Andraca theae Matsumura, 1909

Wang, Xing, Zeng, Ling & Wang, Min, 2011, The genus Andraca (Lepidoptera, Endromidae) in China with descriptions of a new species, ZooKeys 127, pp. 29-42 : 34

Andraca theae Matsumura, 1909 Figs 1-G, 1 –H2– G, 2-H

Oreta theae Matsumura, 1909, Thousand Insects of Japan, 1: 86. Type locality: Formosa (= Taiwan), China.

Description.

Male: wingspan 35-37 mm, length of forewing 17-19 mm, antenna length 6-7 mm (Figs 1-G, 1-H). Head densely covered with dark brown hairs; antenna bipectinate except apex. Forewing apex inconspicuously falcate, exterior margin straight. Forewing and hindwing each with a dark discal spot.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2-G): uncus triangular with apex narrowly spatulate; tegumen broad; gnathos elongate, medially inflated; saccus short and broad; valvae bifurcate apically; dorsal margin with a subapical hump; aedeagus bowed with dense apical spines.

Material Examined.

[CHINA] 1 ♂, Nanling National Nature Reserve, Ruyuan City, Guangdong Province, 2003-III-29, Guo-Hua Huang leg.; 1 ♂, same data to the former, except 2003-VIII-12, Guo-Hua Huang & De-Yu Xin leg.; 2 ♂♂, Taibei City, Taiwan Province, 2009-VIII-15, Shipher Wu leg.; 10 ♂♂, Wuyunjie National Nature Reserve, Taoyuan City, Hunan Province, 2010-VII-2, collected the larvae in the field by Mr. Hong-Chun Zhou, got the adults from the larvae bred in the entomological laboratory of Hunan Agricultural University by Dr. Guo-Hua Huang; 3 ♂♂, Houxi Town, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, 2010-VI-28, the adults from the larvae collected in the field and bred in laboratory by Dr. Guo-Hua Huang.

Host.

Camellia sinensis ( Theaceae ).

Biology.

This species is widely distributed in Taiwan and Southern China. The larvae were found on Camellia sinensis in Hunan Province; photographs of the early stages were taken in June to August, 2010 (Figs 3-A to 3-H).

Distribution.

China (Taiwan, Guangdong, Hunan, Anhui).

Remarks.

The species is easily separated from its congeners by the apically bifurcate valvae.