Viridistria secreta Behounek & Kononenko, 2012

Behounek, G. & V. S. Kononenko, 2012, A revision of the “ Belciana ” viridipicta (Hampson, 1902) species group with description of a new genus and two new species from East Asia (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae). Revision of Pantheinae, Contribution VII, Zootaxa 3590, pp. 37-50 : 40-41

Viridistria secreta Behounek & Kononenko , sp. n.

( Figs. 12, 13, 26, 32)

References: Speidel & Kononenko 1998: 559, Pl. U:22, male genit.: fig. 38 (‘ Donda’ nr. striatovirens ).

Material examined. Holotype: male, North Vietnam, Cha-pa, Mt. Fan-si-pan, 22˚15ʹN 103˚46ʹE, 1500 – 1800 m, 8 – 28.v.1993 (leg. Siniaev & Simonov)/ Esperiana 6: pl. U, fig. 22/ genit, prep. GU 383 male (coll. WS, later will be deposited in ZSM) ; Paratypes: 1 female with same label, genit. prep. 10267GB (WS); 1 female, North Vietnam, Mt. Fan-si-pan, Cha-pa [Sapa] 1600 – 1800 m, 22˚20ʹN 103˚40ʹE, secondary forest/culture land, 30.iv – 12.vii.1994 (leg. Brechlin & Schintlmeister) / genit. prep. 7352GB (GB) .

Diagnosis. The new species is externally almost undistinguishable from V. viridipicta , but somewhat larger in size, and slightly differs by small details of wing pattern: basal and postbasal fields smaller than in V. viridipicta ; postbasal field less filled with brown; medial shadow somewhat stronger than in V.viridipicta ; reniform and orbicular somewhat more distinct than in V. viridipicta ; submedial line less angled than in V. viridipicta ; postmedial line more smooth than in V. viridipicta ; brown subapical patch more distinct; hindwing pattern with medial line angled opposite anal angle. In the male genitalia it differs from V. viridipicta by somewhat longer valva, less curved uncus, vertical positioned juxta, narrower cucullus and long, stick-like harpe, ending by spine; aedeagus larger, more slender and less curved than in V. viridipicta , vesica tubular, armed with two patches of small to moderate basal cornuti and subapical patch of 6 – 7 very long needle-like cornuti. Female differs by elongate-triangular postvaginal plate, narrower and stronger sclerotised cervix bursae, and elongate shape of corpus bursae. The new species differs from V. thoracica by somewhat smaller size, emerald-green tint of the forewing and elements of wing pattern: less suffused central part of medial field, not extended medial shadow, which is weaker than in V. thoracica , and less brown-filled subterminal field; more intensively brown coloured subapical patch on forewing; medial line of hindwing, angled in tornal angle like in V. thoracica ; subterminal and terminal fields with more developed compared with V. thoracic ) arched green patch on subterminal field and series of green spots in terminal field (in V. thoracica subterminal and terminal field brown, separated by green subterminal line, terminal green patches less expressed). The female genitalia of the new species differ from V. thoracica by deeper membranous antrum, longer postvaginal plate, wider and more quadrangular cervix bursae and elongate-rounded shape of corpus bursae (in V. thoracica and V. viridipicta corpus bursae more rounded).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 12, 13). Wingspan male 43 mm, female 45 mm. Head and thorax green, ground colour of forewing emerald-green; basal and inner fields green with brown dentate patch in costal part; all lines marked in costal area by small brown patches; antemedial line thin, brown, waved; medial field with diffused medial shadow; orbicular small, formed by white borderline, with dark nucleus; reniform green, marked at border with blackish patches and diffused bordering line; vein A1+2 and inner margin in subbasal and medial fields with intensive brown suffusion; submedial line double; subterminal and terminal fields brown with arched green patch on subterminal field and series of green spots in terminal field; terminal line as row of black streaks, cilia brown. Hindwing grey-brownish, basally pale, darker to outer margin, with traceable diffused discal spot and diffused grey pale bordered medial line, which becomes distinct, white and strongly angled near tornal angle and with clear white tornal mark and row of whitish spots along outer margin; cilia brown, pale at base. Male genitalia. ( Fig. 26). Scaphium with sclerotised band, tegumen twice as long as vinculum, with rather broad hairy penicular lobes, uncus rather thin, curved medially (less than in V. viridipicta ), with little apical hook, covered with strong hairs; juxta shield-like, extended basally; valva with strong costa, narrow basally, extended medially, gradually tapering distally with parallel margins in costal fourth and extended cucullus, covered with strong setae; vinculum long, narrow, clasper long, harpe long, stick-like, ending in a spine; aedeagus relatively long, thick, slightly curved subapically; carina band-like, vesica tubular, somewhat extended basally, armed with three patches of cornuti, two subbasal patches formed by strong small and moderate spine-like cornuti, subapical patch formed by 6 – 7 very long needle-like cornuti. Female genitalia. ( Fig. 32). Papillae anales quadrangular, relatively short; apophyses anteriores and posteriores thin, rather short, almost equal in length; antrum weakly sclerotised, with triangular-elongate antevaginal plate, smoothly cut on distal margin; ductus bursae rather short, membranous; cervix bursae wide, sclerotised, ribbed, quadrangular; corpus bursae elongate with sclerotised caudal part, having weakly sclerotised appendix bursae; ductus seminalis arises from appendix bursae.

Etymology. The name “ secreta ” indicates the hidden position of the new species.

Distribution (Map 34:3). North Vietnam. The species is known only from its type-locality, Fan-si-pan Mt. near Chapa in Lao Cai Prov. in North Vietnam. It occurs in primary and secondary forests at an elevation of 1500 – 1800 m.