Viridistria viridipicta ( Hampson, 1902 ) Behounek & V.S.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 : 39-40

Viridistria viridipicta ( Hampson, 1902) , comb. n.

( Figs. 10, 11, 25, 31)

Ancara viridipicta Hampson, 1902 . The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 14, 2: 202. Holotype: male: India, Meghalaya, Khasis [BMNH, London]).

References: Hampson 1908: 254 ( Belciana ); Yoshimoto 1994: 95, Pl. 83:1 ( Belciana striatovirens , misident.); 1998:45 ( Belciana striatovirens , misident.); Poole 1989:326 ( Chlorognesia ); Kononenko & Pinratana 2005: 134, Pl. 39:11 (‘ Chlorognesia ’); Holloway 2009: 22, Pl. 1, male genit. Fig. 27, female genit. Fig. 28 ( Belciana ).

Material examined. 1 male, China Guanxi Dayao Shan; Jinxiu, 100 km SE of Liuzhou 23˚45ʹN, 109˚45ʹE, 1200m, 1 – 30.vi.2003 (leg. Siniaev & Team) ( PG); 1 female, China, Juangxi, Wui Shan, Xipaihe village, 1500 m, 27˚54ʹN, 117˚20; ( PG); 1 male, Thailand, Chiang Mai, 6 km SE of Pang Faen, 1100 m, 09.vii.2001 (leg. Hentschel, Petranyi/ genit. prep. 7415 (GB); 3 males, 3 female, Thailand, Chian Mai, Doi Inthanon, 7.x.1985; 13.vii.1994; 30.iv.1994; 20.viii.2004; 6.vii.2011 ( AP); 1 male, Thailand, Chiang Mai, Pa Pae, 2011 ( AP); 1 male Thailand Changvat Chian Mai, Mt. Doi Phahompok 16 km NW of Fang 2000 m, 6 – 7.viii.1999 (leg. Csovari & Mikus) ( HNHM); 1 female, North Laos Prov. Louanqhpraband Phou Khoun 1500 m, xi.2004 (leg. T. Ihle) ( AB); 1 female Malaysia (Panang) Cameron Hilghlands Tahan Rata 1800 m, 14/ 26.ii.1982 (leg. Provera), genit prep. 12050GB (AZ); 2 male, Taiwan, Kaohsiung 640 m (leg. C. Young) ( CMHN); 1 male, Taiwan, Prov. Ilan, 1200 m, Ming Chyr Forest Reacreation Area, 4 – 5.vi.1997 (leg. B. Herzig & L. Ronkay/ genit. prep. 12065GB ( PG, HNHM); 1 male, 1 female Taiwan, County Taichung, Hui Sun Exp. Forest, Guandashi LTER site, 950 m, 24˚04ʹN, 121˚02ʹE, 12 – 13.vi.1997 (leg. Peregovics & Kun) ( HNHM); 2 males, 2 females, Taiwan, Taipei county, Fu-Shan LTER site, 25 – 28.iii.2003 (leg. M.Foldivari & Papp) ( HNHM); 1 female, Indonesia, Sumatra Prapat HW3 19.vii.1984 (Leg. Dr. Diehl)/ Ag1 – 11 Ancara viridipicta Hampson / Chlorognesia viridipicta sec. Poole/ coll. Kobes/ Genit. prep. 4146GB ( ZSM); 1 female, with same data and collector, not dissected ( ZSM); 1 female, Sumatra Aek Tarum Gunuring Maiayu 10.xi.1982 (leg. Dr. Diehl)/ Ag1 – 11 Ancara viridipicta Hampson / Chlorognesia viridipicta sec. Poole/ coll. Kobes/ ( ZSM); 1 female, Indonesia, Sumatra Prapat HW3 21 – 22.v.1982 (leg. Dr. Diehl) coll. M. Fibiger/ genit. prep. 12019GB ( ZMCU);

Diagnosis. Adult ( Fig. 10, 11). Wingspan 42 – 44 mm. Externally close to V. thoracica , but differing from the latter by somewhat smaller size, emerald-green tint of the forewing and elements of wing pattern: less suffused central part of medial field, and less brown-filled subterminal field; more distinctly formed brown subapical patch on forewing and by the shape of medial line of hindwing, not angled in tornal angle. Male genitalia. ( Fig. 25). Tegumen twice as long as vinculum, with rather broad penicular lobes, uncus rather thin, curved medially, somewhat extended subapically, with little apical hook, covered with strong hairs; valva with strong costa, relatively narrow basally, extended medially, gradually tapering distally with extended cucullus, covered with strong setae; vinculum narrow, rather long, clasper short, harpe short, spine-like; aedeagus relatively short, thick, slightly curved subapically; vesica tubular, extended basally, armed with two patches of cornuti, subbasal patch formed by strong needle and spine-like cornuti, subapical patch formed by longer and thinner cornuti, sometimes very thin, almost ribbon-like. Female genitalia. ( Fig. 31). Female genitalia differ from V. thoracica by the shape of the postvaginal plate, which is provided by wider and less sclerotized cervix bursae and a wider shape of corpus bursae.

Distribution (Map 34:2). North India, South China, Taiwan, Laos, North Thailand, North Vietnam, Sumatra, Borneo.

Notes. In the original description ( Hampson 1902) of Ancara viridipicta ( Fig. 3) a plate-number and figure were indicated, but the species was not illustrated. The species was included in Hampson’s catalogue (1908), but still not illustrated, and it was not included in Seitz (1912 –1938). Yoshimoto (1994) first illustrated V. viridipicta as Belciana striatovirens by misidentification, and it was later illustrated by Kononenko & Pinratana (2005) from Thailand as Chlorognesia viridipicta and by Holloway (2009) from Borneo as Belciana viridipicta .