Diarsia variolosus, Gyulai & Saldaitis, 2019

Gyulai, Peter & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2019, Notes on the genus Diarsia with the description of seven new species from China (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 22, pp. 128-151 : 149-150

Diarsia variolosus sp. n.

( Figs 39–41, 42 , 70 , 79 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( Fig. 39 ), China, Aba town surroundings, 3400 m a. s. l., 8–10. VIII.2016, leg. native collector, slide GYP 4674, (coll. PGM, later to be deposited in the HNHM).

Paratypes: 3 males, 2 females with the same data as holotype; (coll. PGM), slides GYP 4913 (male), GYP 4908 (female) .

Diagnosis. Diarsia variolosus ( Figs 39–42 ) is the fifth species in the torva species group. It is very distinctive from all but one by the broader, variegate ochre, red–ochre, red–brown forewings, while those are different shades of the brown in the close relative congeners; additionally the wing pattern is significantly more defined. The most corresponding species in the genitalia structure is the Diarsia metatorva Varga & Ronkay, 2007 ( Figs 43, 44 ), but the above mentioned features and the much lighter hindwing provide easy separation without genitalia dissection. In the male genitalia, the structures in this species group are apparently almost the same. The most recognizable differences are provided: in the new species ( Fig. 70 ), the dorsal extension of the juxta is shorter, finer; the cucullus “neck” somewhat broader; the medio–ventral extension of the valva is much larger. The armature of the vesica well differs from the closest relative D. metatorva ( Fig. 71 ), since the large, strongly sclerotized, laminar serrate plate in the vesica is oppositely situated in the D. variolosus sp. n. and shorter but broader, more serrate; the vesica bears three bunches of strong spines, while in the D. metatorva only one group discernible, near the longer but less serrate plate. In the female genitalia, D. variolosus ( Fig. 79 ) well differs in two characters from all but one of the species of the torva group: the new species have the most elongate papillae anales and medially poorly depressed antrum with fine, postero–laterally diverging, apically pointed and not lobate extensions.

Description. Wingspan 34–38 mm; the females are slightly larger than the males. Antennae are thin, filiform, however with fine, short setae in the males. Ground colour of head and thorax vesture and of the forewings is variegated; ochre, red–ochre, red–brown however somewhat darker suffused in certain females. The wing pattern is well recognizable, defined with brown. The ante– and postmedial lines are simple or double, the former ones wavy, the latter ones arched and crenated, subterminal lines conjectural, fine, pale ochre or reddish brown. The orbicular and reniform stigmata are typical, more or less outlined with fine brown; the latter ones with black definition in the lower border, while the claviform stigmata marked only by a black dot. Hindwings are light brown, somewhat darker suffused in the diffuse marginal area, discal spots a darker brown arch. Male genitalia. The most recognizable features of D. variolosus ( Fig. 70 ) are as follows: rather long, evenly thin, terminally tapering uncus; falcate harpe, basally with a strong, digitiform extension; thin, straight ampulla; shield–like juxta with dorso–apical appendage; ventro–medially broaden valva with somewhat detached large cucullus, covered with numerous long setae; slightly curved aedeagus; simple vesica with a large, strongly sclerotized, laminar serrate plate and oppositely with ventral structure of three bunches of strong cornuti. Female genitalia. The main characters ( Fig. 79 ) are the setose papillae anales and short apophyses anteriores and posteriores; strongly sclerotized, V–shaped, postero–medially broadly depressed antrum with postero–lateral, symmetrical, diverging, apically pointed processi; large, globular, strongly sclerotized appendix bursae and saccate corpus bursae.

Biology and distribution. The new species is known from the Chinese province of Sichuan only; a late summer species .

Etymology. The new species is named after the variegate forewings.

Figures

Figures 33–40. Diarsia spp. adults. 33. D. griseocilia sp. n., holotype, male, China, N Yunnan (PGM); 34. D. griseocilia sp. n., paratype, male, China, N. Yunnan (ASV); 35. D. griseocilia sp. n., paratype, male, China, N Yunnan (ASV); 36. D. rubicilia, syntype, male, India, Darjiling (NHMUK); 37. D. rubicilia, male, Nepal, Kanchenjunga (PGM); 38. D. luteosuffusa, holotype, male, China, Shaanxi (PGM); 39. D. variolosus sp. n., holotype, male, China, Sichuan (PGM); 40. D. variolosus sp. n., paratype, male, China, Sichuan (PGM).

Figures 41–44. Diarsia spp. adults.41. D. variolosus sp. n., paratype, male, China, Sichuan (PGM); 42. D. variolosus sp. n., paratype, female, China, Sichuan (PGM); 43. D. metatorva, paratype, male, China, Shaanxi (PGM); 44. D. metatorva, paratype, female, China, Shaanxi (PGM).

Figures 70-71. Diarsia spp. male genitalia. 70. D. variolosus sp. n., holotype, China, Sichuan, GYP 4674 (PGM); 71. D. metatorva, paratype, China, Sichuan, GYP 2701 (PGM).

Figures 78-80. Diarsia spp. female genitalia. 78. D. sciurus sp.n., paratype, China, Sichuan, GYP 5055 (ASV); 79. D. variolosus sp. n., paratype, China, Sichuan, GYP 4908 (PGM); 80. D. metatorva, paratype, China, Shaanxi, GYP 4932 (PGM).