Xizanga mysterica 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 : 83-88

Xizanga mysterica Behounek, Han & Kononenko sp.n.

( Figs. 9 – 11, 12, 19)

Material examined. Holotype: male, China, Aut. Reg. Xizang, Linzhi 80 km to Motuo 24.viii.2011 (Z.H. Pan) . Paratypes: 2 females with same label, genit. prep. HHL-2449-2; 1 male, China, Aut. Reg. Xizang, Hanmi-Motuo , 2100m, 18 – 27.viii.2005 (Huang, Zhou, Tang), genit. prep. HHL-1056-1 .

Diagnosis. The species can be easily recognized by the characteristic wing pattern with brown with and green antemedial field, distinct white antemedial line, and distinct orbicular; dark-brown outer part of medial field and characteristic shape of subterminal line, which is angled by straight angle in costal and medial parts. No species of the Noctuidae of Chinese-Himalayan fauna is similar to X. mysterica .

Description. Adult ( Figs. 9 – 11). Wingspan 32 – 34 mm. 2nd segment of labial palps white with black central part; frons covered with short white and black scales; scapus distinct, covered with white scales; patagia and tegulae covered with broad grey scales; ground colour of forewing brownish-grey, wing pattern formed by brown fields and brownish-black lines; basal field pale grey; subbasal field brown, with intrusion of greenish and black scales in costal medial areas; antemedial fascia broad, formed by brown inner line and thin black outer line, white in centre; outer line V-like angled inwardly in angle of discal cell and forms isolated white spot; Orbicular distinct, with thin black surrounding, white and brown inside; medial field greyish-brown, darker outwardly, with three thin dark-brown lines and black sharp medial shadow; postmedial area pale brownish-grey with brown patches; reniform indistinct, marked by grey and brownish; postmedial fascia twin, formed by thin black lines, white inside, started in costal area from two black streaks, follows along vein R 2 in costal area, curved by straight angle, follows down, on vein M2 curved inwardly by almost straight angle again and follows down; subterminal and terminal fields brownish, separated by wide diffuse subterminal line; terminal line as row of dark-brown streaks; cilia greyish-brown. Hindwing pale greyish-brown, with distinct slightly diffused discal spot, medial line and terminal band; cilia pale, greyish-brown. Male genitalia and female genitalia ( Figs. 12, 19) features placed on genus Xizanga description chapter.

Etymology. The species name mysterica indicates the enigmatic systematic position of the species.

Distribution. (Map 23). Southwest China (Xizang), known only from the type-locality.