Aemene eudonioides Volynkin & Černý, 2017

Volynkin, Anton V., Černý, Karel & Ivanova, Maria S., 2017, Description of a new Aemene Walker, 1854 from North Thailand and Myanmar, with a checklist of the genus (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4306 (3), pp. 444-450 : 445-446

Aemene eudonioides Volynkin & Černý , sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 , 5, 7 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 5 ): ♂ 14–22.VIII.2016, N Thailand, Chiang Mai prov., Thong Chai Range, near Doi Suthep-Pui National Park , 18°54'10.50''N 98°51'46.05''E, h= 700 m, secondary forest, Volynkin A.V. & Ivanova M.S. leg., slide AV 2368m Volynkin (Coll. NHM, ex coll. CAV).

Paratypes: 2 ♂, 2 ♀, same data as in the holotype ( Coll. CAV) ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, N Thailand, Chiang Rai, 1090 m, road 1200, 19°18'39'' N, 99°21'47'' E, 28.V.2011, leg. K. Černý, slides AV2512 ♂ Volynkin and AV2513 ♀ Volynkin (Coll. CKC) ; 2 ♂, N. Thailand, Chiang Rai, 1090 m, road 1150, km 17 from Wiang Pa Pao , 19°18'45''N, 99°23'24''E, 27.V.2011 leg. K. Černý, (Coll. CKC) ; 1 ♂, N. Thailand, Nan-prov., Ban Luang , 525m, 18°56'01''N, 100°27'39''E, 30.V.2011 leg. K. Černý (Coll. CKC) ; 1 ♀, C. Thailand, Phetchabun, 580 m, Na Nao NP, market, 16°44,531'N, 101°26,17'E, 14–27.IX.2009, leg. T. Ihle (Coll. CKC) ; 1 ♂, Myanmar (Burma), 21 km E Putao, Nan Sa Bon village , 560 m, 1–5.V.1998, leg. Murzin & Sinjaev, slide MWM 31604 Volynkin (Coll. MWM/ ZSM).

Diagnosis. The new species is well separated from other members of the genus. Its only related species is A. taeniata Fixsen, 1887 . Externally, A. eudonioides sp. nov. differs from A. taeniata in the slightly larger size of both sexes, the more elongated forewings, stronger black suffusion on the forewings, darker ground color of forewings, the narrow and diffuse antemedial line consisting of longitudinal black strokes, the smaller discal V-like spot of forewing, the postmedial line consisting of short black strokes, absence of a subapical costal spot, and presence of brown narrow V-like incurved medial shade (whereas in A. taeniata the forewings are shorter and paler, with a less intense black suffusion, the antemedial line is very broad and not interrupted, the discal V-like spot of forewing is larger, the postmedial line is diffused but not interrupted, the large subapical costal spot is present, and a medial shade is absent). The male genitalia of A. eudonioides sp. nov. ( Fig. 5 ) differ clearly from those of A. taeniata ( Fig. 6 ) in the shorter uncus, the smaller vinculum, narrower valva, strongly setose costal lobe, the much narrower and weaker sclerotized distal costal process, presence of the distal membranous lobe of valva, the larger setose basal saccular lobe, the apical distal saccular process smaller and well separated from the subapical distal saccular process, the configuration of the vesica diverticuli, and presence of two clusters of very large spine-like cornuti in the vesica (whereas in A. taeniata the uncus is longer, the vinculum is larger, the valva is broader, the costal lobe is narrower, strongly sclerotized and has several strong denticles, the distal costal process is much broader and strongly sclerotized, the membranous apical lobe of valva is absent, the basal lobe of sacculus is smaller and weakly setose, the apical distal saccular process is much larger, stronger sclerotized and poorly separated from the subapical one, the vesica with a bunch of short cornuti only). The female genitalia of A. eudonioides sp. nov. ( Fig. 7 ) differ clearly from those of A. taeniata ( Fig. 8 ) in the narrower ovipositor, the rugose lateral postvaginal lobes, lack of antevaginal lateral lobes, narrower and strongly sclerotized ductus bursae, larger corpus bursae with spinulose scobination and fields of short robust spines in its posterior section, the much weaker spinulose scobination in its anterior section, and the much larger conical curved appendix bursae (whereas in A. taeniata the ovipositor is broader, the postvaginal lateral lobes are not rugose, the antevaginal lateral lobes are present and strongly sclerotized, the ductus bursae is narrower and weaker sclerotized, the corpus bursae is smaller, with a strong denticle-like scobination in its anterior and medial sections, a weaker denticle-like scobination in its posterior section, and the appendix bursae is much smaller and narrower).

Description. Adult ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Length of forewing 9–12 mm in males and 12–13 mm in females. Male antennae ciliate, female antennae filiform. Body brownish-grey, thorax with black suffusion. Forewing ground color dark brownish-grey, with strong black suffusion. Forewing long and narrow, its pattern black, diffuse, consists of transverse lines, two spots in the cell, and large spots on costa opposite the transverse lines; subbasal line short, indistinct; antemedial line V-like, indistinct, consists of row of longitudinal strokes; medial shade brown, V-like, narrow; black dot in medial part of the cell; discal spot V-like; postmedial line S-like curved, diffuse, consists of row of short strokes; marginal line narrow, consists of transverse strokes between veins; cilia dark brown with black suffusion. Hinwing dark brown, slightly paler at base; discal spot dark brown, semilunar; cilia dark brown.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Uncus long, narrow, slightly curved subapically, apically pointed. Tuba analis tubelike, membranous, scaphium setose; tegumen moderately long, narrow; juxta broad, plate-like; vinculum broad, short, U-like; valva short and broad, distally narrowed; costa heavily sclerotized, with large, scerotized, setose basal lobe and narrow and strongly sclerotized distal process; sacculus broad, setose basally and medially, with trigonal basal setose lobe, and short, narrow and apically rounded subapical and apical processes well separated from each other; apical membranous lobe of valva present, narrow, elliptical. Aedeagus straight, short and broad, with strongly sclerotized dentate ventral carinal band; vesica consists of three large round diverticuli, subbasal dorsal diverticulum membranous with two very large spine-like cornuti and row of smaller spine-like cornuti of different size; apical diverticulum with strong granulation; subapical diverticulum membranous, with row of short spine-like cornuti; basal plate of ductus ejaculatorius long, broad, heavily sclerotized.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Ovipositor narrow, conical, papillae anales broadly rectangular, with rounded edges; apophyses anteriores and posteriores long and thin, apophyses anteriores slightly longer than posteriores. Postvaginal lateral lobes moderately sclerotized, rugose; antevaginal lateral lobes absent. Ostium bursae broad; ductus bursae short and broad, heavily sclerotized, flattened dorso-ventrally. Corpus bursae moderately long, its posterior section broader, with strong spinulose scobination and fields of short robust spines inside; anterior section narrower, with weaker spinulose scobination inside. Appendix bursae long, broad, conical, membranous, situated postero-laterally.

Distribution. The species is known from North Thailand (Chiang Mai, Nan, and Chiang Rai provinces) and northern Myanmar (Kachin State).

Etymology. The species’ name refers to its slight external resemblance to species of the genus Eudonia Billberg (Crambidae) .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Aemene spp.: adults. 1, A. eudonioides, holotype ♂, N Thailand, Chiang Mai province (NHM); 2, A. eudonioides, paratype ♀, N Thailand, Chiang Rai province (CAV); 3, A. taeniata, holotype ♂ of Siccia v-nigrum, China, Shanghai (© NHM); 4, A. taeniata, ♀, Russian far East, Primorye terr. (MWM / ZSM).

FIGURES 5 – 8. Aemene spp.: male (5, 6) and female (7, 8) genitalia. 5, A. eudonioides, holotype, N Thailand, Chiang Mai province, slide AV 2368 m Volynkin; 6, A. taeniata, Russian Far East, Primorye terr., slide AV 2546 m Volynkin; 7, A. eudonioides, paratype, N Thailand, Chiang Rai province, slide AV 2513 f Volynkin; 8, A. taeniata, Russian Far East, Primorye terr., slide MWM 31550 Volynkin.