Chelis gratiosa kartashovi, Saldaitis & Volynkin, 2020

Saldaitis, Aidas & Volynkin, Anton V., 2020, On the taxonomy of the Chelis glaphyra (Eversmann, 1843) species-group, with description of a new subspecies of Chelis gratiosa (Grum-Grshimailo, 1890) from Kyrgyzstan, brachipterous females of Chelis kashmirica (Ferguson, 1985) and Chelis golbecki (Dubatolov, 1996), and the checklist of the species-group (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 38, pp. 51-62 : 53-56

Chelis gratiosa kartashovi ssp. nov.

( Figs 1–4 , 9 , 17 , 24 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 17 ): male, [ Kyrgyzstan, Transalai Range ] “KIRGIZIA S., Chon- Alai reg., Zaalaisky mountains range, Doroot-Korgon vill., Altyn-dara river, Aram-Kungei valley, H~ 3600m, original female 15.vii.2018, ex. ovo 14–18.v.2019, leg. V. Kartashov”, gen. slide No.: AV5839 (Coll. ASV, designated to WIGJ).

Paratypes: 9 males, 13 females, the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide No.: AV5840 (female) ( Colls ASV, VKV and WIGJ) ; 1 female, [ Kyrgyzstan, Transalai Range] Kirgizia , Zaalaisky Ran., Chon-Alaisky Distr., Altyn-Dara Riv., Aram-Kungei Val., 15–21.vii.2018, H- 3600m, V. Kartashov leg. (Coll. SDM).

Etymology. The new subspecies is dedicated to prominent Russian Lepidoptera collector Vladimir Kartashov.

Diagnosis. The new subspecies ( Figs 1–4 ) is most similar externally to Ch. gratiosa rupicola ( Fig. 5 ) and also Ch. rasa ( Figs 13, 14 , 22 , 28 ) and Ch. golbecki ( Figs 15, 16 , 23 , 27 ), but is distinguishable by the pinkish suffusion on the thorax and the forewing (it is absent in the three similar taxa), and the intense blackish suffusion on hindwing making it almost uniformly dark with only a small pale spot in the subterminal or terminal area medially (whereas in the three similar taxa, the hindwing has intense blackish or dark brown suffusion in the subterminal area only, while the medial and basal areas are weakly suffused with blackish scales and the discal spot is present). Additionally, the new subspecies differs from Ch. rasa and Ch. golbecki by the longer rami of the male antenna, and from Ch. rasa by its less elongate forewing apex. The male genital capsule of Ch. g. kartashovi ( Fig. 17 ) is nearly identical to that of Ch. g. rupicola ( Fig. 18 ) and is also similar to those of Ch. g. gratiosa ( Fig. 20 ) and Ch. g. flavala ( Fig. 19 ), but differs from the two latter subspecies by its more rectangular cucullus. The aedeagus of Ch. g. kartashovi differs from those of the three similar subspecies by its markedly narrower dentate carinal plate. The vesicae of the four subspecies display no remarkable differences. As the female genitalia of Ch. g. rupicola and Ch. g. flavala are unknown therefore the female genitalia morphology of the new species ( Fig. 24 ) is compared to that of Ch. g. gratiosa ( Fig. 25 ): Ch. g. kartashovi has a somewhat narrower ductus bursae and its appendix bursae is longer than that of the nominate subspecies.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–4 , 9 ). Forewing length 11-12 mm in males and 11-13 mm in females. Male antenna shortly bipectinate, female antenna serrate. Sexual dimorphism limited: compared to males, females have forewing with more rounded apex and more reduced markings and dark suffusion on hindwing less intense. Head dark brown with admixture of pinkish scales. Collar dark brown with pinkish margin. Thorax blackish brown with two pinkish longitudinal stripes and pinkish margins of tegulae. Upperside of abdomen blackish brown with ochreous brown triangular spots laterally, underside ochreous brown; tip of abdomen densely covered in ochreous brown scales. Forewing ground color creamy with intense pinkish suffusion. Markings blackish brown. Subbasal spot asymmetrically V-shaped. Subbasal area with large elongate triangular spot. Antemedial line strongly angled medially, consisting of two large elliptical spots connected to each other by an oblique stroke and a costal dash. Postmedial line angled on the Cu vein dilated in the cell and at costa and fused with antemedial line at anal wing margin. Subterminal line interrupted, represented by four large triangular spots. Terminal area and anal margin blackish brown, inner edge of terminal area strongly zigzagged. Cilia pinkish brown. Hindwing with intense dark suffusion making it nearly uniformly blackish brown. Subterminal area with a small pale medial spot which may be protruding to the terminal area. Cilia brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 17 ). Uncus large, broadly triangular with elongate and tapered distal part pointed apically. Tuba analis broad, membranous. Tegumen short, with thick and heavily sclerotized arms. Juxta large, X-shaped with wide arms, moderately sclerotized. Vinculum large, heavily sclerotized, U-shaped. Valva short, its basal and medial sections wide, cucullus ca. 3 times narrower than base of valva, rectangular with rounded corners. Sacculus narrow, heavily sclerotized. Aedeagus large, elongate, its distal half somewhat curved dorsad; dorsal carinal plate narrow, triangular, covered in tiny denticles. Vesica broad, C-like curved dorsad and anteriorly, with a small membranous subbasal diverticulum dorsally, four short granulated diverticula outwardly and globular membranous subapical diverticulum inwardly. Female genitalia ( Fig. 24 ). Papillae anales wide, rectangular with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses posteriores elongate, thin, with rounded tips. Apophyses anteriores fully reduced. Postvaginal area with narrow pocket-like incision medially. Ostium bursae broad. Ductus bursae long, dorso-ventrally flattened, somewhat tapered anteriorly, its posterior three fifth heavily sclerotized, while anterior two fifth weakly sclerotized. Corpus bursae broad, elliptical, membranous, with area of weak granulation posteriorly. Medial section of corpus bursae armed with two round signa bursae covered with tiny denticles. Appendix bursae elongate with broad basal section, scobinated basally and membranous distally, situated postero-ventrally, directed laterally to the right side.

Distribution and bionomics. The new subspecies is known from Transalai Range in southern Kyrgyzstan. Single female was found siting on ground in an alpine grassland (at ca 3600 m altitude) where the vegetation was damaged by grazing livestock.

Descriptions of brachipterous females

Figures

Figure 9. Chelis gratiosa kartashovi, paratypes. The specimens are deposited in VKV (photo by V. Kartashov).

Figures 1–8. Chelis spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 3 in ASV; 2 in WIGJ; 4 in SDM; 5–8 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 17–20. Chelis gratiosa sspp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 17 in ASV/WIGJ; 18–20 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 24–28. Chelis spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 24 in ASV; 25–28 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 10–16. Chelis spp.: adults. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 21–23. Chelis spp.: adults. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.