Dichagyris (Dichagyris) sichuana, Gyulai & Saldaitis, 2021

Gyulai, Peter & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2021, A new species of Dichagyris Lederer, 1857 from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 4927 (4), pp. 593-600 : 593-600

Dichagyris (Dichagyris) sichuana sp. n.

( Figs 1–3 , 15, 16 , 24 )

Holotype. Male ( Fig.1 ), China, W. Sichuan, near Maniganggo , H– 3860m, N31°47.22 ”, E99°23.27 ”, 30.vi.2019, Butvila & Saldaitis leg, gen. slide No.: GYP 5212m (coll. PGM / HNHM,).

Paratypes. 1 male, with the same data as in the holotype (coll. AFM) ; 2 males, 3 females ( Figs 2, 3 ), China, W. Sichuan, near Xinduqiao , H– 3640 m, N 30°04.22 ”, E101°24.54 ”, 28.vi.2019, Butvila & Saldaitis leg, gen. slide Nos.: GYP 5108m, GYP5319 f (colls. AFM & ASV).

Diagnosis. The new species ( Figs 1–3 ) is most similar to D. kormos ( Figs 4, 5 ) but can be distinguished by its larger size (the wingspan of D. sichuana is 38–39 mm versus 31–32 mm in D. kormos ), much darker ground colour of wings

and slightly arcuate postmedial line. In the male genitalia, D. sichuana ( Figs 15, 16 ) has a somewhat narrow-based harpe, a more ample vesica, a slightly thicker subbasal diverticulum with a larger apical cornutus than in the D. kormos ( Fig. 17 ). The other close relative of the new speciesis D. minuta ( Fig. 6 ), which is externally less similar to the new species. However, its male ( Figs 18, 19 ) and female ( Fig. 25 ) genitalia are reminiscent of those of D. sichuana in the coiled vesica and the short and globular appendix bursae ( Figs 15, 16 ). Dichagyris sichuana is conspicuously larger (wingspan 38–39 mm and 26–27mm), more darkly coloured (particularly in the hindwings), and the forewing pattern less sharply defined than in D. minuta , which can be easily distinguished by the well-defined antemedial lines, postmedial lines and reniform stigmata and its whitish, light brown-suffused hindwings. However, the differences in the genitalia structures of the two species are less conspicuous: the harpe of D. sichuana ( Figs 15, 16 ) has a broader base, but is shorter and not arcuate terminally; it also bears a larger, more sclerotized carinal streak. Additionally, the vesica of D. sichuana is more ample throughout than in D. minuta .

In the female genitalia of D. sichuana , the papillae anales are much larger and apically acute, the ductus bursae is significantly longer, the appendix bursae is elliptical (while it is globular in D. Minuta ), and the corpus bursae more elongate than in D. minuta .

The four species of astigmata -group are somewhat similar to the new species in the external features (except for D. vargazoli , which is unmistakable externally), but, however, their male and female genitalia structures are more or less different (see “Introduction” above and figs 7–14 and genitalia figs 20–23 and 26–28). The female genitalia of D. kormos is unknown.

Description ( Figs 1–3 ). Wingspan 38–39 mm, length of forewing 18 – 20 mm. Eyes semiglobular, grey with black spots; antennae blackish, finely ciliate in male and filiform in females. Proboscis ochre coloured. Palpi covered with

brown hairs, third joint rather long, covered only by black scales. Head and body vesture black on upper side; on underside covered by bushy black hairs, particularly near eyes and on anterior section of thorax. Femurs covered with bushy black hairs, tarsi with two rows of black setae. Abdomen dark brown. Forewings triangle with rounded apex. Ground colour of forewings and its cilia black, wing pattern absent or obscure. Stigmata absent; antemedial and postmedial lines obscure, fine, blackish, slightly darker than ground colour, mostly dark blue in female; antemedial lines sinuous, postmedial lines slightly arcuate. Hindwing and its cilia brown, slightly darker in a broad diffuse area toward margin and with darker brown suffusion on veins; discal spot distinct, semilunar. Forewing underside dark greyish, hindwing underside whitish with slight brown suffusion, which more extensive in fore costal area.

Male genitalia ( Figs 15, 16 ). Uncus long, uniformly narrow, with a cluster of long hairs terminally. Tegumen long; penicular lobes narrow, covered with thick, long hairs. Vinculum V-shaped with pointed tip. Fultura inferior weakly sclerotized, broadly calyculate, with broad medio-dorsal depression. Valva slightly curved, almost evenly broad with elongate cucullus, corona with rather long setae; harpe broad basally, rather short, cuneate, apically acute with bifurcate basal plate. Aedeagus rather long, tube-like, slightly ventrally curved distad, with eversible strongly sclerotized carinal streak running onto basal-subbasal section of vesica. Vesica curved ventrally, ample, elongate, membranous, with a subbasal diverticulum terminated by a stick-like cornutus; medial tube coiled along medial axis, surface of vesica in inner bend granulated medially, bearing small subterminal globular diverticulum.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 24 ). Ovipositor large, conical with long, apically acute papillae anales, covered with more or less short setae and bearing two strongly sclerotized parallel rods in the inner side. Apophyses posteriores long, slen-der; apophyses anteriores slightly shorter, but thicker, bearing flattened distal triangular extension. Antrum funnel-like, finely sclerotized. Ductus bursae long, thin, weakly sclerotized, tubular. Corpus bursae elongate, saccate, longitudinally wrinkled, membranous; appendix bursae large, globular, membranous.

Bionomics and distribution. The type material was collected at light on 28.VI-06.VI. 2019 in remote parts of west China Sichuan province near the Maniganggo and Xinduqiao. The new species was collected at altitudes ranging from 3600 to 3900 meters in mountain mixed forests dominated by various conifer trees, bushes and rhododendron .

Etymology. The new species was named after its province of discovery.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Dichagyris spp.: adults. 1. D. sichuana sp. n., holotype, male, China, Sichuan (PGM/HNHM); 2. D. sichuana sp. n., paratype, male, China, Sichuan (ASV); 3. D. sichuana sp. n., paratype, female, China, Sichuan (ASV); 4. D. kormos, holotype, male, China, Qinghai (PGM/ HNHM); 5. D. kormos, paratype, male, China, Qinghai (PGM/HNHM); 6. D. minuta, paratype, male, China, Tibet (PGM/ HNHM); 7. D. astigmata, male, China, Tibet (PGM/HNHM); 8. D. astigmata, male, China, Tibet (PGM/HNHM).

FIGURES 15–17. Dichagyris spp.: male genitalia. 15. D. sichuana sp. n., holotype, China, Sichuan, GYP 5212m (PGM/HNHM); 16. D. sichuana sp. n., paratype, China, Sichuan, GYP 5108m (ASV); 17. D. kormos, paratype, China, Qinghai, GYP 1290m (PGM/ HNHM).

FIGURES 24–28. Dichagyris spp.: female genitalia. 24. D. sichuana sp. n., paratype, China, Sichuan, GYP 5319f (ASV); 25. D. minuta, paratype, China, Tibet, HM 10370f (Hreblay/HNHM); 26. D. astigmata, China, Tibet, HM 10351f (Hreblay/HNHM); 27. D. gansuensis, China, Qinghai, GYP 5331f (PGM/HNHM); 28. D. geochroides, China, Gansu, RL 5436f (HNHM).

FIGURES 18–20. Dichagyris spp.: male genitalia. 18. D. minuta, holotype, China, Tibet, HM 10349m (Hreblay/HNHM); 19. D. minuta, paratype, China, Tibet, HM 10659m (PGM/HNHM); 20. D. astigmata, China, Tibet, GYP 5217 (PGM/HNHM).