Athetis minivalva Han & Kononenko, 2011

Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2011, Twelve new species of Athetis Hübner, [1821] 1816 from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3068 (1), pp. 49-68 : 65

Athetis minivalva Han & Kononenko , sp. n.

( Figs. 12 , 26 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype: China: male, [Prov. Yunnan], " Likiang, ( China) provinz Nord Yuennan " 19.iv.1935 (H. Höne), genit. prep. ZFMK 1736 . Paratypes: 19 specimens, same locality, 11.iii.– 9.v.1935 (H. Höne), genit. prep.: ZFMK 1737 f, 1738m, 1739m, Hö 2, Hö 3, H 54, Hö 81. The holotype and paratypes are deposited in the collection of ZFMK .

Diagnosis. Externally this species is similar to A. biserrata , but differs by missing the reddish tint in forewing, the stronger expressed pale yellowish-grey subterminal line and darker reniform and orbicular. Male differs by filiform antennae. In the male genitalia it differs from A. biserrata by the small genital armature, mising of digitus, slightly curved distal part of valva, relatively large aedeagus and arming of vesica by single strong claw-like cornutus.

Description. External appearance ( Fig. 12 ). Wingspan 28–32 mm. Male antennae filiform; palps pressed, brownish laterally, pale grey yellowish ventrally; 3rd segment less than half length of 2nd; eyes surrounded with brown lashes; head and thorax covered with pale brownish hair-like scales; head with erected hairs; ground color of forewing pale brown with intensive dusting of brown scales; basal line as short thin dark streak in costal field; subbasal line thin, dark, diffused, sometimes not visible; orbicular as dark spot or dot; reniform small, dark brown; postmedial line dark, thin, weak, sometimes breaks on row of streaks; subterminal line thin, pale-yellowish, with prominent dark suffusion outside and inside, contrasted with background; cilia brown. Hindwing brownish grey, somewhat darker in outer part; discal spot traceable; cilia brown, with pale borderline. Male genitalia. ( Fig. 26 ). Abdominal hair brushes missing. All structures of genitalia armature relatively small, comparing with other related species. Uncus missing; tegumen narrow, high, two times higher than vinculum, weakly sclerotised; vinculum stronger sclerotised, U-shaped, with saccus; juxta elongated-trapezoidal; valva relatively short with parallel dorsal and ventral margins, in distal part slightly curved dorsally; cucullus apically rounded, covered by thin hairs; sacculus relatively wide; harpe situated at distal third of valva, rather week, thin, ventrally slightly curved, apically pointed, costa without digitus. Aedeagus large, massive, larger than valva, straigth, carina with scobinated band; vesica tubular, rather wide, with single strong claw-like cornutus in basal part and fine scobination from medial to apical part. Female genitalia. ( Fig. 37 ). Ovipositor relatively long, papillae anales weak; apophyses anteriores and posteriores long, thin, about equal in length; antrum moderate, quadrangular, cup-like, its upper margin with shallow central cut; ductus bursa moderate, flattened, distally, in join with antrum membranous, rest part sclerotised, somewhat extended to joining with bursa; appendix bursae small, membranous, somewhat extended; corpus bursae moderate, rounded, membranous, finely scobinated in bottom two-third.

Etymology. The species name minivalva indicates the small size of valva of the species, compared with to the allies.

Distribution. South West China (Prov. Yunan). The moths fly from March to April.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Athetis spp., adults. 9. A. flavicolor sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 10. A. flavicolor sp. n., male, paratype, Thailand (AB); 11. A. biserrata sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 12. A. minivalva sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 13. A. longiharpe sp.n., male, holotype, China (NEFU); 14. A. bicornuta sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 15. A. furcatula sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 16. A. furcatula sp. n., male, paratype, China (NEFU).

FIGURES 25–29. Athetis spp., male genitalia. 25. A. biserrata sp. n., paratype, China, 1731ZFMK; 26. A. minivalva sp. n. Holotype, China, 1736ZFMK; 27. A. longiharpe sp.n., holotype, China, HHL-1976-1; 28. A. bicornuta sp. n., holotype, Hö1(Varga) ZFMK; 29. A. furcatula sp. n., paratype, China, HHL-1972-1.

FIGURES 35–41. Athetis spp., female genitalia. 35. A. flavicolor sp. n., paratype, Thailand, 4-090311VK; 36. A. biserrata sp. n., paratype, China, 1729ZFMK; 37. A. minivalva sp. n., paratype, China, 1726VK; 38. A. longiharpe sp.n., paratype, China, HHL-1975-2; 39. A. bicornuta sp. n., paratype, China, 1734ZFMK; 40. A. furcatula sp. n., paratype, China, 1726VK; 41. A. furcatula sp. n., paratype, China, HHL-1973-2.