Bombyciella linzhiensis, Chen & Pan & Volynkin & Saldaitis & Benedek, 2021

Chen, Enyong, Pan, Zhaohui, Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas & Benedek, Balazs, 2021, Bombyciella linzhiensis, a new species from southern Xizang, China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae), ZooKeys 1060, pp. 85-92 : 85

Bombyciella linzhiensis sp. nov.

Figs 1-5 , 9 , 10

Type material.

Holotype: male (Fig. 1 ), "Sejila Mountain, Linzhi, Tibet, China, 29°35'36"N, 94°36'4"E, 4160 m a.s.l., 8.IX.2020, Enyong Chen [leg.]" (in Chinese), unique number: STS-31844, gen. prep. in glycerol by Enyong Chen (coll. TAAHU). Paratypes: 31 males (Figs 2-5 ), with the same data as in the holotype, unique numbers: STS-31032, STS-31044, STS-31045, STS-31046, STS-31047, STS-31048, STS-31049, STS-31050, STS-31051, STS-31052, STS-31101, STS-31102, STS-31127, STS-31129, STS-31131, STS-31133, STS-31136, STS-31137, STS-31140, STS-31840, STS-31845, STS-31851, STS-33192, STS-33202, STS-33203, STS-33419, STS-33421, STS-33424, STS-33427, STS-33433, STS-33438, gen. prep. in glycerol by Enyong Chen; 6 males, "Sejila Mountain, Linzhi, Tibet, China, 29°37'2"N, 94°38'32"E, 4500 m a.s.l., 8.IX.2020, Zhaohui Pan [leg.]" (in Chinese), unique numbers: STS-29906, STS-29907, STS-29908, STS-31666, STS-31668, STS-31669, gen. preps. in glycerol by Enyong Chen (colls TAAHU and WIGJ).

Diagnosis.

The new species (Figs 1-5 ) is externally similar to the type species of the genus Bombyciella , namely Bombyciella talpa Draudt, 1950 (Figs 7 , 8 ), but it can be distinguished by its darker body colouration, the more tapered forewing apex, the more indistinct transverse lines of the forewing and the dark grey hindwing having a distinct discal spot, whereas in B. talpa the hindwing is pale brown and the discal spot is absent or faint. Bombyciella linzhiensis sp. nov. differs clearly from another congener, B. antra Saldaitis, Benedek, Behounek & Stüning, 2014 (Fig. 6 ), by its significantly smaller size (the forewing length is 26 mm vs 39 mm in B. antra ), the blackish brown head and thorax (bluish grey in B. antra ), the blackish brown abdomen (pale brown in B. antra ), the straight costal margin (slightly convex in B. antra ), the more convex outer margin of the forewing, the blackish brown or olive brown forewing colouration (it is bluish grey in B. antra ), and the dark grey hindwing with a distinct discal spot (whereas in B. antra the hindwing is pale brown with a grey suffusion and lacks a discal spot but has a diffuse thin transverse line). The male genital capsule of B. linzhiensis sp. nov. (Figs 9 , 10 ) is reminiscent of that of B. talpa (Fig. 11 ) but differs by the wider uncus, the considerably smaller, tubercle-like medio-ventral process of juxta, the more apically rounded valva, the downward pointing and evenly-wide clasper tapered only apically (it is subapically constricted with an upward pointing apex in B. talpa ), and the thicker and longer costal process. Additionally, the peniculus of the new species is shorter than in B. talpa and the saccus is somewhat shorter and narrower. The aedeagus of B. linzhiensis sp. nov. is shorter (in relation to the tegumen-vinculum complex) and less sub-proximally curved than in B. talpa . The carina of the new species bears a bunch of spines directed ventrally whereas that of B. talpa bears a row of laterally directed spikes. The vesica of B. linzhiensis sp. nov. is broader than that of B. talpa and bears distally a cluster of more robust spike-like cornuti. Compared to that of B. antra (Fig. 12 ), the male genital capsule of B. linzhiensis sp. nov. has a more distally elongated and apically obtuse uncus (apically pointed in B. antra ), a basally wider and less elongated valva having a straight dorsal margin and a well-developed costal process protruding beyond the ventral margin, whereas in B. antra the dorsal margin of valva is medially slightly convex and distally somewhat curved dorsally, and the costal process is reduced. The clasper of the new species is thicker and evenly down-curved whereas it is up-curved in B. antra . Additionally, the peniculus of the new species is shorter and narrower than that of B. antra , the juxta is markedly longer and the saccus is narrower and somewhat longer. In the aedeagus of B. linzhiensis sp. nov., the carina bears a bunch of spines whereas it is plate-like without spines in B. antra . The vesica of the new species is somewhat shorter and broader (in proportion to the aedeagus size) than in B. antra and bears a cluster of markedly shorter cornuti distally.

Description.

Male. Forewing length 26-27 mm (holotype: 26 mm). Antenna shortly bipectinate. Head and thorax blackish grey with suffusion of pale grey scales. Forewing triangular with tapered apex and almost straight costa and convex termen. Forewing ground colour varies from blackish brown to olive brown. Subbasal dash short, black. Antemedial line irregularly sinuous, black, indistinct, oblique outwards posteriorly. Postmedial line indistinct, dentate on veins, loop-like curved anteriorly and oblique inwards posteriorly. In olive brown form, medial area intensely suffused with black scales. Orbicular stigma elliptical, from greyish- to olive brown. Reniform stigma wide, slightly dilated anteriorly, from greyish- to olive brown. Subterminal line evenly curved, parallel to termen, brown, interrupted into diffuse spots on veins. Terminal line blackish brown, thin. Costal margin intensely suffused with blackish scales, with three thin and short whitish subapical dashes. Cilia from dark grey to blackish grey. Hindwing dark grey with brown suffusion on veins, thin brown terminal line and comma-like, dark brownish grey discal spot. Hindwing cilia brownish grey. Abdomen blackish brown, with suffusion of pale grey scales along segment edges.

Male genitalia (Figs 9 , 10 ). Tegumen short, with arcuate arms. Penicular lobe small, rounded. Vinculum ca 1.6 times longer than tegumen, with more or less U-shaped saccus. Valva elongated with almost parallel margins medially, distally tapered and apically rounded, with densely setose apex. Sacculus short (ca 1/3 of valva length) and broad (ca 4/5 of valva width). Clasper flattened, smoothly downward pointing, distally tapered and apically rounded. Costal process (= digitus sensu Forbes nec Pierce) elongated, blade-like, apically pointed, directed ventro-distally and protruding beyond the ventral edge of valva. Uncus arrowhead-shaped, dorso-ventrally flattened, apically obtuse, densely setose. Tuba analis narrow and membranous. Juxta pentagonal shield-like, with a small tubercle-like medio-ventral process. Aedeagus elongated and narrow (length to width ratio ca 7.5:1), somewhat dilated proximally and distally, with short (less than 1/5 of aedeagus length) and rounded coecum. Carina triangular plate-like, apically rounded, bearing bunch-like cluster of 6-8 ventrally directed, thin spikes of various lengths. Vesica relatively short (ca 1/2 of aedeagus length), dorsally projected, slightly medially broader than aedeagus, somewhat twisted subbasally and dilated distally with a stripe of few robust spine-like cornuti before the gonopore.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

The new species is known only from Sejila Mountain in southern Xizang Province of China (Figs 13 , 14 ).

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the type locality located in the Linzhi (Nyingchi) prefecture of Xizang.

Figures

Figure 13. South of the collecting locality on Sejila Mountain, Linzhi, Tibet, China, 29 ° 35 ' 36 " N, 94 ° 36 ' 4 " E, 4160 m a. s. l., the type locality of Bombyciella linzhiensis (photo by Enyong Chen).

Figure 14. North of the collecting locality on Sejila Mountain, Linzhi, Tibet, China, 29 ° 35 ' 36 " N, 94 ° 36 ' 4 " E, 4160 m a. s. l., the type locality of Bombyciella linzhiensis (photo by Enyong Chen).

Figures 1 - 8. Bombyciella spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens 1 - 5 in TAAHU 6 in ZSM 7 in ZFMK (photo by D. Stuening) 8 in AFM.

Figures 9 - 12. Bombyciella spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected 9, 10 in TAAHU 11 in ZFMK (photo by D. Stuening) 12 in AFM.