appearance. In contrast to the two previous species, the male antennae of L. leucozona have conspicuously long rami (with short rami in L. variegata and L. brideliana ) and the proboscis is strongly reduced. Thus, until the genitalia can be examined, the placement in Laetosphecia is provisional.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Laetosphecia species, adults. 1, 2. L. variegata (Walker, 1865) comb. nov., 1. Male, 29.5 mm wingspan (CAK). 2. Female, 30 mm wingspan (NSMT). 3 – 4. L. brideliana spec. nov., 3. Male (holotype), 29.5 mm wingspan (SCAU). 4. Female (paratype), 32.5 mm wingspan (NSMT). 5 – 6. L. leucozona (Hampson, 1919) comb. nov., syntypes. 5. Male, 30 mm wingspan. 6. Female, 32 mm wingspan (BMNH).