Pseudohermenias absimilis Niu et Yu, 2024

Niu, Zehua, Li, Yange, Song, Xueling, Ma, Yanfang & Yu, Haili, 2024, Two new species of tortricid moths (Lepidoptera: Olethreutinae: Olethreutini) injurious to Picea crassifolia in China, Zootaxa 5477 (4), pp. 436-444 : 437-441

Pseudohermenias absimilis Niu et Yu , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:54BF38C9-63F8-419F-9C8A-BA998B83CBCF

( Figs. 1 , 3 , 5 , 7, 7a, 7b , 9 )

Type material. Holotype. m#, [ China] Mt. Nanyang (35.45°N, 103.35°E), Hezheng County, Gansu Province, 24.V.2021, leg. Yanfang Ma, genitalia slide no. SXL20101 . Paratypes: 4m #, 6f#, same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Pseudohermenias absimilis sp. nov. exhibits a distinctive forewing pattern within the Olethreutini, characterized by ambiguous costal strigulae and longitudinal streaks. Consequently, it easily distinguishes from the two previously known species within the genus ( P. ajanensis and P. hercyniana ) and the additional species described in this study ( P. linxica sp. nov.), all of which display clearly defined pairs of costal strigulae and transverse fasciae on the forewing. Male genitalia, P. absimilis sp. nov. shares its closest affinities with P. linxica sp. nov. Both species feature a short neck and two ventral projections medially in the valva. In P. absimilis sp. nov., the socius is a small, rounded patch on the shoulders of the tegumen, the sacculus is dilated, the two ventral projections of the valva are large, with their length approximately equal to the width of the neck, and the presence of cornuti is indicated by a short thorn. Conversely, in P. linxica sp. nov., the socius takes the form of a drooping, short lobe, the sacculus is narrow and not dilated, the two ventral projections of the valva are comparatively small, with their length much less than the width of the neck, and the cornuti consists of a cluster of short spines. In the female genitalia, P. absimilis sp. nov. shares a degree of resemblance with P. hercyniana , notably in the caudally projecting sterigma. However, clear distinctions emerge through the wrinkled and anteriorly widened ductus bursae, along with the presence of a small scobinate signum in P. absimilis sp. nov. It can be easily distinguished by the wrinkled and anteriorly widened ductus bursae, and the small scobinate signum while P. hercyniana is characterized by uniform width ductus bursae and a small cornute signum.

Description. Head ( Fig. 1 ): ocellus well developed; chaetosemata present. Upper frons with projecting scales, brown; lower frons with short scales, pale brown; vertex roughly scaled, pale fuscous. Antenna pale fuscous. Labial palpus ascending or porrect; basal segment creamy white; median segment curved upward, slightly widened towards apex, inner side creamy white, outer side fuscous mixed with pale fuscous; apical segment short, obtuse, concolorous with median segment.

Thorax: mesonotum and tegula pale fuscous; posterior crest distinct, darken fuscous. Hind tibia ( Fig. 3 ) in male not enlarged, with a tuft of pale yellow hair pencil from the base. Forewing ( Fig. 5 ) length 8.0–8.5 mm, elongate triangular, costa weakly arched, apex slightly projecting, termen oblique; upperside pale brown suffused with pale fuscous, costal strigulae obscure to undetectable, without transverse fasciae; with longitudinal streaks of fuscous or dark fuscous running along the veins except for the basal parts of R 3 and R 4, as well as 1A+2A; dorsum fuscous scaled; cilia pale fuscous to dark fuscous; underside fuscous. Hindwing upperside dark fuscous except costal area of forewing overlap white, cubital pecten present, cilia fuscous; underside fuscous.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 ) with tegumen high and narrow, nearly subtriangular in outline. Uncus a hairy, median process, well developed, with a small bilobed apex. Socii rounded patches on shoulders of tegumen, with fine hairs. Gnathos a continuous, spinulose transverse band, weakly sclerotized. Valva slender, roughly straight, with a median constriction, central part narrowed to a distinct neck; basal half dilated ventrally, spindle-shaped, sacculus dilated, sparsely setose, distally projecting into a robust, pointed, and naked process; beyond with a moderately large subtriangular lobe, rounded apex, pointing ventrally, densely setose with along the outer edge and short, curved spines at apex; cucullus clavate-shaped, rounded apex, densely setose. Caulis moderately long, anellus a narrow ring; phallus ( Fig. 7a ) approximately 3/4 times the length of the cucullus, straight, acute apically; cornuti ( Fig. 7b ) a short thorn at the apical part of phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 9 ) with papillae anales elongate subtriangular, narrowing anteriorly. Posterior apophysis slightly longer than anterior apophysis. Sternum 7 with hind margin moderately concave. Sterigma large, including a raised, narrow collar-like, spinulose lamella antevaginalis, and a somewhat broad rectangular, naked lamella postvaginalis, with acute posterolateral corners. Ductus bursae nearly two times of corpus bursae length, with inception of ductus seminalis below colliculum, colliculum short, bipartite, approximately 1/4 length of ductus bursae, remainder membranous, with middle portion wrinkled longitudinally and constricted, anterior half wrinkled transversely and widened. Corpus bursae relatively small, oval, granulated; signum a small patch of depressed scobination.

Distribution. China (Gansu).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin absimilis (= dissimilar), refers to the uncommon forewing pattern exhibited by this species.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Male genitalia of Pseudohermenias absimilis sp. nov. (Holotype, slide no. SXL20101); 7a. Phallus; 7b. Cornuti.

FIGURES 1–2. Heads of Pseudohermenias spp. 1. P. absimilis sp. nov. (Holotype); 2. P. linxica sp. nov. (Holotype).

FIGURES 3–4. Hind legs of Pseudohermenias spp. 3. P. absimilis sp. nov. (Paratype); 4. P. linxica sp. nov. (Paratype).

FIGURES 5–6. Adults of Pseudohermenias spp. 5. P. absimilis sp. nov. (Holotype); 6. P. linxica sp. nov. (Holotype).

FIGURES 9–10. Female genitalia of Pseudohermenias spp. 9. P. absimilis sp. nov. (Paratype, slide no. SXL20099); 10. P. linxica sp. nov. (Paratype, slide no. YWX18365).