Parvispinia parilis Babics, Kononenko & Saldaitis, 2012

Babics, J., Kononenko, V. S. & Saldaitis, A., 2012, New genus and three new species of the subfamily Xyleninae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3509, pp. 55-68 : 65-67

Parvispinia parilis Babics, Kononenko & Saldaitis sp. n.

( Figs. 13, 14, 22, 30)

Type material. Holotype: male, China, N. Sichuan, near Barkam, Zhe Gu Shan pass, H- 3300 m, 21.ix.2011, N31˚55,625', E102˚39,290', Floriani leg., slide No. BJ 1943 (in coll. Behounek / ZSM) . Paratypes: 1 male and 1 female, China, N. Sichuan, near Barkam, Zhe Gu Shan pass, H- 3300 m, 21.ix.2011, N31˚55,625', E102˚39,290', Floriani leg. , slide No. BJ1941, BJ1944 (in coll. Floriani & NRCV) ; 1 male and 1 female, China, W. Sichuan, road Yajiang / Litang , 3600 m, 15.07.2009, 29˚59'N, 100˚52' E, I. & A. Floriani leg. (in coll. Seibald and Floriani) ; 1 male, China, W. Sichuan, road Bamei / Danba, Taizangou valley , h- 3700 m, 09.x.2010, N30˚28,693', E101˚38,863', Floriani leg. (in coll. Floriani) ; 2 male, China, NW-Yunnan, km. 2102–2103 road Lijiang / Zhongdian, near Tuguancun Mt. , 3200 m, 27˚29,700'N, 99˚53,700'E, 15.x.2011, A. Floriani leg. (in coll. Floriani) ; 2 female, China NW-Yunnan, 20 Km N Deqin Mt. , 3100, m, N 28°28.850'E 98.51.400', 18.x.2011, A. Floriani leg. (in coll. Floriani) .

Diagnosis. The new species differs from the related P. caelestina ( Figs 7, 8, 19, 27) and P. cortex ( Figs. 5, 6, 18, and 26) in the more prominent reniform stigma, and outlined claviform stigma, the characteristic shape of antemedial fascia. P. barkama differs from P. caelestina and P. cortex by its more robust body. The male genitalia of P. parilis differ from those of P. cortex , P. caelestina and P. parvispina in the relatively broad penicular lobes, shorter but strong harpe; it differs from P. parvispina in the shorter but broader valva, dorsally upturned vesica with two variably developed cornutus. The female genitalia of P. parilis differ form those of P. cortex , P. caelestina and P. parvispina by its characteristically shaped ductus bursae and cervix bursae.

Description. Adult. ( Figs. 13, 14). Sexes similar. Wingspan 42–49 mm, length of forewing 20–23 mm. Head ochreous brown; collar with blackish median line and fine ochreous irroration. Thorax dark chocolate brown, with blackish- and pale brown scales on tegulae. Palpae short, densely hairy, reddish-brown; antenna filiform, brown. Forewing elongated triangular, narrow, ground colour similar to those of thorax. Subbasal fascia sinuous, creamwhite, followed by dark brown scales. Antemedial fascia straight, with characteristic shark-tooth distal extension at posterior end, pale brown; followed distally by narrow, dark brown band. Basal field somewhat paler than ground colour, with fine whitish irroration. Claviform stigma more or less faded, outlined by fine black scales. Orbicular stigma well discernible, pale brown, more or less elongated. Reniform stigma broad, pancake shape, brown with blackish scales; followed by narrow, black band. Median field similar in colour to those of thorax. Medial fascia indistinct; postmedial fascia well discernible but narrow, black, followed distally by whitish, narrow band. Subterminal fascia more or less indistinct distally followed by narrow, ochreous band, with black, arrow-head shaped extensions along veins. Terminal fascia interrupted into fine, blackish lines. Marginal field bicoloured, splitted by subterminal fascia: proximally similar to basal field in colour, distally similar to medial field in colour. Cilia brown. Hindwing brown, with blackish hairs; transverse line well discernible. Veins covered by black scales; discal spot well discernible. Terminal fascia similar to that of forewing; cilia pale reddish-brown. Underside of forewing pale reddish-brown, with fine blackish irroration, with well discernible brown transverse line. Underside of hindwing similar to those of forewing. Male genitalia ( Figs. 22). Uncus sabre shaped, curved along, apically finely hooked, weakly hairy. Tegumen moderately broad, with broad, sclerotised margin; penicular lobes well developed, semicircular. Fultura inferior quadrangular, with broad and elongated, relatively long, quadrangular shaped dorsal excision. Saccus relatively broad, sclerotised, bell-shaped; vinculum short, sclerotised. Valvae symmetrical, relatively short and broad, more or less triangular. Sacculus narrow and short, sclerotised, trapezoid, with parallel margins; harpe broad but short, heavily sclerotised, slightly sinuous, distally quadrangular, with elongated harpe basis. Costal extension weak and short, triangular shaped. Cucullus well developed, densely setose, apex triangular; corona well developed with narrow cornutus band. Aedeagus curved along, narrow, cylindrical. Carina broad, membranous. Vesica everted ventrally, than turned dorsally, curved along. Distal part of vesica covered by two variably developed coruti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 30). Ovipositor characteristically elongated, apically acute. Papillae anales more or less triangular shaped, heavily sclerotised, posterior part acute without hair-scales. Apophyses posteriors relatively long but narrow; apophyses anteriores relatively long, straight. Ostium bursae relatively broad, with broad, more or less sclerotised anterior part. Ductus bursae relatively long and broad, membranous. Corpus bursae characteristically small, ovoid, membranous. Cervix bursae characteristically shaped: broad but short, sclerotised posterior part, and upturned membranous anterior part.

Distribution and Bionomics. West China. The species is known from few localities in West Sichuan and North Yunnan provinces of China on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. It has a long flight period, males and females were attracted by light from July to mid October at altitudes ranging from 3300 to 3700 m. The new species was collected in the small rivers in shrubby valleys near alpine grassland zone.

Etymology. The species name refers to its bicoloured appearance. Parilis means equal, in Latin.