Agrisius witti, Volynkin & Saldaitis, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V. & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2022, Taxonomic review of the Agrisius guttivitta Walker species group with transfer of the genus Agrisius Walker to the family Nolidae Bruand and descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera: Nolidae: Eligminae), Zootaxa 5190 (2), pp. 241-256 : 245

Agrisius witti sp. n.

( Figs 7 , 31 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 7 , 31 ): male, “ China / Yunnan-prov. ( NW), Nujiang Lisu and Dulong auton. pref., Fugong county ; Lishadi (= Walo), 42 km N of Fugong, 1390 m, 12.–16. V. 1999; 27,15°N / 98,55°E, leg./ex coll. Dr. R. Brechlin” / “Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 35.765 Museum Witt München” ( MWM / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 20.0 mm in the holotype male. The new species is externally reminiscent of A. guttivitta and A. soror but differs in the slightly narrower greyish-brown suffusion on veins of both wings distally. The male genital capsule of A. witti differs from those of A. guttivitta and A. soror in the longer and thicker branches of the uncus, the narrower membranous dorsal section of the valva, the longer and medially curved dorsal process of the sacculus (it is straight in the congeners), and the markedly longer ventral process of the sacculus. Compared to A. guttivitta and A. soror , the phallus of A. witti has a distally thinner carina. The vesica of the new species has a longer and narrower distal diverticulum and a conspicuously smaller cornutus than those of A. guttivitta and A. soror .

The female is unknown.

Distribution. The new species is known only from the type locality in Yunnan Province, south-western China.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr Thomas J. Witt (Munich, Germany), a prominent lepidopterist and founder of the Museum Witt Munich who has built one of the largest collections of Heterocera in the world.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Agrisius spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 3–7 in MWM/ZSM; 8 in coll. J. Orhant (after Orhant (2015)); 9 in WIGJ; 10 in CAV.

FIGURES 27–32. Agrisius spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in SZMN; 28–31 in MWM/ZSM. 32 in coll. J. Orhant (after Orhant (2015)).