Eupithecia anikini Mironov & Galsworthy

Mironov, Vladimir & Galsworthy, Anthony, 2014, A survey of Eupithecia Curtis, 1825 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) in Mongolia with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 3774 (2), pp. 101-130 : 106-107

Eupithecia anikini Mironov & Galsworthy , sp. n.

( Fig. 5 )

Material examined. Holotype. ♂, W Mongolia, Hovd aimak, 50 km S of Mankhan somon, 2100 m, 47˚02’N; 92˚21’E, on light, 2.vii.2010, leg. V. V. Anikin, Mironov slide no. 848♂ ( ZISP). Paratypes. 7♀, same data, Mironov slides nos 836♀, 846♀, 847♀ ( ZISP); 1♀, W Mongolia, Hovd aimak, Barlagijn-Gol Valley (under stream), 25 km NW of Altan-Soembo, 1700 m, 45˚53’N; 93˚05’E, on light, 5.vii.2010, leg. V. V. Anikin, Mironov slide no. 840♀ ( ZISP); 1♂, SW Mongolia, Gobi-Altai aimak, Mongolian Altai Mts., Khasgt-Khirkhan Mts., 17 km SSW Zhargalan, 2500–2900 m, 46˚48’N; 95˚49’E, 18–20.vii.2010, leg. V. V. Anikin, Mironov slide no. 839♂ ( ZISP).

Diagnosis. This species belongs to the “ undata ” group and is externally rather similar to E. kostjuki Mironov , described from the Talassky Mts. in southern Kazakhstan ( Fig. 6 ). E. anikini sp. n. can be distinguished from it by the blackish tinge of all wings, the small, intensely black, rounded discal dots and the less distinct transverse lines. The male and female genitalia of E. anikini are also similar to those of E. kostjuki , but are very clearly distinguished by the following features: shorter and broader, uniapical uncus; smaller valve with narrowly rounded apex; slightly longer, rather clavate papillae on the end of anterior arms of the labides; longer aedeagus with broadened anterior end; both horn-like cornuti on the vesica longer and accompanied by a third apical cornutus with an obtuse apex; a different shape to the apices of the eighth sternite, which are connected by a shorter and narrower basal band. In the female, the spines in the patch in the middle of the corpus bursae are longer, and both patches of spines (medial and posterior) are isolated from each other by a membranous area. In E. kostjuki the spiniferous area is usually larger and the spines smaller than in E. anikini .

Description. Wingspan 16.5–19.0 mm; fore wing 8.5–9.5 mm. Labial palpi equal to diameter of eye or slightly longer in the female, covered with mixed black and ochreous grey scales. Front, vertex, thorax and abdomen mostly ochreous greyish. Fore wing elongate, narrow, with almost straight costal margin, slightly arched near apex, oblique termen and narrowly rounded apex; ground colour blackish grey; transverse lines rather indistinct; basal and antemedial lines oblique, right angled onto costa; medial line sinuate, touching discal dot and sharply angled onto costa; postmedial twice angled onto costa; medial area usually paler, ochreous, especially near discal dot; terminal line with narrow, indented, ochreous subterminal line; discal dot small, distinct, intensely black, rounded; fringe chequered blackish grey and light, ochreous grey. Hind wing ovoid, relatively elongate and narrow, blackish grey, usually with inconspicuous transverse lines, but in some specimens with a light ochreous greyish transverse band between medial and terminal areas; discal dot distinct, small, black and rounded; fringe as on fore wing.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 24 ). Uncus short, relatively broad, uniapical. Valve very small, with slightly arched dorsal margin, and sharply tapered to narrowly rounded apex; sacculus thickened, lightly sclerotized. Vinculum relatively short and narrow, trapezoid with shallow medial hollow. Papillae on the end of anterior arms of labides slightly elongate and curved, clavate, covered with medium-sized setae in apical part. Aedeagus large, broadened at anterior end, longer than length of valve. Vesica armed with one short apical cornutus with obtuse apex, two longer cornuti, both slightly curved near base and apex, one about half the length of the other, a narrow, elongate U-shaped cornutus and a smaller, curved cornutus near ductus ejaculatorius base. Sternite A8 two elongated and relatively broad, parallel rods with pincer-like apices, connected by a very short and narrow transverse basal band; apical hollow narrow, very deep, membranous; basal hollow broad and shallow.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 30 ). Bursa copulatrix very small, ovate, membranous, covered with very small spines forming a transverse, band-like patch along the colliculum, and also with a separate patch of usually larger and longer spines on the left side. Ductus bursae not distinguishable. Ductus seminalis narrow, slightly broadened at base, attached to middle of corpus bursae on right. Colliculum almost circular, relatively broad, very short and lightly sclerotized. Antrum short and broad, membranous. Tergite A8 short and broad, with sclerotized anterior margin, rounded posterior corners and membranous medial hollow in posterior margin. Anterior and posterior apophyses relatively elongate, very narrow. Papillae anales rather short and broad, rounded, covered with short setae.

Etymology. The name of this species is dedicated to the specialist on Coleophoridae (Lepidoptera) Dr Vasily Anikin (Saratov University, Russia), who collected moths intensively in Russia, Mongolia and South Africa.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Eupithecia adults (scale bar = 10 mm). 1. E. mima Mironov, 1989 (holotype); 2. E. djakonovi Stshetkin, 1956 (Mongolia); 3. E. vicina Mironov, 1989 (holotype); 4. E. holti Viidalepp, 1973 (Mongolia); 5. E. anikini Mironov & Galsworthy, sp. n. (holotype); 6. E. kostjuki Mironov, 1989 (holotype); 7. E. kozlovi Viidalepp, 1973 (Mongolia); 8. E. saisanaria Staudinger, 1882 (Mongolia).

FIGURES 24 – 26. Male and female genitalia of Eupithecia (scale bar = 1 mm; males with sternite A 8; lateral view of uncus and papilla on the anterior arm of labides enlarged). 24. E. anikini Mironov & Galsworthy, sp. n. (paratype); 25, 26. E. saisanaria Staudinger, 1882, male and female respectively.

FIGURES 27 – 30. Female genitalia of Eupithecia (scale bar = 1 mm). 27. E. mima Mironov, 1989; 28 a. E. djakonovi Stshetkin, 1956, dorsal aspect; 28 b. Same, ventral aspect; 29 a. E. vicina Mironov, 1989, dorsal aspect; 29 b. Same, ventral aspect; 30. E. anikini Mironov & Galsworthy, sp. n. (paratype).