Araeopteron kononenkoi, Jin & Yao & Han, 2025

Jin, Yuanyuan, Yao, Chunhua & Han, Huilin, 2025, Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron Hampson, 1893 (Erebidae, Boletobiinae, Araeopteronini), with the checklist of the genus from China, ZooKeys 1256, pp. 259-273 : 259-273

Araeopteron kononenkoi sp. nov.

Figs 7 , 8 , 19 , 22 Common name: 滇纤翅夜蛾

Material examined.

Holotype: China • ♂; Yunnan, Baoshan City, Longyang District, Baihualing Village, Mt. Gaoligong ; 30.VII–2.VIII.2014; HL. Han leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl- 4461-1; in NEFU . Paratype. China • 1 ♀; Yunnan, Simao District, Beishan ; 21.VII.2012; HL. Han, XX. Jin, H. Geng leg.; genit, prep. no. hhl- 4460-1; in NEFU .

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to A. legraini Bippus, 2018 (Figs 9 , 10 , 20 , 23 ), but can be distinguished by external morphology and the structure of the genitalia (characters for A. legraini are in parentheses):

Adult. The subterminal line bears a large and brown dot at the costal margin, slender at other part (thick and flared, except delicately in the middle part); the postmedial line is reduced to a tawny bar on the inner margin (a large, irregularly scattered black patch on the inner margin); with a blackish-brown field near the apex, forming a patch at wing apex (without an additional patch at the wing apex).

Male genitalia. The tegumen is short and thin (long and thick); the cucullus is rounded, rectangular in shape (moderately broadened with a bilobed apex); the uncus is weakly sclerotized (strongly sclerotized); the vesica is membranous, without grains (covered with numerous minute grains, and with a small cornuti band).

Female genitalia. The apophysis posterioris longer than apophysis anterioris (anterioris and posterioris almost equal in length); the signum is strongly sclerotized, pie-shaped, with numerous long spines (knob-shaped, with short spines).

Description.

Adult (Figs 7 , 8 ). Wingspan 11.0–11.5 mm. Antennae filiform. Head, patagia, and tegula covered with cream-white scales, mixed with beige; thorax brown, covered with cream-white. Abdomen dark brownish tan, covered with off-white. Forewing cream-white, with distinct brown bands along the costal margin; basal line brown, wavy, with a black dot at costal margin; antemedial line brown, wavy, oblique, the top part showing a shade of daffodil yellow, and with a black dot on costal margin; median line, brown, diffused, only as a distinct black dot at costal margin; postmedial brown, bent in as M-shaped; subterminal line brownish yellow, double, indistinct, and wavy, with a white area between double lines and with a large and brown dot at costal margin; a blackish-brown field near the apex forming a distinct patch at wing apex; reniform stigma black; fringe brown to grayish yellow. Hindwing darker than forewing, off-white with grayish; antemedial line blackish brown; median line brown, diffused; postmedial line thin, brown, wavy and with a black dot at anal margin; median area darker than background color, blackish brown, present a white dot on 1 / 3 of the anal margin; subterminal line brown, double, wavy; fringe grayish white at anal margin, other part brown and mixed white; discal spot black. Male genitalia (Fig. 19 ). Tegumen triangular. Vinculum thick, slightly sclerotized. Saccus short, flat, arch-shaped, widened at the base. Valva narrow at the base, angled apically; sacculus slightly sclerotized, bent at its 2 / 3; clasper absent; costa slightly sclerotized, basally thin and narrow, gradually arched and extended to a swollen section; cucullus rounded, rectangle-shaped. Uncus long, slender, with sharp apex. Juxta large, plate-like, slightly sclerotized. Aedeagus short, slightly curved, weakly sclerotized; carinal hook slightly sclerotized, spiniform. Vesica membranous, without spines. Female genitalia (Fig. 22 ). Papillae anales slightly sclerotized, broad, and covered with numerous long hairs. Apophysis posterioris long and slender; apophysis anterioris short and slender, length of posterioris exceeding that of anterioris by 3 / 4 times. Ostium bursae funnel-shaped. Ductus bursae short, narrow basally. Corpus bursae droplet-shaped, slightly curved in the upper part. Signum strongly sclerotized, knob-shaped, and bearing numerous long spines.

Distribution.

China ( Yunnan).

Etymology.

This species name is derived from honoring the researcher Dr VS Kononenko.

Figures

Figures 7–12. Adults of Araeopteron spp. 7. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 8. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 9. A. legraini (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 10. A. legraini (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 11. A. xanthopis, male (NEFU); 12. A. xanthopis, female (NEFU). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 19–24. Male and female genitalia of Araeopteron spp. 19. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 20. A. legraini, male (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 21. A. maculas sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 22. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 23. A. legraini, female (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 24. A. xanthopis, female (NEFU).