Panolis bachmae Benedek & Babics

Benedek, Balázs & Babics, János, 2017, A new Panolis Hübner, [1821] species from Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Orthosiini), Zootaxa 4254 (5), pp. 584-588 : 584-588

Panolis bachmae Benedek & Babics sp. n.

( Figs. 1–4 , 9–10 , 13–14 )

Holotype. male ( Fig. 1 ), Vietnam, Thua Thien Hue , Bach Ma Mt., 1400 m, March–April, 2016, leg. Thanh Luong Le, slide No. JB 2431m (coll. BBT, later to be deposited in HNHM).

Paratypes. 13 males, 2 females ( Fig. 2, 4 ) from the same locality, slide Nos. JB 2432f, JB 2459m, JB2458f, (coll. BBT, AFM, ASV and PGM).

Diagnosis. The new species is related to P. variegatoides ( Figs. 5 –6 ) and P. exquisita ( Figs. 7–8 ). It differs externally from both species by its darker, cherry-red colouration and from P. exquisita also by its smaller size ( P. bachmae wingspan 33–35 mm vs. 37–38 mm for P. exquisita ). The male genitalia ( Figs. 9–10 ) of the new species is more similar to that of P. variegatoides ( Fig. 11 ), but differs in the proximally longer and terminally narrower uncus, broader and apically acuter cucullus, and the configuration of the carinal process which has an additional, laterally positioned, harpoon-like bar. The female genitalia ( Figs. 13–14 ) differs both from P. variegatoides ( Fig. 15 ) and P. exquisita ( Fig. 16 ) in its broader, larger ovipositors, the characteristical, largely conical (bell-shaped) plate of the ostium bursae, somewhat larger lateral ′′pockets′′ of the distal part of ductus, the more sclerotised cervix bursae and the rather shorter but more rounded corpus bursae.

Description. Wingspan 33–35 mm, length of forewing 15–16 mm. Antennae filiform; head, collar and thorax pale reddish-brown, decorated with white hair like scales, ground colour of forewing deep cherry-red, irrorated with dark bluish-grey chrome patches and with fine metallic shine. Crosslines black and red-brown, antemedian fascia remarkably angled at its middle the direction towards the subbasal fascia and connected with black stripe dash to the subbasal fascia towards the vein. Postmedian fascia peaked out at ventral part of reniform stigma, then turned and running below the stigma, reaching the diffuse, outwardly lined median fascia; subterminal fascia diffuse and narrow, strongly waved. Orbicular- and claviform stigma hardly traceable, slightly paler chrome-coloured with thin, black frame, reniform stigma large but also indistinct, dark chrome-filled and encircled with black scales, decorated terminally by a fine, narrow, whitish stripe. Terminal area of forewing somewhat paler than those of ground colour; cilia patched, black and chrome; hindwing satine-white with fine pinkish tint and slight terminal shade, discal spot well visible.

Male genitalia. ( Figs. 9–10 ), Uncus relatively elongated, proximal half narrow, terminal half spatulate-triangular in shape, subapical hairs long but gentle. Tegumen relatively low positioned, broad and semicircular; penicular lobes narrow. Fultura inferior pendulum-shaped, vinculum rather broad and sclerotised, U-shaped. Valvae symmetrical, elongated with characteristic, apically acute cucullus, sacculus moderately broad, rather elliptical in shape. Harpe moderately long and broad, finger-shaped, and finely curved along, with long, gently curved basal part, ampulla (saccular process) thick, finger-shaped and terminally rounded. Aedeagus cylindrical, medium length with rounded coecum, terminal edge of carina strongly curved, complimented with a lateral, harpoon-like process and an apically serrated, broadly triangular cornutus. Vesica ventrally everted, twice turned, proximally bears a long medial diverticulum, which is armed with a thorn-like terminal cornutus, terminal part of the vesica distally covered with an elongated, brush-like spiculi field. Female genitalia. ( Figs. 13–14 ), Ovipositor short, triangular in shape covered with short, hair-like scales; apophyses anteriores and apophyses posteriores short, slender, evenly curved; ostium bursae plate broadly conical, bell-shaped; ductus bursae moderately long and broad, rather straight with wrinkled surface, distal part of it broader, laterally covered with two, folded and sclerotised ′′pockets′′; cervix bursae medium sized, conical in shape, strongly ribbed, distally doubled back, corpus bursae characteristically ovoid in shape, membranous, covered with four narrow and elongated signum bands.

Distribution and bionomics. Known only from its type-locality, Vietnam, Bach Ma mountain, part of a rather isolated chain of the Annamite mountain range, situated close to the cost of the South China Sea. The area is noted about its high biodiversity and it is also considered as the most humid place in Vietnam. The mountain is covered with tropical evergreen monsoon forest above 900 m. The early stages are unknown but the food plant of P. bachmae is presumably some kind of coniferous tree ( Pinus sp. or Abies sp.).

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Panolis ssp. adults. 1. P. bachmae, male, holotype, Vietnam, Bach Ma mt. (BBT / HNHM); 2. P. bachmae, female, paratype, Vietnam, Bach Ma mt. (BBT); 3. P. bachmae, male, paratype, Vietnam, Bach Ma mt. (BBT); 4. P. bachmae, female, paratype, Vietnam, Bach Ma mt. (BBT); 5. P. variegatoides, male, Taiwan, Nantou (BBT); 6. P. variegatoides, female, Taiwan, Nantou, Tatajia (BBT); 7. P. exquisita, male, China, Shaanxi, Taibai Shan (BBT); 8. P. exquisita, female, China, Hubei, Daba Shan (BBT).

FIGURES 9 – 12. Panolis ssp. male genitalia. 9. P. bachmae, holotype, prep. JB 2431 (BBT); 10. P. bachmae, paratype, prep. JB 2459 (BBT); 11. P. variegatoides, prep. JB 2426 (BBT); 12. P. exquisita, prep. JB 2428 (BBT).

FIGURES 13 – 16. Panolis ssp. female genitalia. 13. P. bachmae, paratype, prep. JB 2432 (BBT); 14. P. bachmae, paratype, prep. JB 2458 (BBT); 15. P. variegatoides, prep. JB 2442 (BBT); 16. P. exquisita, prep. JB 2446 (BBT).