Parasa viridiflamma, Wu, Shipher & Chang, Weichun, 2013

Wu, Shipher & Chang, Weichun, 2013, Review of the Parasa undulata (Cai, 1983) species group with the first conifer-feeding larva for Limacodidae and descriptions of two new species from China and Taiwan (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae), ZooKeys 345, pp. 29-46 : 32-34

Parasa viridiflamma sp. n. Figs 1-3, 10, 11, 20, 21

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, TAIWAN, Hualien County, Tayuling, 2550 m, 25-VI-2008, leg. H. H. Lin (coll. ESRI); paratypes: 3♂, Taichung County, Tashuehshan Mts., Anmashan, 2230 m, 14-16.VI.1989, leg. M. Owada; 1♂, same collecting data, slide NSMT-SW131; 1♀, Taichung County, Anmashan, 2300 m, 30-VII-1997, leg. T. Mano, slide NSMT-SW132 (coll. NSMT); 1♂, Taichung County, Anmashan, 2600 m, 23-V-1998, leg. C. M. Fu; 1♂, Taitung County, Yenping, 31-VII-1992, leg. Shiau & Yang (coll. NMNS); 1♂, Nantou County, Renluen, 1400 m, 21-VIII-1991, leg. Y. B. Fan, slide TFRI00061358; 1♂, Nantou County, Tatajia, 2610 m, 6-VII-2011, leg. S. Wu & W. C. Chang (coll. TFRI).

Diagnosis.

The new species is externally similar to Parasa undulata from central and southern China and Parasa pygmy from Taiwan but it can be easily distinguished by the forewing green patch strongly incised between cubitals and anal veins. In the male genitalia the basal part of aedeagus (coecum) is long, strongly extending toward ventral side in Parasa viridiflamma . Females of all three Taiwanese species of the Parasa undulata group are recorded in the present study, they can be distinguished by the shape of the single signum, that of Parasa viridiflamma is short, irregular in shape, that of Parasa pygmy is saddle-shaped and that of Parasa martini is straight and long in transverse axis.

Description.

Adult (Figs 1-3).

Measures. Wingspan 23-24 mm in male (n=7); 26 mm in female (n=1).

Head. Antennae bipectinate in male, rami longer at basal part and gradually shortening to absent at 5/6 from base; filiform in female. Eyes black, round. Frons, vertex, labial palpi fringed with long, chestnut hair-like scales, 3rd labial palpal segment short.

Thorax. Thoracic segments green with chestnut dorsal stripe. Forewing ground coloration chestnut with median large green patch delimited externally by white line which is in turn lined by brown border, all these pattern elements strongly incurved be tween cubitals and anal veins, less so towards termen; marginal scales ochreous. Hind wings chestnut, marginal scales ochreous.

Abdomen. Abdominal segments fringed with long chestnut hair-like scales.

Male genitalia (Figs 10, 11). Uncus robust, wide with hook-like apex. Gnathos. Gnathos large, sclerotized, apically narrowed; juxta plate-like with two lateral sides extending dorsally. Valva short, apex tongue-like. Aedeagus long, tubular, coecum strongly bent ventrally.

Female genitalia (Figs 20, 21). Apophyses elongated, length of anterior and posterior ones equal; ductus bursae long; corpus bursae small, about 3.5 times shorter than ductus bursae, signum small, irregular-shaped.

Distribution and bionomics.

This species is endemic to Taiwan. The adults occur in May and mid June to late August in mid-elevation mountain areas (1400-2610 m). The fresh individuals appear earlier in the season. Possibly univoltine. Hostplant unknown.

Etymology.

The new species is named through the combination of viridis (green) and flamma (flame), according to its flame-shaped green median patch on forewing.