Hyperstrotia aetheria (Grote, 1879)

Han, Hui-Lin, 2011, Strotihypera, a new Old World genus of the tribe Elaphriini (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae), Zootaxa 3116, pp. 59-68 : 67

Hyperstrotia aetheria (Grote, 1879)

( Figs. 4, 5 , 12 , 16 , 17)

Thalpochares aetheria Grote, 1879 , North American Entomologist 1: 47 (Type-locality: USA, Florida, Tampa [Holotype: female, BMNH, London].

Material examined. Type of Thalpochares aetheria , female labelled as: Thalpochares aetheria Moore Type / Grote Coll. 82-54/ Tampa Fla 12.4/ Type / Agrotidae genitalia slide No. 1183 ( BMNH, London); 1 male, 1 female, USA, Florida, genit. prep. 15433 male and 15433 female ( CNC, Ottawa); 1 female, Florida: Marion Co, Oscala National Forest, Forest Road 97, 0.5 Miles S of SR 316, Sand Pine Schrub, Aug 17 2007, MV Terhune S. Duckel ( CNC, Ottawa).

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs. 4, 5 ) Wingspan 18 – 20 mm. Externally H. aetheria looks somewhat similar to Old World Maliattha spp. ( Eustrotiinae ). Ground colour of forewing whitish with greyish suffusion in medial part; wing pattern formed by whitish area in costal part and wide oblique greyish suffusion from subapical part of costa to the base of wing; submedial and antemedial lines thin, black; costal area in antemedial and postmedial fields with distinct black marks; lower part of medial, subbasal and basal fields greyish-brown suffusion; orbicular not expressed, reniform as black dot; Subterminal and terminal fields greyish in costal area with whitish dashes; subterminal line as row of black streaks; cilia grey. Hindwing uniformly yellowish-grey. In male genitalia ( Fig. 12 ) tegument high, narrow, uncus thin, moderate; the valves are fused basally, sacculus broad, costa with medial extension; the valves are apically divided. Aedeagus relatively short, with the vesica scobinated and full of pouches. In female genitalia ( Figs 16, 17 ) ovipositor rather broad, apophyses anteriores about 2 times shorter tan anterior ones; antrum with wide antevaginal plate; ductus bursae rather broad, sclerotised; bursa ovoid, filled internally with small spines; ductus seminalis is pigtail-like (characteristic of so many Erebid groups).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Imagines. 1. Strotihypera flavipuncta, male, South Korea (NIAST); 2. Elaphria venustula, male, Russia, S Ural (coll. K. Nupponen); 3. Galgula partita, male, Portugal, Madeira (coll. M. Fibiger); 4. Hyperstrotia aetheria, male, USA, Florida (CNC); 5. Hyperstrotia aetheria, female, type of Thalpochares aetheria USA, Florida (BMNH); 6. Ditto, type labels; 7. Strotihypera flavipuncta, wings venation; 8. Elaphria venustula, wings venation

FIGURES 9 – 12. Male genitalia. 9. Strotihypera flavipuncta, South Korea, genit. prep. 5038 (NIAST); 10. Elaphria venustula, North China, genit. prep. HHL- 1281 - 1 (NEFU); 11. Galgula partita, Portugal, Azores, genit. prep. 5492 MF (coll. M. Fibiger); 12. Hyperstrotia aetheria, USA, Florida, genit. prep. 15433.

FIGURES 13 – 17. Female genitalia. 13. Strotihypera flavipuncta, North China, genit. prep. HHL- 1279 - 2 (NEFU); 14. Elaphria venustula North China, genit. prep. HHL- 1280 - 2 (NEFU); 15. Galgula partita, USA, New York, genit. prep. 5493 MF (coll. M. Fibiger); 16. Type of Thalpochares aetheria, USA, Florida, genit prep. 1183 (BMNH); 17. Hyperstrotia aetheria, USA, Florida, genit. prep. 15434 (CNC).