Agrisius frater sp. n.

(Figs 21, 22, 37, 45)

Type material. Holotype (Figs 21, 37): male, “ China / Shaanxi, Daba Shan, 1000–1700m, 32°14′N, 108°34′E, Shou-Man vil., 15 VI –15. VII 2000 leg. Siniaev [recte: Sinyaev] & Plutenko” / “Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 35.773 Museum Witt München” (MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. CHINA: SHAANXI: 16 males, 36 females, C Tsinling Mts.: 1500 m, 50 km N Ningshan town, 33°44′N, 108°26′E, VI.2000, Sinyaev & Plutenko leg. , gen. prep. No.: MWM 35.772 (male), MWM 33.893 (female) ; 3 males, 1 female, Tapaishan Mts. (S), Tsinling Mts., Houbenzi, 33°51′N, 107°49′E, 1600 m, 1–12.VIII.1999, Dr. R. Brechlin leg. ; 4 males, 14 females, Tai bai shan Mts. (S), Tsinling Mts., Houzhenzi, 33°53′N, 107°49′E, 1600 m, VI.1996, loc. coll. leg., ex coll. Dr. R. Brechlin; 2 males, the same locality as previous but 1500 m, VI.2002, local collector leg., gen. prep. No.: MWM 33.888; 2 females, the same locality and collector as previous but Summer 1999; 2 females, the same locality and collector as previous but VII.1999; 1 female, the same locality and collector as previous but VIII.2001; 1 male, 1 female, Taibai Shan Mts., 33°53′N, 107°49′E, IV.2000, 1500 m, leg. Siniaev & Co. ; 7 males, 14 females, China / Shaanxi, Daba Shan, 1000–1700 m, 32°14′N, 108°34′E, Shou-Man vil., 15. VI.–15.VII.2000, Sinyaev & Plutenko leg. ; 1 male, China / Shaanxi, Daba Shan, 1800 m, 15 km S ShouMan vill., 32°08′N, 108°37′E, Summer 2000, local coll. leg .; 1 male, China / Shaanxi, Tapa Shan, 900–1000 m, 20–24.VII.2001, 32°56′N, 109°25′E, local collector leg., gen. prep. No.: 33.887 (all in MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 21.0–22.0 mm in both sexes. The species is largely reminiscent of externally to A. vernalis and A. aestivalis, and the reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia. The male genital capsule of the new species is most similar to A. aestivalis but differs in the basally thicker branches of the uncus and the shorter dorsal process of the sacculus. The phalli of the two species are very similar but the cornutus of A. frater is slightly smaller than in A. aestivalis . In the female genitalia of A. frater, the postvaginal plate is somewhat narrower and markedly shorter than in A. aestivalis, the antrum is conspicuously narrower anteriorly, and the medial section of the corpus bursae is narrower.

Distribution. The new species is known from Shaanxi Province, North-West China.

Etymology. In Latin, ‘frater’ means ‘a brother’. The specific epithet refers to the close similarity of the new species to A. aestivalis .