Xenophysa argyrogramma Varga, 1985

Varga, Zoltán, 2011, Revision of the genus Xenophysa Boursin, 1969 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3094, pp. 1-29 : 6

Xenophysa argyrogramma Varga, 1985

Xenophysa argyrogramma Varga, 1985 , Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Entomologen 37 (1–2): 28.

Type material. Holotype: male, Afghanistan, Dasht-i-Nawar, NW of Ghazni, 3000 m, 8.–10. VI. 1965, leg. Kasy & Vartian (coll. Vartian, NHMW). Paratypes: 8 3 from the same locality and data (6 3 coll. Vartian, NHMW, 2 3 coll. Varga), 2 3 Afghanistan, Dasht-i-Nawar pass, 6.IX. 1963, 3150 m, coll. Vartian, NHMW; 1 Ƥ Afghanistan, Hazaradjat, Koh-i-Baba, Panjao env., 3500 m, 22.–26.VI. 1961, leg. Ebert (coll. ZSM). Genital slides: 3 Va rga 1425, 2430, 2431, 2435, Ƥ Ronkay 1235.

Taxonomic notes. X. argyrogramma is a relatively small species, smaller in average than the sympatrically occurring X. cacumena afghanorea (expanse: 29–33 mm, length of forewings 13–14.5 mm). Male antennae shortly pectinate and ciliate, but more strongly than in the closely related X. cacumena afghanorea ; in female shortly ciliate. Colouration relatively simple, smoky greyish-brown, with whitish-grey collar and silvery whitish-grey maculation (name). Reniform and orbicular spots connected; orbicular and claviform macules usually silvery grey. Hind wings relatively unicolorous pale brownish-grey. The single female is similar to the darker and more unicolorous male specimens (Plate 3, Figs. 13–14). Xenophysa argyrogramma is externally mostly similar to X. junctimacula but essentially smaller, and the maculation is finer and more shiny, silvery whitish-grey. Males can also be easily distinguished from the sympatrically occurring X. cacumena afghanorea by the stronger pectinated antennae and also by the silvery whitish-grey maculation. The male genitalia is most similar to X. junctimacula but generally more graceful, costal extension of valva narrower with a simple spine, the apico-lateral pseudo-pollex reduced. Juxta with smaller dorsal extension. Aedeagus shorter and less arcuate (Plate 7, Figs 35a, b). Female genitalia with rounder papillae anales, with a deep and narrow V-shaped incision and shorter and more symmetrical lateral arms of the antrum than in X. junctimacula (Plate 11, Fig. 52).

Biological notes. The habitat of this species is a typical high mountain semi-desert with thorny cushion vegetation (verbal comm. of Ms. Eva Vartian). It is quite curious that two male paratypes were also captured in early September which is an unusual flying period for a Xenophysa species.