Harutaeographa shui Benedek & Saldaitis

Benedek, Balazs, Saldaitis, Aidas & Rimsaite, Jolanta, 2012, Taxonomic and faunistic studies on the genus Harutaeographa (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Orthosiini) with description of a new species, ZooKeys 242, pp. 51-67 : 52-53

Harutaeographa shui Benedek & Saldaitis sp. n. Figs 6, 71521

Type material.

Holotype:male (Fig. 6),China, Sichuan, 29°43.105'N, 02°36.195'E, near Siping, 1600 m, 27.iii.2011, Floriani leg., in the collection of ZSM; (slide No. JB1792m).

Paratypes: 3 males, with the same data as the holotype, 1 male, from the same locality, but 02.iv.2011, 1 female (Fig. 7), China, W. Sichuan, road Menghugang/Kangding, 29°49.955'N, 102°02.827'E, 1500 m, 19.iv.2010, leg. Chen Gun, in the AFM, BBT, and ZSM collections. Slide No. JB1793f.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the Shu Kingdom, which is now Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province.

Diagnosis.

Harutaeographa shui in general appearance is similar to Harutaeographa fasciculata (Hampson, 1894) (Figs 10, 11), but is smaller and has more oblong forewings. Despite this superficial resemblance to Harutaeographa fasciculata , based on genital morphology the new species is more closely related to Harutaeographa odavissa Ronkay, Ronkay, Gyulai & Hacker, 2010 (Figs 8, 9). These species are easily distinguishable externally by forewing shape, coloration and pattern. The male genitalia differ from those of Harutaeographa odavissa (Fig. 16)by its shorter uncus, smaller tegumen, remarkably broader and apically more elongate cucullus, and the configuration of the clasper-ampulla complex. The structure of aedeagus and vesica are similar to those of Harutaeographa odavissa (Fig. 16), but Harutaeographa shui (Fig. 15) has a slightly more curved aedeagus, differently configured vesica, and longer subterminal cornuti field. The female genitalia of the new species differ from those of Harutaeographa odavissa (Fig. 22) in having a shorter ovipositor, shorter apophyses, and shorter and weaker ductus bursae.

Description.

Wingspan 37-42 mm, length of forewing 17-20 mm. Head, front and thorax chocolate brown with some copper shine; male antenna bipectinate, female antenna narrow ciliate; forewings richly decorated with dark coppery-brown patterns distinctly marked with black scales, outer margin and cilia lighter golden yellow; hindwings with intensive dark suffusion, especially wide on outer margin, discal spot, and well-marked postmedial fascia; cilia with copper shine. Male genitaila (Fig. 15): uncus short, evenly broad; tegumen small and low; vinculum strong, narrow, V-shaped; valva finely arcuate; cucullus broad with apex elongate; sacculus weak, less sclerotized; clasper and ampulla robust outside and turned at middle; aedeagus rather long, gently arcuate; vesica with two subbasal coils and a small rasp-plate at base near carina, two small bunches of stronger cornuti in subbasal coils, and a long brush-like cornuti field on arcuate subterminal area. Female genitalia (Fig. 21): ostium nearly evenly truncated; ductus bursae narrow, somewhat wider and less sclerotized posteriorly; appendix bursae relatively small and rounded, weakly sclerotized; corpus bursae elongated, mesially constricted, with anterior and posterior parts subequal.

Bionomics and distribution.

The new species is known only from Siping and Kangding areas of Sichuan Province (China), on the eastern edge of Tibetan plateau, where a few specimens were collected at the end of March - beginning of April at altitudes ranging from 1500 to 1600 m. It was attracted to light during cold (2-4 ˚C) nights in small river valleys. The habitat is mountain virgin mixed forest dominated by various broad-leaved trees, rhododendrons and bamboos (Fig. 27).