Belciana

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A revision of the genus Belciana Walker, 1862 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae) from East and South East Asia. Revision of Pantheinae, contribution XII, Zootaxa 4027 (3), pp. 341-365 : 346-347

Belciana sp. (Irian Jaya)

( Figs 7 , 45 )

Material examined. INDONESIA, NEW GUINEA: 1 female, Reg. Irian Jaya, Arfak Mts., Nabire, 12 km E Samabusa Lagari, 50 m, (primary forest), 03°22′ S, 135°29 E, Brechlin R. & Cerny K. leg., 6-8.xii.1993, slide, GB7363 female, coll. GB/ ZSM.

Diagnosis. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Wingspan 39 mm. This unknown species is close and similar in appearance to B. biformis and B. hemodoides , but differs from both by the structure of female genitalia, particularly by shape of antrum and antevaginal plate, shape of sclerotised area in joining of ductus with corpus bursae and by shape of corpus bursae. Female genitalia ( Fig. 45 ). Ovipositor quadrangular; apophyses anteriores and posteriores ones moderate long and equal in length, rather strong; antrum much narrower than in B. biformis , but broader than in B. hemodoides , strongly split; lateral sides of the antevaginal plate form two acute sclerotised protuberances; ductus bursae longer and broader than in B. biformis and B. hemodoides ; the area in joining of ductus with corpus bursae less sclerotised, but more ribbed and more amorphous compared with two those species; corpus bursae broad, constricted to its caudal part, with prominent extension in caudal part, much bigger than in B. hemodoides .

Male unknown.

Distribution and bionomics. Irian Jaya (New Guinea). The species was collected in the primary forest in May.

Note. Althouth the species substantively differs by female genitalia from its allies, we cannot describe it before collecting more material sufficient for description.

Belciana sulawesiana sp. n. ( Figs 8 , 34 )

Type material. Holotype: INDONESIA, SULAWESI: male, Reg. Sulawesi Selatan, Puncak, Palopo, 650-1300 m, 02°55 S ′, 120°05′ E, Brechlin R. ex coll., x.1997, slide GB7381, coll. GB/ ZSM.

Diagnosis. The new species is close to B. biformis and B. hemodoides , while the ground wing colouration is more similar to B. biformis . Externally it differs from the last by darker blackish subbasal field, smaller medial and subterminal patches in costal area and by expressed orbicular as white spot and reniform as white spot with black dot. In male genitalia it differs from both species by broader valva, with broader sclerotised part, broader harpe and structure of aedeagus and arming of vesica.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 8 ). Wingspan 43 mm. Tegulae brown; patagia pale bluish-green, the thorax dorsally between patagia bluish-green like B. biformis and B. hemodoides . Ground colour of forewing pale bluish-green, like in B. biformis ; subbasal field filled with black-brown, broader and darker than in B. biformis and B. hemodoides ; medial field with diffused patches of darker green, and diffused whitish spots; medial line distinct blackish, not reach costal mark, which is less expressed than in B. biformis and B. hemodoides ; orbicular and reniform stigmata expressed as diffused whitish spots, reniform with blackish dot in bottom; submedial and antemedial lines as diffused row of whitish spots; subterminal line blackish bordered with whitish inwardly; brown apical-subapical patch more contrast and broader, quadrangular, compared with B. biformis , not connected with subtornal brown patch, which is smaller than in B. biformis and B. hemodoides ; terminal line as a row of black vertical streaks; cilia brownish-grey, pale in base. Hindwing dark greyish outwardly, pale greyish-yellow inwardly, with traceable discal spot, medial band and blackish interrupted terminal line with thin whitish bordering; cilia brownish-grey with yellowish-grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 34 ). Compared with B. biformis and B. hemodoides the new species has somewhat longer uncus, which is more solid than in B. biformis , broader valva with less developed coremata, wider sclerotised area, shorter and more flat juxta. Aedeagus with dorsal branch of carina bearing very short extension much smaller than in B. hemodoides ; vesica basally bulbous, apically tubular, with 6–8 small cornuti, irregular tiny cornuti and one separated cornutus, all are smaller than in B. hemodoides ; ventral branch of carina with small patch of tiny spines more dense than in related species.

Female genitalia. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species name is given from the name of the type locality, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.

Distribution and bionomics. Indonesia, Sulawesi Isl. The species was collected in primary forest in October.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Belciana spp., adults. 1. B. biformis, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4159 (ZSM); 2. B. biformis, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4160 (ZSM); 3. B. biformis, female, Sumatra, slide GB 7359 (GB); 4. B. biformis, female, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4198 (ZSM); 5. B. hemodoides, male, Philippines, Palawan, slide GB 7389 (GB); 6. B. hemodoides, female, Philippines, Palawan, slide GB / ZSM N 4286 (ZSM); 7. B. sp., female, Irian Jaya, slide GB 7363 (GB); 8. B. sulawesiana sp. n., male, holotype, Sulawesi, slide GB 7381 (GB).

FIGURES 41 – 45. Belciana and Diphteroides spp., male (41) and female (42 – 45) genitalia. 41. B. scorpio, Thailand, slide GB / ZSM N 4215 (ZSM); 42. D. kendricki, Irian Jaya, slide GB 7372 (GB); 43. B. biformis, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4158 (ZSM); 44. B. hemodoides, Borneo, slide GB 7389 (GB); 45. B. sp., Irian Jaya, slide GB 7363 (GB). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.

FIGURES 32 – 34. Belciana spp., male genitalia. 32. B. biformis, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4159 (ZSM); 33. B. hemodoides, Philippines, Mindoro, slide GB 7380 (GB); 34. B. sulawesiana sp. n., holotype, Sulawesi GB 7381 (GB). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.