Egira vadimi Benedek, Babics & Kononenko

Babics, Balázs Benedek János & Kononenko, Vladimir, 2015, A description of the new Egira species from the Russian Far East (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Orthosiini), Zootaxa 3914 (3), pp. 346-350 : 346-350

Egira vadimi Benedek, Babics & Kononenko , sp. n.

( Figs 1, 2 , 6 , 8 )

Material examined. Holotype: male, Russia, Primorsky krai, Anisimovka village, 26.v.–2.vi.2013, slide No.JB2196 male, (coll. Balázs Benedek, Törökbálint, Hungary). Paratype: female, Russia, Primorsky Krai, Anisimovka village, 11.v.2014, slide No.JB2231 female (coll. Vadim Golovizin, Krasnoyarsk, Russia).

Diagnosis. The new species is a member of the conspicillaris -species group and it is closely related to Egira conspicillaris (Linnaeus, 1758) . It differs from E. conspicillaris (figs 3-5) in the larger size, more robust thorax, the narrower reniform stigma and the deeper incision on the upper half of termen on the forewing. The colouration and pattern of the forewing are similar to those of E. conspicillaris , especially to its pale form with reduced pattern (fig. 5). Similarly to E. conspicillaris the new species is dimorphic: female (fig. 2) coloured darker than male, with brownmagenta tone of forewing. It differs from female of E. conspicillaris (fig. 5) by reduced wing pattern. The male genitalia of E. vadimi sp. n. (fig. 6) differs from E. conspicillaris (fig. 7) in the relatively shorter uncus, broader tegumen, squarely angled harpe and apically more acute valva with well-developed corona and saccular process. The aedeagus of E. vadimi is evenly curved, the vesica is analogous with those of E. conspicillaris , although the basal diverticulum has characteristically globular basis, and the two medial cornuti is relatively shorter than those of E. conspicillaris . The female genitalia of the new species (fig. 8) differ from those of E. conspicillaris (figs 9, 10) in the much broader antrum and the configuration and shape of cervix and corpus bursae.

Description. Imago ( Fig. 1, 2 ). Wingspan 39 mm, length of forewing 17 mm. Antenna filiform, reddish-brown coloured, labial palpi small, brownish-ochre coloured, head and thorax velvety greyish-brown coloured, with fine chocolate brown coloured hairs, scales on the edge of tegulae are darker brown coloured than that of thorax, abdomen somewhat paler coloured than thorax, with fine purple irroration, forewings elongated-trapezoid in shape with characteristic, sinuous-shape of termen, ground colour yellowish-brown with fine blackish reticulate-marble irroration, subbasal and antemedial fascia vanished, basal field ventrally somewhat darker than ground colour with fine, black scales, medial fascia obsolete, reduced into a dark brown band, orbicular stigma hardly visible, reniform stigma relatively narrow and small, framed of darker brown scales, postmedial and subterminal fascia vanished, terminal fascia split into small, triangular-shaped dots among veins, cilia darker brown than ground colour. Hindwing uncoloured shiny white, veins covered with fine brown-coloured hairs, discal spot clearly visible, small, pale brown coloured.

Male genitalia. ( Fig. 6 ). Uncus relatively short, apically characteristically slender and hooked, basal plate moderately broad, tegumen relatively broad but short, low positioned, characteristically bell-shaped, penicular lobes narrow, covered with long hairs, fultura inferior relatively broad, heart cut diamond-shaped, vinculum strong, elongated and V-shaped, valva characteristically sinuous wave-shaped with more or less parallel margins, sacculus relatively broad but short, saccular process short and broad, rounded-triangular in shape with more or less quadrangular basal plate, saccular extension thorn-like, slender, strongly sclerotized, editum slightly-developed but prominent, weakly hairy, harpe strongly sclerotized, finger-shaped and characteristically cranked at middle, cucullus evenly cut, apically acute, corona well-developed. Aedeagus relatively elongated and curved along, carinal plate heavily sclerotized, dorsal side serratecovered. Vesica everted ventrally, basal plate armed with three, variably-shaped cornutus: two less developed, smaller one and a somewhat larger one with well-developed globular basis, subbasal diverticulum long, tubular with a large, thick, terminal cornutus, surface of vesica covered with numerous belt-like sclerotisation, terminal diverticulum armed with a brush-like branch of long and strong cornutus.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 8 ). Papillae anales short, small and rather weak, apophyses anteriores and apophyses posteriors short, thin; ostium wide, antrum large and broad, cup-like; ductus bursae rather short but strongly sclerotised; cervix bursae well developed, large and complex, somewhat cauliflower-like in shape and heavily sclerotized, corpus bursae characteristically elliptical in shape with four strong band-like signa.

Bionomics and distribution. The species is known from the type locality only, Anisimovka village in the Primorye territory, Russia (fig. 11). The flight period of the species is from early May to beginning of June. It was collected in rich Manchurian mixed broad-leaved forest with dominating deciduous trees ( Quercus mongolica, Betula manchurca, Ulmus laciniata , Tilia amurensis , Acer spp.) and sub-dominating coniferous ( Pinus koraiensis and Abies holophila) at elevation approximately 300– 400 m. Like other species of the genus, E. vadimi flies together with the typical elements forming the spring phenological aspect of the Noctuidae fauna: Orthosia , Perigrapha , Panolis , Pseudopanolis , Brachionycha and Cerastis .

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Mr. Vadim Golovizin ( Russia, Krasnoyarsk), enthusiast entomologist, collector of the new species and many other interesting nocturnal moths in the Russian Far East.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Egira spp., imagines. 1, 2 — E. vadimi (1 — male, holotype, Russia, Primorye terr., genitalia prep. JB 2196; 2 — female, paratype, same locality, genitalia prep. JB 2298); 3, 4, 5 — E. conspicillaris, all Hungary (3, 4 — males, 4 — pale form; 5 — female).

FIGURES 6, 7. Egira spp., male genitalia. 6 — E. vadimi, holotype, genitalia prep. JB 2196; 7 — E. conspicillaris, Hungary, genitalia prep. JB 2230.

FIGURES 8 – 12. Egira spp., female genitalia; biotope and distribution map. 8 — E. vadimi, paratype, genitalia prep. JB 2298; 9, 10 — E. conspicillaris, Hungary, genitalia prep. JB 2231, JB 2245; 11 — Manchurian broad-leaved forest – the biotope of E. vadimi; 12 — Distribution map of E. vadimi.