Eutelia adoratrix platinea, Zlatkov & Beshkov & Huemer, 2021

Zlatkov, Boyan, Beshkov, Stoyan & Huemer, Peter, 2021, New Noctuoidea taxa from the Silver Coast of Bulgaria (Insecta: Lepidoptera), Ecologica Montenegrina 46, pp. 98-119 : 101-105

Eutelia adoratrix platinea ssp. n.

Holotype. ♂, pinned, genitalia on slide, with 3 printed labels: “ BULGARIA, N Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape , Bolata area // 40 m N43.3845° E28.4692° // 29.v.2019 // leg. B. Zlatkov, O. Sivilov & R. Bekchiev” “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♂ // No. 1/ 17.12.2020 ” “ HOLOTYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021” [red cardboard], genitalia slide with 2 labels: “ HOLOTYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix // platinea Zlatkov, // Beshkov & Huemer, 2021 // Bulgaria, N Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape, Bolata area // 40 m N43.3845° E28.4692° // 29.v.2019 // leg. B. Zlatkov, O. Sivilov & R. Bekchiev” [red paper] “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♂ // No. 1/ 17.12.2020 // B. Zlatkov 2020 Euparal” ( NMNHS)

Paratypes. 1 ♂, pinned, with two printed labels: “ Bulgaria, N Black Sea Coast // Bolata near Cape Kaliakra // 42m, N43.3876, E028.4725 // 11.vi.2019 // leg. S. Beshkov & A. Nahirnić ” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021” [red cardboard] ( NMHM) ; 1 ♀, ibid. ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♀, the same two labels and additional: “ BCBZ 0492 ” ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♂, pinned, with two printed labels: “ Bulgaria, N Black Sea // Coast S slopes of Cape // Kaliakra, Kavarna district // 69m, N43.3811, E028.4507 // 12.vi.2019, S. Beshkov // & A. Nahirnić leg.” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021” [red cardboard] ( TLMF) ; 3 ♀, ibid. ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♀, the same two labels and additional printed: “ BCBZ 0493 ” ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♀, pinned, with two printed labels: “ Bulgaria, Black Sea Coast // Balgarevo, Dalboka area // 80 m N43.3994° E28.3963° // 15.viii.2011, light // leg. B. Zlatkov & O. Sivilov ” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021” [red cardboard] ( PCPG) ; 1 ♀, pinned, genitalia on slide, the same two labels and additional printed: “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♀ // No. 1/ 12.1.2021 ”, genitalia slide with two labels: “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix // platinea Zlatkov , // Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021 // BULGARIA, Black Sea coast // Balgarevo, Dalboka area // 80 m N43.3994° E28.3963° // 15.viii.2011, light // leg. B. Zlatkov & O. Sivilov ” [red paper] “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♀ // No. 1/ 12.1.2021 // B. Zlatkov 2021 Euparal” ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♂, pinned, genitalia on slide, the same two labels and additional printed: “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♂ // No. 2/ 17.12.2020 ”, genitalia slide with two labels: “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix // platinea Zlatkov , // Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021 // BULGARIA, Black Sea coast // Balgarevo, Dalboka area // 80 m N43.3994° E28.3963° // 15.viii.2011, light // leg. B. Zlatkov & O. Sivilov ” [red paper] “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♂ // No. 12/ 17.12.2020 // B. Zlatkov 2021 Euparal” ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♀, pinned, genitalia on slide, with 3 printed labels: “ BULGARIA, N Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape , Bolata area // 40 m N43.3845° E28.4692° // 29.v.2019 // leg. B. Zlatkov, O. Sivilov & R. Bekchiev ” “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♀ // No. 1/ 15.1.2021 ” “ Paratypus // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard], genitalia slide with 2 labels: “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix // platinea Zlatkov, // Beshkov & Huemer, // 2021 // BULGARIA, N Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape, Bolata area // 40 m N43.3845° E28.4692° // 29.v.2019 // leg. B. Zlatkov, O. Sivilov & R. Bekchiev” [red paper] “ NMNHS // Gen. prep. // ♀ // No. 1/ 15.1.2021 // B. Zlatkov 2021 Euparal” ( NMNHS) ; 1 ♂, pinned, with 2 printed labels: “ BULGARIA, Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape, Bolata area // 40 m N43.3861° E28.4725° // 26.vi.2017 // leg. B. Zlatkov & D. Chobanov ” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard] ( TLMF) ; 1 ♂, pinned, with 2 printed labels: “ BULGARIA, Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape, Bolata area // 40 m N43.3861° E28.4725° // 3.vi.2017 // leg. B. Zlatkov, D. Kaynarov & J. Kamacho ” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard] ( HNHM) ; 1 ♀, pinned, with 2 printed labels: “NE Bulgaria, Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra Cape, UTM: PJ10 // 60 m N43°22’45” E28°27’14” // 24.VIII.2012, at light // leg. B. Zlatkov & O. Sivilov ” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard] ( PCPG) ; 1 ♀, ibid. ( IBER) ; 1 ♀, pinned, with 2 printed labels: “ Bulgaria, N Black Sea Coast // between Balchik and // Kavarna towns, between the // sea and Topola Village // 40m, N43.4158° E28.2831° // 08.VI.2003, S. Beshkov // & Ph. Fastre leg.” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard] ( NMNHS) ; 2 ♂, pinned, with 2 printed labels: “ BULGARIA, N Black Sea Coast // Kaliakra cape // 70 m N43°22’45’’ E28°27’14’’ // 4. V.2012, at light // leg. B. Zlatkov & O. Sivilov ” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard] ( IBER) ; 2 ♀, pinned, with two printed labels: “ Bulgaria, N Black Sea // Coast, S slopes of Cape // Kaliakra, Kavarna district // 73 m, N43.38065, E028.45163 // 20.VIII.2021, S. Beshkov // & A. Nahirnić- Beshkova leg.” “ PARATYPUS // Eutelia adoratrix platinea // Zlatkov, Beshkov & Huemer, 2021” [red cardboard] ( NMNHS) .

Eutelia adoratrix (Staudinger, 1892) is reported in Bulgaria from single localities in the south-western part of the country, summarized in Beshkov (2000). In Europe it is presented in the Balkan Peninsula south of Bulgaria and along the Dalmatian coast, as well as in Crimea ( Fibiger et al. 2010). All specimens examined by the present authors from south-western Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Greece, Albania, Turkey and Iran are obfuscated like the nominotypical Eutelia adoratrix (Type locality: Beyrouth [ Lebanon]). From the Silver Coast Eutelia adoratrix is mentioned for the first time in Abadjiev & Beshkov (2007). Later on Beshkov (2017) reported and illustrated a couple of the unusual Eutelia adoratrix specimens and stated that “specimens from the Black Sea coast differ in colour, being unusually light and bright – a characteristic of the fauna of the Balchik-Kavarna area”. Coordinates and collecting data there are confused, they are corrected here.

Derivatio nominis. Derived from the chemical element platinum (Pt), a silver-white precious metal, reflecting the pale background colour of the wings of the new taxon. The word is Latinised (from platinum, derived from the Spanish term platino) and should be treated as a feminine adjective in nominative.

Description

Adult ( Fig. 1 A–E). Sexual dimorphism detected only in antennae. Head. Frons and vertex covered with beige scales with white tips. Antennae in males with basal ca. 0.75 length plumose, the rest filiform; in female whole antennae filiform. Labial palps porrect, basal palpomere pale brown with black line distally, medial and distal palpomeres white with brown suffusion. Proboscis well-developed. Thorax. Dorsally and ventrally covered with beige scales with white tips. Patagia with black basal line. Legs pale brown with white annulations distally on tibiae and tarsomeres. Wings: Forewing length in males 12.9–13.7 mm (mean 13.3 ± 0.3, n=8), in females 11.9–13.5 mm (mean 12.7 ± 0.4, n=12); upperside background pale brown to whitish with darker basal and terminal areas; basal area pale brown with reddish suffusion, antemedial line whitish, doubled, with grey brown parallel lines within and black border distally; postmedial line distinct, doubled, whitish, with grey brown lines within, basally bordered with black, with parallel brown line basally; median fascia absent; subterminal line white, interrupted with grey and reddish scales; termen pale ash grey; reniform stigma white, indistinct, other stigmata absent; terminal line white; cilia whitish, spotted with dark grey and pale brown; underside pale grey with white costa, postmedial line distinct, dark grey, subterminal line white, expressed in anal angle area, discal spot well defined. Hindwing upperside white, with broad dark grey marginal area; discal spot reduced; transverse line whitish; terminal line white, cilia whitish, spotted with dark grey; underside with distinct black discal spot, grey postmedial line and reddish brown subterminal line. Abdomen. Pale grey. Male genitalia ( Fig. 2 A): uncus anchor-shaped, with acute arms, tegumen narrow, juxta cup-shaped, vinculum broad and short; valvae short, subtriangular, costal margin with bar-shaped editum, sacculus very large, with long parallel-sided setose process, cucullus short and broad, reversed triangular, apex and subventral crest setose; phallus ( Fig. 3 A, B) straight, tubular, vesica not distinctly separated from phallic tube, with five diverticula, short cylindrical basal part and longer apical part curved to right; ductus ejaculatorius inserted at left, with peg-like cornutus in middle area dorsally and two small conical diverticula dorsally and ventrally at insertion area. Basal part of vesica with thickened longitudinally plicate cuticle on left side and narrow belt of numerous short cornuti at right side; apical part of vesica bears short wide diverticulum pointed apically and ending with large curved cornutus, and small lateral diverticulum. Female genitalia ( Fig. 4 A): ovipositor shortly conical, papillae anales round, densely setose, apophyses posteriores fine, with medium length; eighth segment sclerotised, with complex lateral double pouches; ostium bursae (antrum) funnel-shaped, with lateral invaginations; posterior part of ductus bursae sclerotised, anterior part membranous, appendix bursae membranous, bending ventrally and directed to left, terminating in ductus seminalis; posterior part of corpus bursae coiled, with sclerotised lateral walls, fundus bursae ovoid, membranous, with smaller and larger hemispherical signa on left side with sharp spiculi.

Variation. Specimens with more or less paler forewing upperside background.

Diagnose

The new taxon can be easily recognised from the nominotypical one by the pale, often whitish background of the body and wings; in ssp. adoratrix it is dark tobacco-brown; E. adoratrix platinea ssp. n. is with much more contrast wing pattern. Minor differences in male genitalia can be detected: the plate of sacculus is narrower and parallel-sided in E. adoratrix platinea ssp. n., while in E. adoratrix adoratrix it is wider and widened distally. The female genitalia are indistinguishable at a subspecific level.

Molecular data

Eutelia adoratrix platinea ssp. n. cannot be separated from the nominotypical subspecies by DNA barcode ( Fig. 5) and clusters in the same BIN: BOLD:AEF9213. The intraspecific average distance of the barcode region in E. adoratrix is 0.17%, the maximum distance 0.34% (p-dist) (n=5). The minimum distance to the nearest European neighbour E. adulatrix is 4.52%.

Biology and habitat

Steep slopes along the sea coast between Topola Village and Bolata area ( Fig. 12 A). E. adoratrix platinea ssp. n. is not found in the area between Balchik Town and Touzlata where the majority of the endemic forms for the Silver Coast occur. The moths fly from the beginning of May (4.v.2012) to the third decade of August (24.viii.2012) and are attracted to artificial light in the first hours of the darkness. Pre-imaginal stages not known.