Palpifer climoi Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke, 2023

Ignatev, Nikolai, Grehan, John R., Mielke, Carlos G. C., Shih, Li-Cheng & Müller, Günter C., 2023, Three new Chinese species of Palpifer Hampson from the collection of Franz Daniel (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Zootaxa 5284 (2), pp. 322-336 : 327-334

Palpifer climoi Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke , sp. n.

( Fig. 3a–b , 7a–b, 9b , 10b, 10c , 11b, 11c, 11i , 12c , 13g –i , 14d, 15d , 16d, 17d , 19 , 20d , 121d, 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d)

Palpifer sordidus f. notatus ( Daniel 1940: 1024)

Type material. Holotype ♂: Li-Kiang [ China, Lijian, Yunnan , China], Prov. Nord-Yuennan . 9.7.193 4. H. Höne / Palpifer sordidus f. notatus Pf. Det. F. Daniel / ZFMK Lep155603 / ZFMK Lep148047 / Dissection Lep148047 ( ZFMK) / Holotypus, Palpifer climoi ♂, Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke des. 2023

Paratype ♀: / Li-Kiang [Lijiang, Yunnan China] ca. 3000 m, Prov. Nord-Yuennan . 9.7.193 5. H. Höne / ZFMK Lep148048. / Dissection Lep148048 ( ZFMK)/ Paratypus, Palpifer climoi ♀, Ignatev, Grehan & C. Mielke des. 2023. Deposited in the collection of ZFMK .

Diagnosis. The short digitiform arm of the valva in P. climoi sp. n. ( Fig. 14d ) is shared with the Malaysian P. hylandae ( Fig. 22b ), from which it is distinguished by an elongate pseudoteguminal arm apex instead of the broad apex of P. climoi sp. n.

Description. Male. Wingspan (HT): ~ 25 mm; forewing length: 11 mm, width: 5 mm; hindwing length: 9 mm, width: 4 mm.

Head ( Figs 7a, 7b, 9b ): As for P. nielseni sp. n. except that ocular-antenna scales were not observed due to disturbed scale condition of specimen. Antenna with 35 flagellomeres (paratype female Lep148048).

Thorax: Body and legs ( Fig. 12c ) as for P. nielseni sp. n. Dorsal forewing ( Figs 3a , 11i ) with dark patches on outer costa and along outer and dorsal margins; large costal patch on outer costa extending between costal margin and R, two costal patches near apex extending to Rs1; large marginal patch on dorsal margin basal to vein A; discal cells darker shading. Ventral hindwing outer margin with yellowish marginal scales. Male venation ( Fig. 11b ) not markedly different from P. nielseni sp. n.

Pregenital abdomen ( Figs 13g –h ): Tergosternal sclerite and Sternum II not removed with abdominal integument. Tergum II partially recovered, rectangular, lateral ridge present. Tergum VIII sub-triangular, narrowing posteriorly, nearly three times longer than wide, shallow concave lateral margins; sternum VII subrectangular; sternum VIII elongate, subtriangular with almost straight lateral edges ( Fig.13h ).

Genitalia ( Fig. 14d, 15d , 16d, 17d ). Postero-ventral spur of pseudoteguminal rim curved laterally, larger than postero-medial spur; pseudoteguminal arms short, broad, distally sclerotized, oriented medially; digitiform arm of valva about half length of valva blade ( Fig. 14d ), valva blade distally narrowing to blunt, obtuse apex with sharply angled antero-distal tip. Fultura inferior sub-ovoid with laterally convex margins anteriorly and narrow longitudinal ridge ( Fig. 20d ), fultura superior v-shaped.

Female. Wingspan: 35 mm; forewing length: 16 mm, width: 7 mm; hindwing length: 14 mm, width: 7 mm.

Head ( Fig 7b ): inter ocular-antennal scales not observed. Antenna with 35 flagellomeres.

Thorax: Body and legs as for male. Hindwing with two A veins, and without basal forewing scent gland ( Fig. 11c ). Forewing ground colour greyish brown with basal yellowish-white patch and posterior marginal dark spot as in the male, but worn condition precludes further assessment of wing pattern. Hindwing greyish-brown ground colour. Wing margin scales missing.

Pregenital abdomen: Sternum II and tergum II not retrieved intact. Sternum VII narrower than tergum VII, tergum VIII subtriangular, convex margins, wider to posterior, sternum VIII membranous ( Fig. 13i ).

Genitalia ( Fig. 23a–d ): Ductus bursae about double length of corpus bursae, widening to merge with a sub-ovoid corpus bursae without any apparent morphological distinction between the two structures. Corpus bursae with a lateral, sub-ovoid diverticulum ( Fig. 23a ). External genitalia comprising a broad, narrow dorsal plate (tergum IX) with shallow anal papillae; prominent subanal plates meeting at median, separating antrum from the anal region; lamella antevaginalis v-shaped, with medial central process projecting posteriorly, and terminating in narrow, rounded, setose central process ( Figs 23b–d ).

Habitat and Phenology. Habitat unknown, presumed to be forest or adjacent agricultural environments as with some other species ( Grehan & Mielke 2019). Specimens were collected in May, which corresponds to late spring. Yunnan province is situated in the buffer zone of the Indian summer monsoon and the East Asian summer monsoon wet season, generally between May and October, with May 23rd being the average start date with a standard deviation of 15 days (Chen et al. 2015).

Distribution. Known from type locality only ( Fig. 25 ).

Etymology. Named for Frank Climo, a pioneering panbiogeographer who provided material support and encouragement for research by JRG and other panbiogeographers.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Antennae of the new Chinese Palpifer spp. Basal portion only for male of P. climoi sp. n. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 11. Wing venation and forewing patterns of Chinese Palpifer spp. Basal forewing scent gland outlined in red.

FIGURE 12. Chinese Palpifer spp.: legs. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 13. Abdominal sclerites of Chinese Palpifer spp.: P. nielseni sp. n. male a, tergosternal sclerite; b, anterior sclerites; c, posterior sclerites; P. chui sp. n. male d, tergosternal sclerite (hook-shaped spur on dorsal brace of tergosternal sclerite is a positional artefact as the specimen was flattened for microscopic examination); e, anterior segments; f, posterior segments; P. climoi sp. n. male g, anterior segments [sternum II not recovered]; h, posterior segments; i, female posterior segments. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 19. Habitus orientation of male genitalia. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURE 22. Published male genitalia (ventral view) of Palpifer spp. Figs 18a–b from Grehan & Mielke (2019); 18c–d, from Tindale (1942: figs 18–19); 18e from Viette (1968); 18f from Viette (1950).

FIGURE 25. Distribution records of Palpifer. Blue star P. climoi sp. n., red star P. chui sp. n., white star P. nielseni sp. n. Yellow circles, published specimens or photographic records of Palpifer species (see Grehan & Mielke 2019).

FIGURES 1–4. Adults of Chinese species. 1a–d, Palpifer nielseni sp. n., dorsal and ventral for HT; 2, P. chui sp. n., HT dorsal and ventral; 3, P. climoi sp. n., dorsal and ventral for HT; 4, P. hopponis from Taiwan (Jiji, Nantou. 4 March 2020). HT—holotype, PT—paratype. Scale = 10 mm. Figs 1–3 by Nikolai Ingatev, Fig. 4 by Li-Cheng Shih.

FIGURES 5–9. Body structures: Holotype of Palpifer nielseni sp. n.: 5a–b, dorsal and lateral head; 8, lateral body; 9a, labial palp. Holotype of P. chui sp. n.: 6a–b, dorsal and lateral head. Holotype of P. climoi sp. n.: 7a, lateral head, male; 7b, lateral head, female; 9b, labial palp, male. Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURES 14–15. Male genitalia of Chinese Palpifer spp. In ventral and dorsal views. Photos 14c, 15c by Li-Cheng Shih, rest by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURES 16–18. Male genitalia of Chinese Palpifer spp. In ventral and dorsal views. Photos 17c, 17c by Li-Cheng Shih, rest by Nikolai Ignatev.

FIGURES 20–21. Comparison of male genitalia structures of Chinese and Taiwanese Palpifer. Row 19, pseudoteguminal arms; row 20, fultura inferior.

FIGURES 23–24. Female reproductive structures. 23: Palipfer climoi sp. n.: a, internal and external genitalia; b, external genitalia in lateral; c, lateral oblique; and d, posterior views. 24: P. sordida internal and external genitalia, ductus bursae truncated as indicated by dotted lines (from Viette 1950). Photos by Nikolai Ignatev.