Dichagyris forficula chitralensis, Tang & Zhang & Guo & Luo & Jiang & Pan, 2023

Tang, Jin, Zhang, Gongaote, Guo, Junqi, Luo, Lingxuan, Jiang, Jiamei & Pan, Hongbo, 2023, Contributions To The Taxonomy And Biogeography Of The Genus Dichagyris (Subg. Dichagyris) Lederer, 1867 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae) Ii. The Review Of The D. Forficula Species Group, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 69 (3), pp. 265-301 : 281

Dichagyris forficula chitralensis ssp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ A0225EA5-B090-4595-90AB-7DC1BD41728B ( Figs 21–24 , 50, 51 )

Holotype: male, NW-Pakistan, 3 km NW of Garam Chasma , 2600 m, 36°05’N, 71°22’E, Nr. 24, 23.VI.1992, leg. M. Hreblay & G. Csorba, slide No. VZ 9097m (coll. RG).

Paratypes. Pakistan. 6 males, 6 females with same data as holotype, MHNG ENTO 21247 , 21276 , 21279 , 21280 (coll. RG and NHMG) ; 2 males, 5 km E of Buni , 2200 m, 72°10’N, 72°03’E, 22. VI .1992, leg. M. Hreblay & G. Csorba, MHNG ENTO 21241 (coll. RG and MHNG) . Slide Nos VZ9960 (male) , VZ10022 (female).

Diagnosis. This subspecies D. forficula is most similar externally to the formerly described one due to the elongate shape and acute apex of forewings, however, these traits appear here in a more extreme form. Head, thorax and forewings are more unicolorous dark fuscous-grey with faint maculation and obsolescent blackish brown crosslines. Abdomen and hindwings are only slightly lighter. The expanse of both sexes are similar (38–40 mm).

The male genitalia ( Figs 50, 51 ) are generally similar to those of the typical D. forficula , the valvae are, however, proportionally more elongate comparing to the relatively short clasper. Vesica projected ventrally and completely returned helicoidally, the subbasal diverticulum bears one or two needle-shaped cornuti.

In the female genitalia, the antrum is relatively weakly sclerotised and the appendix bursae is only slightly shorter and more saccate than the bursa.

Distribution. This subspecies, known in a few specimens only, seems to be confined to certain medium-high altitude areas in the eastern part of the Hindukush range.

Etymology. The name refers to the region of the type locality in Northern Pakistan.

Figures

Figs 17–24. Dichagyris forficula sspp. 17–20 = D. forficula pseudoturana ssp. n.: 17–18 = paratype, females, Afghanistan, Paghman Mts; 19 = paratype, male, Pakistan, Quetta; 20 = paratype, female, Pakistan Quetta. 21–24 = D. forficula chitralensis ssp. n., paratypes, Pakistan: 21–22 = males, 23–24 = females

Figs 50–52. Male genitalia of Dichagyris spp. 50–51 = D. forficula chitralensis ssp. n., Pakistan, Garam Chasma: 50 = holotype, male, slide No.: VZ9097m; 51 = paratype, male, slide No.: VZ9960m. 52 = D. turana turana (Staudinger, 1892), holotype, Uzbekistan, Margelan, slide No.: Boursin MB359m