Spilarctia duda, Saldaitis, Aidas & Pekarsky, Oleg, 2016

Saldaitis, Aidas & Pekarsky, Oleg, 2016, A new species Spilarctia duda (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae) from China, Zootaxa 4103 (2), pp. 180-184 : 180-183

Spilarctia duda sp. n.

( Figs 1–4 , 9, 10 , 15, 16 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( Fig. 1 ), China, N Sichuan, road Maoxian/Songpan, 70 km S from Songpan, 2300 m, N32°10.408', E103°45.105', 14.IV.2015, leg. Floriani & Saldaitis, (Slide No. OP 3203m) (coll. ASV/ WIGJ).

Paratypes: 3 males ( Figs 2–4 ), with the same data as the holotype in the AFM, OP and WIGJ collections.

Diagnosis. Spilarctia duda is a relative of S. bipunctata ( Figs 5, 6 ) but can be distinguished from it by both external and genital features. Externally the new species is characterized by well-developed wing pattern represents by oblique row of short, black, horizontal streaks (pale basal half and bright upper part) extending from vein Cu2 towards apex, and black costal fold and costal spot. The forewings of S. bipunctata are practically without wing pattern accept one or two black dots at inner margin. The male genitalia of the S. duda ( Figs 9, 10 , 15, 16 ) are distinguished by the wider uncus, the simple apex of valva, oval juxta with large cleft on posterior margin, carinal plate with large teeth, presence of cornuti field on terminal diverticulum, and absence of cornuti field on basal part of vesica, whereas S. bipunctata ( Figs 11, 12 , 17, 18 ) is characterized by its narrower uncus, valva apex with large extension, juxta without cleft on posterior margin, narrow carinal plate without tooth, large basal cornuti field, and membranous terminal diverticulum without any cornuti. New species externally resembles also S. clava ( Figs 7, 8 ) but the latter species is endemic of Taiwan and its genitalia differ significantly in all parts ( Figs 13, 14 , 19, 20 ).

Remarks. The male genitalia of the new species closely resembles that of Spilarcita alba ( Bremer & Grey, 1853) ( Fang 2000, Dubatolov & Kishida, 2005) but these two species can be clearly separated by wing pattern and size (47–48 mm vs. 52–64 mm).

Description. Wingspan 47–48 mm (holotype 48 mm). Head, frons, collar, thorax and tegulae is pale creamy yellow; abdomen red with black lateral lines and black crest; forewing creamy yellow with darker shade and with variably intense pinkish suffusion; costa with long black fold at base and sometimes with costal spot in the middle; subterminal area with long oblique row of short, black, horizontal streaks; dorsum with three large dots; cilia as ground color. Hindwings paler and somewhat more transparent cream-yellow with a few small dots near to the outer margin; cilia as ground color. Male genitalia (9, 10, 15, 16). Uncus irregular pentagonal; juxta near oval with large cleft on posterior margin; valva wider at base, slightly tapering towards apex. Aedeagus thick, medial long, distal part slightly curved with strong carinal teeth; vesica rather globular with spacious subbasal cornuti field and large membranous terminal diverticulum. Female unknown.

Biology and distribution. Only four males were collected at ultraviolet light during a cold single night on 14 April, 2015 in remote part of west China Sichuan Province near the Maoxian. Spilarctia duda was collected at altitude ranging 2300 meters in mountain river dry valley rarely covered by mixed forests dominated by various deciduous trees and bushes

Etymology. The new species is named after colleague, prominent Lithuanian collector and director of the World Insect Gallery Juozas Dûda (Joniðkis, Lithuania).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Spilarctia ssp. adults. 1. S. duda sp. n., male, holotype, China, N. Sichuan (ASV / WIGJ); 2. S. duda sp. n., male, paratype, China, N. Sichuan (AFM); 3. S. duda sp. n., male, paratype, China, N. Sichuan (WIGJ); 4. S. duda sp. n., male, paratype, China, N. Sichuan (OPB); 5. S. bipunctata, male, China, E. Sichuan (OPB); 6. S. bipunctata, male, China, E. Sichuan (AFM); 7. S. clava, male, Taiwan, Nantou (OPB); 8. S. clava, male, Taiwan, Nantou (TFRI).

FIGURES 9 – 14. Spilarctia ssp. male genitalia, clasping apparatus. 9. S. duda sp. n., holotype, natural position, prep. OP 3203 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 10. S. duda sp. n., holotype, with opened valvae, prep. OP 3203 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 11. S. bipunctata, natural position, prep. OP 3204 m, (OPB); 12. S. bipunctata, with opened valvae, prep. OP 3204 m, (OPB); 13. S. clava, natural position, prep. OP 3159 m, (OPB); 14. S. clava, with opened valvae, prep. OP 3159 m, (OPB).

FIGURES 15 – 20. Spilarctia ssp. male genitalia, aedeagus and 8 th abdominal segment. 15. S. duda sp. n., holotype, aedeagus, prep. OP 3203 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 16. S. duda sp. n., holotype, 8 th abdominal segment, prep. OP 3203 m, (ASV / WIGJ); 17. S. bipunctata, aedeagus, prep. OP 3204 m, (OPB); 18. S. bipunctata, 8 th abdominal segment, prep. OP 3204 m, (OPB); 19. S. clava, aedeagus, prep. OP 3159 m, (OPB); 20. S. clava, 8 th abdominal segment, prep. OP 3159 m, (OPB).