Wittstrotia behouneki Volynkin, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, Description of the female of Wittstrotia behouneki Volynkin (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Eustrotiinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 60, pp. 51-54 : 52-54

Wittstrotia behouneki Volynkin, 2021

( Figs 1, 2 , 5 )

Type material examined. Holotype ( Fig. 1 ): male, “ IV.2013 | Central Vietnam | Th ừa Thiên Hu ế Province , | Annamite Range, | Bach Ma Mt., | 1400 m | local collector leg.” / “Slide | AV2292 ♂ | A. Volynkin ( ZSM, ex CAV).

Additional material examined. VIETNAM: 1 female, 09. V .2016, Kon Tum Province, Đăk Glei District, Đăk Man Commune, Dak Che , Golovizin , V . leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6945 (prepared by Volynkin) ( CAV).

Diagnosis of female. The female of W. behouneki ( Fig. 2 ) is similar to the male holotype ( Fig. 1 ) but differs in the forewing having somewhat more convex costal margin and thinner pattern elements, and the less intense grey suffusion on the hindwing. The female of the species is externally reminiscent of W. flavannamica ( Fig. 3 ) and W. fansipani but distinguished from the former species by its smaller size, the subcostal section of the antemedial line directed more inwards (in W. flavannamica , it is directed to the proximal cellular spot), the somewhat more curved reniform stigma, the more sinuous postmedial line opposite the cell, the more elongate longitudinal streaks in the postmedial area, and the somewhat broader terminal fascia and the more diffuse discal spot of the hindwing. Compared to W. fansipani , the female of W. behouneki has smaller antemedial spots, an interrupted antemedial line, a semilunar reniform spot (in W. fansipani , it is dilated inwards on the vein Cu), a more sinuous postmedial line opposite the cell, a more elongate and distinct longitudinal streaks in the postmedial area, and a yellowish hindwing with broader and continuous terminal fascia (it is medially interrupted in the congener). In the female genitalia, W. behouneki ( Fig. 5 ) differs from W. flavannamica ( Fig. 6 ) in the distally thinner apophyses anteriores, the broader and somewhat posteriorly dilated antevaginal plate (it has almost parallel lateral margins in the congener), the posteriorly broader posterior sclerotised section of the corpus bursae with a broad medial ventral pocket, and the broader anterior membranous section of the corpus bursae. Compared to W. fansipani ( Fig. 7 ), the female genitalia of W. behouneki have longer and distally thinner apophyses anteriores, a narrower and less posteriorly dilated antevaginal plate, a markedly longer and broader posterior section of the corpus bursae which is evenly sclerotised (it is membranous with three sclerotised plates in the congener), and a markedly longer and broader anterior section of the corpus bursae.

Description of female. External morphology ( Fig. 2 ). Forewing length 11.5 mm. Legs pale yellow with black spots. Antenna black, filiform. Head creamy white. Thorax creamy white; tegula with elongate black spot medially. Forewing wide, triangular with somewhat convex costal and anal margins and rounded apex. Forewing ground color creamy white, markings black. Basal line present as dot. Subbasal line straight, slightly dilated at costa. Antemedial area with two trapezoidal spots at costa and in cell, large triangular spot posteriorly and black suffusion at anal margin. Antemedial line strongly curved, interrupted into two streaks anteriorly and posteriorly. Medial area with large double triangular spot at costa. Orbicular stigma small, circular, positioned close to antemedial line. Reniform stigma large, kidney-shaped, with narrow and elongate white core. Postmedial line zigzagged and interrupted between costa and vein R, slightly wavy subanteriorly and strongly curved posteriorly. Postmedial area with four short longitudinal streaks between radial veins, and series of long longitudinal streaks between veins medially and posteriorly. Terminal line interrupted into row of small spots between veins connected to longitudinal medial and posterior streaks of postmedial area. Cilia white with black spots between veins. Hindwing ground color pale yellow with slight grey suffusion at costa medially. Medial transverse fascia dark grey, wide and diffuse anteriorly, and thin and indistinct posteriorly. Terminal fascia grey, wide anteriorly and medially and narrowed at anal margin, with strong white suffusion on veins broadened at outer wing margin. Cilia yellowish white with admixture of grey scales at apex and along outer margin. Abdomen ochreous-yellow with black dot subbasally. Female genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Papilla analis semielliptical, setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, anterior one shorter than posterior one. Ductus bursae shot, gelatinous, dorso-ventrally flattened, with semielliptical and heavily sclerotised antevaginal plate somewhat dilated posteriorly. Corpus bursae pear-shaped, its posterior section sclerotised and rugose, with medial pocket-like dilation ventrally. Anterior section of corpus bursae broad, elliptical, membranous. Appendix bursae shortly conical, sclerotised, originating from anterior part of posterior section of corpus bursae on right side.

Distribution. The species is currently known from two localities in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam (Thừa Thiên Huế and Kon Tum Provinces) ( Volynkin 2021).

Figures

Figures 1–4. Wittstrotia spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 3 and 4 in ZSM (1 – ex CAV); 2 in CAV.

Figures 5–7. Wittstrotia spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 5 in CAV; 6 in WSO; 7 in ZSM.