Epischnia eximia Kirpichnikova

Kirpichnikova, V. A., 2001, A New Species Of The Narrow-Winged Pyralids (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae: Phycitinae) From Russia, Far Eastern Entomologist 103, pp. 7-8 : 7-8

Epischnia eximia Kirpichnikova , sp. n.

Figs 1-6

MATERIAL. Holotype: ♂, Russia: Magadan region, Kulu River, 23.VII 1987 ( V. Kirpichnikova). Paratypes: 3 ♂, 1 ♀, with the same label as holotype; Magadan region: Sibit- Tyellakh, 13.VII 1987, 1 ♂ (Yu. Tshistjakov); Mt. Vlastnoy, 1200 m, 18.VII 1987, 1 ♂ (Yu. Tshistjakov); Chita region , Ksenjevka, 23.VII 1946, 1 ♂ (collector unknown) .

DESCRIPTION. Imago. External characters. Wingspan 28-36 mm. Labial palpi long, porrect, whitish-brownish, third segment slightly curved down; maxillary palpi brush-shaped and upright; frons prominent with long brown scales; vertex brownish, with tufts of snowwhite scales near antennal bases. Male antennae slightly curved and pectinated; female antennae straight and simple; proboscis and ocelli present ( Fig. 1 ). Ground colour of forewings upper surface brownish-grey; costal area entirely covered with whitish-brown scales, with brown spot in the central part; external area whitish-brown crossed by longitudinal brown lines; cilia brown. Ground colour of hindwings upper surface light brown; cilia whitish. Wing venation as on Figs 2, 3 .

MALE GENITALIA ( Figs 4, 5 ). Uncus elongate; gnathos broad, distally pointed; valva narrow, with small rounded lobe near base; vinculum broad, rectangular; juxta with lateral lobes; aedeagus broad, long, with numerous shallow thorns and spines in vesica.

FEMALE GENITALIA ( Fig. 6 ). Apophyses moderate, of almost equal length, anterior ones more stout and curved; ductus bursae long, membranous; antrum and ostium with sclerotizations; bursa copulatrix elongate, membranous, with broad and long sclerotized plate covered with scarce thorns and spines of different size.

DIAGNOSIS. The new species is similar to E. prodromella Hübner, 1796 in size and forewings ground color [ 1]. However, the genitalia give adequate characters for its separation. The male genitalia of new species have broader gnathos, long sclerotized plate in aedeagus and oblique cucculus; in female genitalia, bursae has a sclerotized plate much longer than that of E. prodromella and sclerotized spot in ductus bursae absent.

NOTES. A specimen from Transbaicalia differs from Magadan’s ones by the forewings coloration: brownish-greyisn with ochreous scales on the costal margin.

DISTRIBUTION. Russia: Magadan region, Chita region.

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ECOLOGY. In Magadan region new species was collected at elevations from 300 to 1250 m in Larix forest on scree slopes and mountain tundra; in Transbaicalia (Shilka basin) – in meadow surrounded with Larix taiga.

1. Sinev, S.Yu. 1986. Fam. Phycitidae – narrow-winged pyralids. – In: Medvedev G. S. (ed.). [Key to the insects of the European part of USSR]. Vol. 4, Lepidoptera. Pt. 3. Leningrad: Nauka. p. 251-340.

Figures

Figs 1-6. Epischnia eximia, sp. n.: 1) head, lateral view; 2) venation of fore wings; 3) venation of hind wing; 4) male genitalia, ventral view; 5) aedeagus; 6) female genitalia, ventral view.