Lithopolia tadaokanoi, Wu & Yen, 2019

Wu, Shipher & Yen, Shen-Horn, 2019, Evaluating the generic definition of Lithopolia Yoshimoto, 1993 with a description of one new species of Taiwan (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Orthosiini), Zootaxa 4555 (3), pp. 425-432 : 427-431

Lithopolia tadaokanoi sp. nov.

( Figs 7–8 , 16 , 22 )

Type material. Holotype, 6, TAIWAN, Miaoli County, Guanwu , 2000 m, 27-II-2011, leg. S. Wu & W. C. Chang, no. TFRI141983 , preserved in TFRI; paratypes, 1 6, same collecting data as holotype, slide TFRI00142017 ( TFRI); 1 6, same collecting data, slide TFRI141979 ( TFRI); 1 ♀, Nantou County, Ray-yen, 2220 m, 14-II-2012, leg. S. Wu & W. C. Chang, slide TFRI00138501 ( TFRI).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from L. phahompoki by the zone between forewing orbicular and reniform stigma suffused with brownish scales rather than pale yellow; the dorsal part of abdomen pale yellow rather than brown; the longer and thinner cucullus and the shorter, finer cuneiform process; the less curved aedeagus; the thinner, more tubular proximal part of vesica; the less developed dentate patches of vesica with tubular extension bending dorsal-anteriorly rather than anteriorly when fully everted; the ductus bursae isometric in width rather than constricted medially; the less wrinkled cervix bursae.

Description. Adult ( Figs 7–8 ).

Forewing length 12 mm in males (n= 3); 13 mm in females (n= 1).

Head—2 nd labial palpal segment fringed with dense scales extending anteriorly, 3 rd segment porrect; frons rounded anteriorly; male antennal flagellomeres serrate with long, fasciculate cilia, female antenna filiform.

Thorax—Clothed with brown scales on three segments and dorsal part of tegulae, that of outer lateral side pale yellow. Forewing pale yellow, apex slightly projected; orbicular stigma rounded with brownish margin, reniform stigma narrowly bean-shaped with proximal side marked with brownish scales, zone between orbicular and reniform stigma suffused with brownish scales; postmedial line disconnected, appearing as brown, short, transverse streaks on each vein; marginal line undistinguished, with brownish triangular stigma between M1 and M3; region between 1+2A and tornus brownish, extending toward Cu2 at approximately 1/3 and 3/4 parts of base, respectively. Hindwing ground colour brown, distal part darker than proximal, that of female slightly lighter than in male, discal spot dark brown.

Pregenital abdomen—ochreous with long scales arising from lateral sides, brownish crest present on 1st tergite; basal trifine abdominal coremata (the brush organ) absent.

Male genitalia ( Figs 16 )—Uncus of moderate length, apex flattened dorso-ventrally and spoon-like, arising with hair-scales. Tegumen short and wide, penicular lobes very broad, covered by long hairs; scaphium and subscaphium membranous. Transtillae heavily sclerotized; juxta shield-like with medial part slightly sclerotized and distal part incised proximally. Vinculum medium long, strongly sclerotized; U-shaped, saccus small. Valva slender, apex elongate, tapered apically; harpe triangular, sclerotized; ampulla strongly sclerotized, digitiform; sacculus elongate, strong. Aedeagus medium-long, cylindrical, straight, proximal end slightly sclerotized; vesica T- shaped, three sclerotized dentate plates arising from medial section and a thorn-like cornutus arising from apex of extended diverticulum; tubular extension bending dorsal-anteriorly when fully everted.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 22 )—Ovipositor uniformly wide, apophyses long and thin. Ostium strongly sclerotized, ventral edge straight. Ductus bursae as long as ovipositor and as wide and heavily sclerotized as ostium. Cervix bursae broader and slightly wrinkled. Corpus bursae rounded, without signum.

Distribution and bionomics. This species was taken in mid-elevation (2000–2200m) of northern to central mountain regions in Taiwan, the vegetation of the two collecting localities are primary broad-leaved forests. The adults only found in February.

Etymology. Named after the late Tadao Kano (1906–1945?), one of the famous explorers and pioneering scientists studying on Taiwan natural history.

Figures

FIGURE 1–8. Habitus of Egira and Lithopolia spp. 1. E. conspicillaris (Linnaeus, 1758), male, Hungary (TFRI); 2. Ditto, female, Hungary (TFRI); 3. L. confusa confusa (Wileman, 1914), male, Taiwan (TFRI); 4. Ditto, female, Taiwan (TFRI); 5. L. phahompoki (Hreblay & Ronkay, 1999) comb. nov., male, holotype, N. Thailand (HNHM); 6. Ditto, male, Sichuan, China (CAFM); 7. L. tadaokanoi sp. nov., male, holotype, Taiwan (TFRI); 8. Ditto, female, paratype, Taiwan (TFRI). Bar scale for specimens= 10 mm. Photo: Shipher Wu (1–4, 7–8), Balázs Benedek (5), Alessandro Floriani (6).

FIGURE 9–16. Male genitalia of species of Egira generic group. 9. Egira conspicillaris (Linnaeus, 1758), Hungary (TFRI); 10. E. subterminata (Hampson, 1905), Nepal (NSMT); 11. E. saxea (Leech, 1889), Japan (CBBT); 12. Nepalopolia contaminata (Chang, 1991), Taiwan (TFRI); 13. E. acronyctoides (Wileman, 1914), Taiwan (TFRI); 14. Lithopolia confusa confusa (Wileman, 1914), Taiwan (TFRI); 15. L. phahompoki (Hreblay & Ronkay, 1999) comb. nov., Sichuan, China (CAFM); 16. L. tadaokanoi sp. nov., paratype, Taiwan (TFRI). Photo: Shipher Wu (9, 10, 12–14, 16); Balázs Benedek (11), Alessandro Floriani (15).

FIGURE 17–23. Female genitalia of species of Egira generic group. 17. Egira conspicillaris (Linnaeus, 1758), Hungary (TFRI); 18. E. subterminata (Hampson, 1905), Nepal (NSMT); 19. E. acronyctoides (Wileman, 1914), Taiwan (TFRI); 20. Nepalopolia contaminata (Chang, 1991), Taiwan (TFRI); 21. Lithopolia confusa confusa (Wileman, 1914), Taiwan (TFRI); 22. L. tadaokanoi sp. n., paratype, Taiwan (TFRI); 23. E. saxea (Leech, 1889), Japan (CBBT). Signum pointed by arrow. Photo: Shipher Wu (17–22); Balázs Benedek (23).