Polymixis (Bischoffia) aqaba, Saldaitis & Dûda & Volynkin & Müller, 2022

Saldaitis, Aidas, Dûda, Juozas, Volynkin, Anton V. & Müller, Günter, 2022, Polymixis (Bischoffia) aqaba, a new species from Jordan (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 57, pp. 71-76 : 72-75

Polymixis (Bischoffia) aqaba sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A03C4E64-3B3E-425C-BDF6-40253A3C28BD

( Figs 1, 2 , 7, 9 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 7 ): male, “S Jordan | 12 km N.W. from | Aqaba, h- 70m | 29°33.7937'N | 35°07.7499'E | 29. xi. –2.xii.2021 | Dûda & Saldaitis leg.” / “Slide | AV6679 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( WIGJ).

Paratypes: 2 males, 1 female, the same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV6680 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( ASV, GMF-B & WIGJ) .

Diagnosis. The new species ( Figs 1, 2 ) is externally vaguely reminiscent of the sympatric P. juditha ( Figs 3, 4 ) but differs in the somewhat smaller size, the more intense pink suffusion on the both wings, and the more diffuse forewing pattern. Compared to other species in the subgenus Bischoffia , P. aqaba sp. n. is distinguished by the body and forewing colouration, which is pale brown with pinkish suffusion whereas in the similar congeners, it is grey or greenish-grey. The forewing pattern of P. aqaba sp. n. is more diffuse than in other taxa in Bischoffia . The male genitalia structure of the new species is most similar to P. apora known from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel ( Figs 5, 6 ). Compared to P. apora ( Fig. 8 ), the male genital capsule of P. aqaba sp. n. ( Fig. 7 ) has a medially narrower valva with a narrower cucullus with shorter setae of the corona, a markedly shorter clasper, and a somewhat shorter sacculus. Additionally, the penicular lobe of the new species is broader and more rounded, and the uncus is somewhat broader than in the congener. The phallus of P. aqaba sp. n. is evenly downcurved whereas it is almost straight in P. apora . The vesica of the new species is medially narrower than in P. apora , and has a narrower subbasal diverticulum. It is worth mentioning, that the downcurved phallus and the vesica configuration of the new species are more reminiscent of those of the externally dissimilar P. (B.) bischoffi (Herrich-Schäffer, 1850) and P. (B.) culoti (Schawerda, 1921) (illustrated by Ronkay et al. 2001). In the female genitalia, P. aqaba sp. n. ( Fig. 9 ) differs from P. apora ( Fig. 10 ) in the narrower antrum, the markedly narrower and less curved ductus bursae (similar to that of P. bischoffi ), and the longer corpus bursae with shorter and asymmetrical signa, which are equal in length in the congener.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length 20 mm in males and 21 mm in female. Antenna ciliate in male and filiform in female. Body pale brown with pinkish suffusion. Forewing triangular with elongate apex. Forewing ground colour pale brown with pinkish suffusion. Forewing pattern brown, diffuse. Antemedial area with intense brown suffusion medially. Antemedial line irregularly sinuous, double. Medial shade indistinct, dilated in cell, interrupted medially and at costal margin. Orbicular stigma paler than ground colour, with indistinct margins. Reniform stigma semilunar with diffuse margins. Postmedial line medially curved, indistinct. Subterminal line represented by row of large cuneal diffuse spots. Terminal line interrupted into small spots on veins. Cilia pale brown. Hindwing pale ochreous-brown with pinkish suffusion, outer half with brown suffusion being more intense in female. Medial line thin, wavy, diffuse. Discal spot thin, indistinct. Cilia pale ochreous-brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Uncus slender, dorso-ventrally flattened, medially downcurved, apically rounded, with setose distal half. Tegumen moderately broad, penicular lobe large, semielliptical, setose. Vinculum shorter than tegumen, with thin but heavily sclerotised arms and U-shaped saccus. Valva upcurved subbasally. Costa dilated medially and with triangular and apically rounded dorsal protrusion in distal half. Digitus short and narrow, finger-shaped. Cucullus trapezoid with rounded corners and broad neck, densely covered with strong setae. Corona ca. half of cucullus long, consisting of short setae. Clasper broad, trapezoidal. Saccus equal in width to valva base, trapezoidal. Anterior section of juxta shield-like, posterior section elongate with parallel margins. Phallus relatively narrow, tubular, evenly downcurved, with thin ban-like carina protruding to basal section of vesica. Vesica tubular basally, strongly dilated medially and evenly tapered distally, directed dorsad, with short semielliptical subbasal diverticulum ventrally. Female genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). Papilla analis trapezoid with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses thin with flattened triangular bases, apophysis posterioris ca. twice longer than apophysis anterioris. Antrum short, trapezoidal with convex posterior margin, connected to ductus bursae by gelatinous commissure. Ductus bursae heavily sclerotised, dorso-ventrally flattened, slightly twisted and curved laterad anteriorly. Corpus bursae elongate, sack-like, with four thin band-shaped signa of various lengths. Appendix bursae broadly conical, apically rounded, somewhat rugose posteriorly, positioned postero-laterally on left side.

Distribution and bionomics. The new species is known only from its type locality in southern Jordan. The moths were collected in the landscape typical of the vicinities of Aqaba, at a dry, stony and arid wadi with sparse vegetation (solitary thorny trees, bushes and shrubs) ( Fig. 11 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of Aqaba City situated near the type locality.

Figures

Figure 11. Southern Jordan, 12 km NW from Aqaba, 70 m, 29°33.7937'N, 35°07.7499'E, the habitat of Polymixis (Bischoffia) aqaba sp. n. (photo by A. Kazakevich).

Figures 1–6. Polymixis (Bischoffia) spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in WIGJ; 3 and 4 in CAV; 5 in GMF-B; 6 in AFM.

Figures 7–10. Polymixis (Bischoffia) spp.: male (7, 8) and female (9, 10) genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 7 and 9 in WIGJ; 8 and 10 in AFM.