Owadaglaea kulmani Benedek & Saldaitis

Benedek, Balázs, Borth, Robert & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2012, Four new Owadaglaea species from the greater Himalayan region (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3316, pp. 40-49 : 41-47

Owadaglaea kulmani Benedek & Saldaitis sp. nov.

( Figs. 9, 10 , 17 , 24 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( Fig. 9 ), Nepal, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district, Salle village, 2250–2400 m, N27°35.998', E86°09.775" 5–8. ii. 2011, leg. Balázs Benedek, in the collection of BBT; (slide No.JB 1744m). Paratypes: 6 females ( Fig. 10 ), with the same data as the holotype, 1 male, 4 females, Nepal, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district, Salle village, 2250–2400 m, N27°35.998', E86°09.775" 28. xi. – 1. xii. 2011, leg. Balázs Benedek, in the collections of BBT and HSV. Slide No. JB1745f.

Diagnosis. Owadaglaea kulmani can be separated from two closely related species, O. elongata ( Figs. 4 , 13, 14 ) and O. yoshimotoi ( Figs. 11, 12 , 18 , 25 ), by the smaller size and the more chocolate brown-creamy yellowish brindle forewing pattern. The male clasping apparatus of the three species is essentially similar, but O. kulmani has shorter, broader valve, a differently curved ampulla and differently shaped cucullus. The clavus is larger, the vinculum stronger and the basis of the uncus narrower compared to O. elongata ( Fig. 19 ). The female genitalia of the new species has a wider, bell-shaped ostium, broader ductus and larger cervix bursae.

Description. Wingspan 32–35 mm, length of forewing 15–16 mm. Front collar striped brindle with brownyellow and black hairs; tegulae light sandy-brown; mid thorax blackish; antennae ciliate; forewings elongate with pointed apex; ground color of males fine chocolate-brown, females lighter, creamy-yellowish; subterminal area, costa, reniform and frame of orbicular light sandy color; cilia rather long, crenulate and light creamy on females, light brownish on males; hindwing oval, dark smoky grey; discal spot poorly visible; cilia short. Male genitaila ( Fig.17 ): Uncus medium size, apically dilate; tegumen high; juxta large, bell-shaped; vinculum rather long, Vshaped with thick shafts; valva moderately elongate; cucullus rounded with slightly angled apex; corona reduced; sacculus assymetrical, on the right side larger with longer process; clavus large, thumb-shaped; harpe short, thick and also assymetrical as left side is longer and more curved; basal shaft long, strongly sclerotized running down to saccular plate on the ventral margin; ampulla long, thin with it's basis connected to the harpe; aedeagus arched at middle, carinal process weak; vesica moderately broad with a single diverticulum and one small cornutus. Female genitalia ( Fig.24 ): Ostium widely triangular, basin shaped, distal segment of ductus wider and proximal part sclerotized; cervix bursae large, conical and gently ribbed; corpus bursae large, oval.

Bionomics and distribution. All specimens were collected by light on the edge of a dense primary forest together with specimens of Owadaglaea elongata , O. barna , O. yoshimotoi and other winter-early spring Noctuidae like Conistra aulombardi Hreblay, 1993 , Xylena apicimacula Yoshimoto, 1993 , Rhynchaglaea nigromaculata Hreblay & Ronkay, 1998 , Harutaeographa diffusa Yoshimoto, 1994 , H. izabella Hreblay & Ronkay, 1998 , Orthosia nigrorenalis Hampson, 1894 , etc. The moths are presumably active all winter as the flight period extends from November to the end of February. The early stages and food plants are unknown.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Mr. Kulman Tamang, our friend and guide in Kathmandu.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 14. Owadaglaea ssp. adults. 9. O. kulmani, male, holotype, Nepal, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT); 10. O. kulmani, female, paratype, Nepal, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT); 11. O. yoshiomotoi, male, Nepal, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT); 12. O. yoshiomotoi, female, Nepal, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT); 13. O. elongata, male, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT); 14. O. elongata, male, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT);

FIGURES 15 – 18. Owadaglaea ssp. male genitalia. 15. O. reta, holotype, prep. BJ 1612; 16. O. babicsi, prep. BJ 1797; 17. O. kulmani, holotype, prep. BJ 1744; 18. O. yoshiomotoi, prep. BJ 1827.

FIGURES 23 – 27. Owadaglaea ssp. female genitalia. 23. O. reta, paratype, prep. BJ 1674; 24. O. kulmani, paratype, prep. BJ 1745; 25. O. yoshiomotoi, prep. BJ 1828; 26. O. elongata, prep. BJ 1721; 27. O. triangulifera, prep. BJ 1747.

FIGURES 1 – 8. Owadaglaea ssp. adults. 1. O. reta, male, holotype, China, Sichuan (GBG / ZSM); 2. O. reta, female, paratype, China, Sichuan (AFM); 3. O. babicsi, male, China, Sichuan (AFM); 4. O. elongata, male, Janakpur, Dolakha area, Thulopatal district (BBT); 5. O. michelleae, male, holotype, Myanmar, West Chun State, Junction Mt. Victoria (HSV); 6. O. dominiki, male, holotype, Myanmar, West Chun State, Junction Mt. Victoria (HSV); 7. O. triangulifera, male, W. Nepal, Bheri (BBT); 8. O. triangulifera, female, W. Nepal, Bheri (BBT).

FIGURES 19 – 22. Owadaglaea ssp. male genitalia. 19. O. elongata, prep. BJ 1720; 20. O. michelleae, holotype, prep. BJ 1645; 21. O. dominiki, holotype, prep. BJ 1644; 22. O. triangulifera, prep. BJ 1748.