Notodonta valeria Saldaitis & Ivinskis

Saldaitis, Aidas, Ivinskis, Povilas & Rimsaite, Jolanta, 2013, Notodonta valeria, a new species (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) from China, with taxonomic remarks on Notodonta ziczac (Linnaeus, 1758), Zootaxa 3681 (5), pp. 589-594 : 590-593

Notodonta valeria Saldaitis & Ivinskis sp. n.

( Figs. 7, 8 , 12, 15 )

Holotype: male ( Fig. 7 ), China, N. Sichuan, road Songpan/Zoige, N32˚55,511’ E103˚24,959’, 0 5. vii. 2010. H— 3500 m, leg. A. Floriani (deposited in MWM/ ZSM); (slide No. OP 1422 m)

Paratypes: 12 males, 2 females ( Figs. 8 ), with the same labels as holotype, 2 males, China, N. E. Qinghai, Laji Shan Mts., S. from Ledu N36˚15,404’ E102˚16,137’, 10. vii. 2010. H— 3040 m, leg. A. Floriani, 1 male, China, N. E. Qinghai, Daban Shan Mts., N. from Datong N37˚09,705’ E101˚46,669’, 13. vii. 2010. H— 3100 m, leg. A. Floriani (coll. AFM; MWM/ ZSM; NRCV; PMM). Slide Nos OP 1421m; OP 1422m; OP 1423f; OP 1424m; OP 1457m; OP 1458m; OP 1459f; OP 1471m;

Diagnosis. N. valeria is the sibling species of N. ziczac , but differs by a number of external, genital and DNA characters. The new species has darker forewings than N. ziczac and a markedly larger dark zone extending from the discal patch to the termen. The male genitalia of N. valeria differ from N. ziczac by their less dentate uncus, gradually narrowing socii, narrower valvae, “W” formed distal end to the vinculum, and narrower aedeagus with more gradually angled hook. The female genitalia differ as N. valeria has a smaller triangular ventral plate, a ductus seminalis located close to the antrum and a bursa copulatrix with serrate signum. These differences are consistent with COI DNA results where three specimens of N. valeria sp. n. from Sichuan and Qinghai varied from two N. ziczac ziczac Lithuanian specimens by at least 1.4%.

Description. Male: Forewing length of holotype 21 mm, wingspan 44 mm; forewing length of paratypes 20-21 mm, wingspan 41-46 mm; antennae short, bipectinate; ground colour of forewings dark ochreus, with well-developed discal patch and dark zone from discal patch to termen and ochreus color dorsal zone extending to middle of forewing, hindwings dark grey with medial spot weekly expressed. Male genitalia ( Figs. 12 ): uncus with broad smooth top; tip of socii blunt; tegumen of relatively uniform width throughout; valvae narrow, with costal edge sclerotised from base to tip and scletotization extending to center of valvae; digitus long, serrate; pointed vinculum shaped as "W"; aedeagus narrow with hook at less than 90° angle; vesica small, narrow; cornutus long, bell formed with serrate edges. Female ( Fig. 8 ): Forewing length of paratypes 21-23 mm, wingspan 44–48 mm; antennae simple, filiform; picture and ground colour of wings as in males. Female genitalia ( Fig. 15 ): Papillae analis wide narrowing to apex, sparsely covered with long, thin setae; apophysis posterioris 4 times longer than apophysis anterioris; ventral plate small sclerotised triangle, eighth segment tergitus well sclerotised, arched; ostium rounded; antrum cylindrical; ductus seminalis located under antrum; bursa copulatrix not sclerotised; plate formed signum serrate.

Bionomics and distribution. Known from a few different localities of China's Sichuan and Qinghai provinces on the northeast edge of the Tibetan plateau. N. valeria is probably a high altitude species as all males and females were collected at light during July at altitudes ranging from 3000 to 3100 m. The new species was uncommon in the shrubby dry transition between the mountain mixed forest and the alpine grassland zones. Specimens from Qinghai province are lighter and habitually close to N. ziczac pallida .

Etymology. The new species is named after the daughter, Valeria , of our good friend and eminent Russian Notodontidae specialist, Mr Pavel Morozov.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Notodonta ssp., adults. 1. N. ziczac ziczac, male, Hungary (OPB); 2. N. ziczac ziczac, female, Hungary (OPB); 3. N. ziczac pallida, male, Kazakhstan (MWM / ZSM); 4. N. derbendica (= N. ziczac gigantea), male, paratype of gigantea, Russia, Krasnodar (MWM / ZSM); 5. N. derbendica, male, Armenia (MWM / ZSM); 6. N. derbendica, female, Armenia (MWM / ZSM); 7. N. valeria, male, holotype, China, Sichuan (MWM / ZSM); 8. N. valeria, female, paratype, China, Sichuan (AFM);

FIGURES 9 – 15. Notodonta ssp., genitalia. 9. N. ziczac ziczac, male, capsule, aedeagus and 8 th sternite, prep. OP 1389; 10. N. ziczac pallida, male, capsule, aedeagus and 8 th sternite, prep. OP 1498; 11. N. derbendica, male, capsule, aedeagus and 8 th sternite, prep. OP 1508; 12. N. valeria, male, holotype, capsule in natural position, capsule with opened valvae, aedeagus and 8 th sternite, prep. OP 1422; 13. N. ziczac ziczac, female, prep. OP 1390; 14. N. derbendica, female, prep. OP 1509; 15. N. valeria, female, paratype, prep. OP 1459.