Polychrysia praemium, Saldaitis, Aidas & Benedek, Balázs, 2015

Saldaitis, Aidas & Benedek, Balázs, 2015, A new Polychrysia (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Plusiinae) species from China, Zootaxa 3974 (2), pp. 290-296 : 290-296

Polychrysia praemium sp. n.

( Figs 1–6 , 13–18 , 25–28 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( Figs 1 , 25 ), China, N. Sichuan, near Jiuzhaigou, H- 2161 m, N 029º87.340‘, E 102º30.970‘, 25-26. VIII. 2014, Floriani & Saldaitis leg., slide No.OP 2903m, (coll. GBG / ZSM).

Paratypes: 6 males ( Figs 13–18 , 26–28 ) with the same data as the holotype, (colls AFM, ASV and OPB).

Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to Polychrysia splendida ( Butler, 1878) ( Figs 7 , 19 , 29, 30 ), it can be distinguished by the slightly deeper incision of the outer margin of forewings below the apex, the darker ground-colour of forewings, the broader, more conspicuous postmedian fascia with characteristic, violet distal scaling and large distal incision between the veins A1 and Cu2 and the more elongate subcellular stigmata, which is only slightly variable in shape and size on P. splendida . The male genitalia of the new species ( Figs 4–6 , 15–17 ) differs from those of P. splendida ( Figs 9–12 , 21–23 ) in the remarkably smaller, shorter uncus, the less sclerotized fultura, stronger vinculum, characteristically shorter clavus and narrower valvae with more angled apex. The aedagus of the P. praemium ( Figs 4, 5 , 16, 17 ) is slightly longer with smaller coecum and the vesica is shorter with shorter and broader basal and subbasal segment, the diverticulum is also shorter but broader and the curnutus is smaller with slightly curved terminal part.

Description. Wingspan of holotype 37 mm; wingspan of paratypes 35–37 mm; palpus very long, dorsally recurved as is typical for the genus; ground colour of thorax and forewings dark brownish-black with fine scales producing a violet sheen; forewings broadly triangular with termen broadly incised below the acute apex; ante-and postmedian fascia fused into the subcellular stigma, both fascias conspicuously marked with light grey and brownish-copper scaling; postmedian fascia characteristically strongly incised between the veins A1 and Cu2 and distally outlined with a fine violet-band; orbicular stigma faintly marked with violet scales; subcellular stigma conspicuously marked with a narrow, yellowish frame; terminal part of forewings with conspicuous dark fine bronze patch half way down and a violet-patch at the tornus; cilia short, same color as the forewings; hindwings dark fumous grey with the distant presence of a postmedian fascia and discal spot. Male genitalia ( Figs 4–6 , 15–17 ). Uncus long and strongly curved, apically pointed; tegumen somewhat highly-positioned; fultura large and broad, more-or less rounded in shape, posterior edge somewhat more sclerotized; clavus small, digitiform; vinculum large and rather strong; valvae moderately broad and more or-less lobular in shape with angled apex; harpe strong, long but narrow, thorn-like; aedeagus medium length, broad, straight; vesica long, tubular, basal part broader, diverticulum rather large, conical in shape with a single, large, strong and long cornutus gently curved at tip.

Female is unknown.

Bionomics and distribution. All seven males were collected at ultraviolet light on 25-26 August 2014 in southwest China's Sichuan Province in a remote area located at the southern end of the Minshan Mountain range. The collecting area is near the incomparable Jiuzhaigou National Park. The climate in the valley is cool, with a mean annual temperature 7.2 °C and a total annual rainfall of 661 mm, 80% of which occurs between May and October. Jiuzhaigou's ecosystem is classified as temperate broad-leaved forest and woodlands, with mixed mountain and highland systems. Nearly 300 km ² of the core scenic area are covered by virgin mixed forests and are home to oaks, endemic varieties of rhododendron and bamboo, and the endangered giant panda. Other recently described noctuids species collected there at that time include Catocala borthi Saldaitis, Ivinskis, Floriani & Babics, 2012 , Polia minae Saldaitis, Benedek & Behounek, 2013 and Amphipyra amentet Babics, Benedek & Saldaitis, 2013 .

Etymology. The name is referring to the unexpected and pleasant discovery of the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. P. praemium sp. n., male, holotype (coll. GBG / ZSM). 1. adult; 2. labels; 3. capsule, prep. OP 2903 m; 4. aedeagus x 20, prep. OP 2903 m; 5. aedeagus x 10, prep. OP 2903 m; 6. eighth sternite, prep. OP 2903 m.

FIGURES 13 – 18. P. praemium sp. n., male, paratype (coll. AFM). 13. adult; 14. labels; 15. capsule, prep. OP 3018 m; 16. aedeagus x 20, prep. OP 3018 m; 17. aedeagus x 10, prep. OP 3018 m; 18. eighth sternite, prep. OP 3018 m.

FIGURES 25 – 30. Polychrysia spp. adults. 25. P. praemium sp. n., male, holotype, China, Sichuan (GBG / ZSM); 26. P. praemium sp. n., male, paratype, China, Sichuan (AFM); 27. P. praemium sp. n., male, paratype, China, Sichuan (ASV); 28. P. praemium sp. n., male, paratype, China, Sichuan (AFM); 29. P. splendida, male, FE [Far East] Russia, Primorje (coll. OPB); 30. P. splendida, male, FE [Far East] Russia, Primorje (coll. OPB).

FIGURES 7 – 12. P. splendida, male, FE [Far East] Russia, Primorje (coll. OPB). 7. adult; 8. labels; 9. capsule, prep. OP 2904 m; 10. aedeagus x 20, prep. OP 2904 m; 11. aedeagus x 10, prep. OP 2904 m; 12. eighth sternite, prep. OP 2904 m.

FIGURES 19 – 24. P. splendida, male, FE [Far East] Russia, Primorje (coll. OPB). 19. adult; 20. labels; 21. capsule, prep. OP 3005 m; 22. aedeagus x 20, prep. OP 3005 m; 23. aedeagus x 10, prep. OP 3005 m; 24. eighth sternite, prep. OP 3005 m.