Euchalcia eos Saldaitis, Volynkin & Benedek, 2019

Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V. & Benedek, Balázs, 2019, A new Euchalcia Hübner, [1821] from Qinghai, China (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 4706 (3), pp. 497-500 : 497-499

Euchalcia eos Saldaitis, Volynkin & Benedek sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 , 5, 7 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 5 ): m#, China, Qinghai, 30 km North West of Zadoi City , 4500–5000 m, 21–24.VII.2000 [leg. M. Kopp], slide AV4903 ♂ Volynkin (Coll. WIGJ).

Paratype: ♀, same data as in the holotype, slide AV4904 ♀ Volynkin (Coll. AFM) .

Diagnosis. Euchalcia eos is similar to E. gerda , E. caelestissima and E. serraticornis . Externally, the new species ( Figs 1, 2 ) most resembles E. gerda ( Figs 3, 4 ) from which, however, it differs by its slightly larger size, more elongated forewing with pinkish suffusion (in E. gerda forewing is shorter, more broadened and bronze ochreous), its more diffuse pattern (in E. gerda the pattern is more sharp), paler, reddish brown stigmata (those are blackish grey in E. gerda ), the absence of a large spot between the veins M 3 and Cu 1 in the marginal area (present in E. gerda ), and the pale brown hindwing with slight pinkish irroration (that is pale brown with grey suffusion in E. gerda ). Compared to other two related species, E. serraticornis (Illustrated by Ronkay et al. 2008) and E. caelestissima (Illustrated by Ronkay et al. 2008), E. eos has the more elongated forewing with an intense pinkish suffusion (that is sometimes present only in E. serraticornis , but is less intense), and the much narrower medial area. The male clasping apparatus ( Fig. 5 ) differs clearly from that of other relatives (illustrated by Ronkay et al. 2008) by the narrower valvae with nearly parallel dorsal and ventral margins. Compared to that of E. gerda ( Fig. 6 , and Ronkay et al. (2008): gen. fig. 44), the valva of E. eos ( Fig. 5 ) is narrower, its distal half has nearly parallel dorsal and ventral margins, and its apex is more or less rectangular, whereas in E. gerda the valva apex is broadened and rounded. The vesica of E. eos ( Fig. 5 ) differs from E. gerda ( Fig. 6 ) by its smaller proximal cornuti, and the slightly shorter and narrower medial section with the terminal cornutus having a slightly broader basal plate. The female genitalia of E. eos ( Fig. 7 ) differ from those of E. gerda ( Fig. 8 ) by the broader and slightly longer ductus bursae; from E. caelestissima (illustrated by Ronkay et al. 2008) they differ by the narrowed posterior end of the ductus bursae; from E. serraticornis (Illustrated by Ronkay et al. 2008) they differ by the narrowed posterior end of the ductus bursae and the absence of the membranous posterior ring in the ductus bursae present in E. serraticornis .

Description. Adult ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length is 17.5 mm in male and 18 mm in female. Wingspan 37 mm in male and 38 mm in female. Antennae of both sexes weakly serrate, with shorter lamellae in female. Head and thorax bronze brown with pinkish suffusion; abdomen ochreous brown. Forewing ground color pale brown with strong pinkish suffusion. Ante- and postmedial lines thin, ochreous yellow; antemedial line angled posteriorly; postmedial line smoothly S-curved. Medial area dark, bronze brown. Subterminal line slightly irregularly wavy, pale yellowish; postmedial area with bronze shade inwards of the subterminal line; terminal area with large bronze spot at apex; stigmata bark brownish grey; cilia pale ochreous brown with bronze spots at apex and opposite the veins. Hindwing pale brown with slight pinkish irroration; dark grey suffusion in terminal and medial areas; discal spot diffuse, thin, semilunar; cilia pale brown with an admixture of dark grey scales. Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Uncus robust, elongated, strongly curved, apically pointed; tegumen broad, shorter than valva; juxta broad, shield-like, with long conical apical process; vinculum short, V-shaped. Valva narrow particularly basally, its medial and distal parts with parallel margins; ampulla thin, straight, elongated, protrudes beyond the costal margin. Aedeagus large, broad; basal section of vesica spherical, with weak granulation basally and transverse row of 11 weak, spine-like cornuti; medial section of vesica tubular, weakly granulated, strongly elongated, curved dorsally, its apex bears a thorn-like cornutus on broad basal plate; distal section of vesica narrow, tubular. Female genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Ovipositor short, conical. Papillae anales rectangular with rounded corners; apophyses of equal length, long, thin. Ostium bursae narrow, its margins rugose; ductus bursae strongly elongated, heavily sclerotized, longitudinally rugose, posteriorly narrowed; corpus bursae ovoid, membranous, shorter than ductus bursae; appendix bursae membranous, short, conical, situated postero-laterally.

Distribution. Euchalcia eos is currently only known from its type locality in the province of Qinghai, China. Etymology. In Greek mythology, Eos is a Titaness and goddess of the dawn. The species name refers to the strong pinkish suffusion on its wings.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Euchalcia spp.: adults. 1, E. eos, holotype m#, China, Qinghai (WIGJ); 2, E. eos, paratype f#, China, Qinghai (AFM); 3, E. gerda, m#, China, Qinghai (PGM, photo by P. Gyulai); 4, E. gerda, f#, China, Qinghai (PGM, photo by P. Gyulai).

FIGURES 5–8. Euchalcia spp.: male (5, 6) and female (7, 8) genitalia. 5, E. eos, holotype, China, Qinghai, slide AV4903m# Volynkin; 6, E. gerda, China, Qinghai, slide GYP1229 Gyulai (photo by P. Gyulai); 7, E. eos, paratype, China, Qinghai, slide AV4904f# Volynkin; 8, E. gerda, China, Qinghai, slide RL9473 Ronkay (photo by L. Ronkay).