Phragmatobia amurensis edita, Müller & Saldaitis & Volynkin, 2024

Müller, Günter C., Saldaitis, Aidas & Volynkin, Anton V., 2024, Phragmatobia amurensis edita, a new subspecies from Shaanxi Province, China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 71, pp. 130-138 : 131-138

Phragmatobia amurensis edita ssp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8A59B8CD-093E-4489-A6D1-F47B9A49951B

( Figs 1–5 , 15 , 20 , 23 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 15 , 20 ): male, “ China / Shaanxi prov. | Tai bai shan Mts. (S) | Tsinling- Mts., Houzbenzi | 33°53'N; 107°49'E, 1600m | June 1999. leg. loc. coll.; ex” / “Slide | AV6536 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( WIGJ).

Paratypes. CHINA: 2 males, same data as holotype ( GMF-B) ; 1 female, the same locality as previous, IV.2000, 1500m, Sinyaev & Co. leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-359 (female) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 3 specimens, Shaanxi, Tai Bai Shan, Houzhenzi , 1800m, April 1995 ( GMF-B) ; 3 specimens, same data as previous but May 1995 ( GMF-B) ; 19 specimens, same data as previous but June 1995 ( GMF-B) ; 7 specimens, same data as previous but August 1995 ( GMF-B) ; 3 specimens, same data as previous but September 1995 ( GMF-B) ; 1 male, Shaanxi, San Tai Shan , 100 km SE Xi An, 33°42'N 109°37'E, 15– 18.VII.2008, 1600m ( GMF-B) .

Diagnosis. All subspecies of P. amurensis ( Figs 1–10 ) differ from P. fuliginosa ( Figs 11, 12 ) and P. placida ( Figs 13, 14 ) in the somewhat shorter and broader forewing with darker ground colour. The male genitalia of P. amurensis ( Figs 15–17 ) are distinct from P. fuliginosa ( Fig. 18 ) and P. placida ( Fig. 19 ) due to the shorter distal section of the valva, the narrower phallus with markedly shorter carinae, the considerably narrower vesica bearing a dorsal subbasal cluster of short but broad cornuti (absent in the similar species), and the shorter and narrower outer field of finer scobination. Most specimens of the new subspecies ( Figs 1, 2, 5 ) can easily be distinguished from two other subspecies of P. amurensis ( Figs 6–10 ) by the intense blackish suffusion on the most part of the hindwing except for the antemedial and medial areas between the anal margin and the veins A1 and A2 remaining salmon pink. Some specimens of P. amurensis edita ssp. n. ( Figs 3, 4 ) lack the aforementioned blackish suffusion but their hindwing pink ground colour is remarkably more intense than in P. amurensis amurensis ( Figs 9, 10 ) and P. amurensis japonica ( Figs 6–8 ). The shapes of the 7 th male abdominal segments of the three subspecies are also diagnostic ( Figs 20–22 ) and those of P. amurensis edita ssp. n. are most similar to P. amurensis japonica but are somewhat shorter and narrower. The male genital capsule of P. amurensis edita ssp. n. ( Fig. 15 ) is most similar to P. amurensis japonica ( Fig. 16 ) and differs only in the somewhat shorter and apically narrower vinculum and the proximally broader uncus. Compared to P. amurensis amurensis ( Fig. 17 ), the new subspecies has a somewhat narrower valva, a slightly broader juxta and a proximally broader uncus. The phalli of P. amurensis edita ssp. n. and the nominate subspecies are alike while that of P. amurensis japonica has carinal plates more robust than in the two other subspecies. The vesica of the new subspecies is most similar to P. amurensis amurensis but has somewhat larger cornuti in the dorsal subbasal diverticulum. Compared to P. amurensis amurensis , the vesica of P. amurensis edita ssp. n. is narrower, has a smaller ventral subbasal diverticulum, and somewhat larger cornuti in the dorsal subbasal diverticulum. The female genitalia of the new subspecies ( Fig. 23 ) display more substantial differences from P. amurensis amurensis ( Figs 25, 26 ) and P. amurensis japonica ( Fig. 24 ) and are characterised by the shorter but broader antrum with more convex lateral margins, and the markedly narrower antevaginal plate with a deeper medial depression.

Description. Adults ( Figs 1–5 ). Antenna off-white proximally and medially and blackish distally, serrulate in male and filiform in female. Head and thorax brown. Forewing ground colour brown with reddish suffusion, darker in male. Pattern represented by black rounded discal spot on the bases of veins M 1–3, and zigzagged and diffuse, blackish subterminal fascia. Hindwing ground colour intense salmon pink, in most specimens with intense black suffusion medially and distally. Discal spot interrupted into two black dashes along outer margins of cell. Abdomen brownish-red with black spots on each segment dorsally and laterally. Male genitalia ( Fig. 15 ). Uncus robust, triangular, proximally swollen. Arms of tegumen dilated posteriorly. Vinculum longer than tegumen, with large posterior lobes, V-shaped and apically rounded. Valva elongate and narrow, with almost parallel margins, distally tapered. Harpe asymmetrically trapezoidal with larger dorsal part and rounded corners, situated postmedially. Phallus heavily sclerotised, narrow, as long as tegumen-vinculum complex, with elongate and apically rounded coecum. Carina with dentate plates dorsally and ventrally. Vesica ca. half of phallus length, downcurved, with granulose scobination along its outer side, and semiglobular dorsal subbasal diverticulum covered with short but robust, basally dilated cornuti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 20 ). Papilla analis trapezoidal with rounded corners, weakly setose. Apophyses long and thin, anterior one shorter and thicker than posterior one. Postvaginal plate short and narrow, shield-like. Ostium bursae nearly as broad as 8 th abdominal segment. Antevaginal plate short, trapezoidal with deep medial incision. Lateral subostial lobes short and rounded. Antrum longer than ovipositor, heavily sclerotised, dorso-ventrally flattened and with convex lateral margins. Posterior section of corpus bursae heavily sclerotised and rugose. Anterior section of corpus bursae globular, membranous with two rounded and serrulate signa. Appendix bursae originates postero-ventrally, proximally conical, sclerotised and rugose, and with strongly dilated, elliptical membranous distal section.

Distribution. The new subspecies is currently known from Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province, China at altitudes of 1500–1800m.

Phenology. The imagoes examined were collected from April to June and from August to September, suggesting that the new subspecies is bivoltine.

Etymology. The new subspecies is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Edita E. Revay, a dedicated medical entomologist and environmentalist, the beloved wife of the senior author, and his most enthusiastic travel companion in numerous entomological expeditions.

Acknowledgements

The third author expresses his sincere thanks to the following colleagues for their kind assistance during visiting collections under their care: Axel Hausmann, Mei-Yu Chen and Ulf Buchsbaum (ZSM); Alberto Zilli and Geoff Martin (NHMUK).

References

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Figures

Figures 1–8. Phragmatobia amurensis sspp.: adults, dorsal view. Depositories of the specimens: 1 in WIGJ (ex GMF-B); 2–4 in GMF-B; 5 and 8 in MWM/ZSM; 6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 7 in ASV.

Figures 15–17. Phragmatobia amurensis sspp.: male genitalia, ventral view. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 15 in WIGJ (ex GMF-B); 16 and 17 in ASV.

Figures 20–22. Phragmatobia amurensis sspp.: distal abdominal segments of males. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 20 in WIGJ (ex GMF-B); 21 and 22 in ASV.

Figures 23–26. Phragmatobia amurensis sspp.: female genitalia, ventral view. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 9–14. Phragmatobia spp.: adults, dorsal view. Depositories of the specimens: 9 in ASV; 10–14 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 18–19. Phragmatobia spp.: male genitalia, ventral view. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.