Flavala crypta Behounek, Han & Kononenko, 2012

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & V. S. Kononenko, 2012, Two new genera and three new species of the Pantheinae from East Asia and China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Contribution to revision of Pantheinae VIII, Zootaxa 3587, pp. 78-88 : 80-81

Flavala crypta Behounek, Han & Kononenko , sp. n.

( Figs. 5, 6, 15)

Material examined. Holotype: male, China, W. Sichuan, road Dawe / Lushan, Xiling Xue Shan Mt. , H - 2800 m, 21.vii.2011;N 30˚51’569’’N, E 102˚46’274’ (Floriani & Saldaitis leg.)./ genit. Prep. 8031 (GB) coll. GB, ZSM, München, BC ZSM Lep 58654 . Paratypes: 1 male, China Prov. Sichuan, Qingcheng Shan Mt. (= Quingshen Shan ) 1500 – 1800 m, 31˚12’N 102˚47’E, 1 – 30.vi.2006 (leg. Siniaev & team) ( PG) ; 2 males, 2 females, North Vietnam (GR); Not included to type-series : 1 male, Vietnam, Prov. Lao Cai, 1900 m, 103˚46.06’E 22˚20.9’N, 29 – 30.viii.1998, leg. A. Kun / genit. prep. No 6679 det. L. Ronkay /99 ( HNHM) ; 2 males, with same label [ HNHM}; 2 males, Vietnam, Prov. Lao Cai, 1800 m, Fan Si Pan Mts, 16 km NW Sa Pa ( Cha Pa ), 16 – 17.iii.1998 (leg. L. Peregovics & T. Vasarhelyi) ( HNHM).

Diagnosis. The species is closely related to F. flavala . It can be recognized by paler ground colour of the forewing, distinct straight antemedial line, thinner, dentate postmedial line, and less expressed subterminal line. The hindwing paler than in F. flavala , the wing pattern less distinct, differing from F. flavala by greyish terminal band (in F. flavala , the broad terminal band lies more distant from the terminal margin, the latter is yellow; the discal spot distinct, the basal part of the hindwing greyish brown. The underside of wings is darker in F. crypta than in F.flavala , having a broad terminal band and distinct medial fascia on hindwing (in F. flavala the underside more yellow, with less developed brown-grey pattern, in the hindwing, the terminal band separated from the wing margin by a yellow area; medial band marked only in costal area). The male genitalia are almost identical with F. flavala , while F. crypta has somewhat narrower uncus and valva.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 5, 6). Wingspan 32 – 38 mm. Labial palps and frons covered with short whitish scales; vestiture of thorax formed by hair-like scales; patagia and tegulae whitish-grey; ground colour of forewing ash-grey, wing pattern formed by blackish lines; basal field and costal area with whitish suffusion; subbasal field grey; antemedial line black, distinct, straight; medial field grey, with indistinct diffused medial shadow, darker in costal area; orbicular small, marked by dark surrounding line; reniform distinct, formed by dark surrounding line and two whitish spots inside; postmedial line blackish, thin, dentate, costal area around postmedial line with whitish suffusion; subterminal field grey, darker, brownish grey outwardly; subterminal line dark, diffused; terminal field brownish grey; terminal line as row of dark diffused streaks; cilia greyish-brown. Hindwing pale yellowish-grey, with greyish suffusion along inner margin, traceable discal spot and diffused terminal band along outer margin; cilia pale, yellowish-grey. Underside pale yellowish-grey, with wide dark terminal band and dark suffusion around distal part of discal cell on forewing and wide greyish-brown terminal band along outer margin and diffused medial fascia on hindwing. Male genitalia ( Fig. 15) as described for the genus and in the paragraph “Diagnosis”. Female unknown.

Distribution. (Map 21). Southwest China, probably North Vietnam.

Etymology. The species name crypta indicates that the species represents a hidden taxon.