Heterophleps inusitata Li, Jiang & Han

Li, Jing, Jiang, Nan & Han, Hongxiang, 2012, Yunnan, China (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), Zootaxa 3278, pp. 58-60 : 58-59

Heterophleps inusitata Li, Jiang & Han sp. nov.

Figs. 3–6

Type material. Holotype, female, China: Yunnan: Tengchong, Heinitang, 1930 m, 28–30 May 1992, collected by Xue Dayong (deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China).

Description. Female. Antenna black mixed with white scales dorsally, about two-fifths length of forewing, bipectinate in basal three-fourths, filiform in terminal one-fourth; rami black, arising from central base of ventral side of each segment, parallel with antenna shaft basally and curled terminally, length of the longest ramus about six times of antenna shaft diameter. Frons not protruding, smooth-scaled, black mixed with reddish brown. Labial palpus reddish brown, black terminally, extending slightly beyond frons. Vertex, patagium and tegula black mixed with white. Metanotum white. Abdomen with dorsal side black with white transverse lines. Wing pattern. Forewing length: 17 mm. Forewing with apex slightly protruding, outer margin curved gently and sharply protruding at M1. Hindwing with outer margin slightly wavy, anal margin straight. Forewing with basal half blackish brown, scattered with silvery grey scales; antemedial and postmedial lines forming two black patches on costa, reddish brown, banded with black on both sides below costa; antemedial line ‘>’ shaped, forming a sharp tooth on M3; discal spot white, oval, very conspicuous; the area between antemedial and postmedial lines densely covered with silvery grey scales, M1 and M3 veins black in this area; postmedial line extending along R5 to submarginal line, then folding back and straight to anal margin, forming a sharp angle just below R5; a reddish brown patch present below apex; submarginal line white, wavy above R5, interrupted on R5, almost straight below R5; R4, R5 and M1 veins reddish brown outside submarginal line; terminal line black, with a silvery grey line inside; basal half of fringes reddish brown between costa and M1, blackish brown below M1, terminal half greyish white mixed with black. Hindwing greyish yellow, densely scattered with blackish brown scales except costal area; discal spot silvery grey, short strip-like, indistinct; postmedial line distinct below Rs, black, broad and straight; submarginal line greyish yellow, wavy slightly; terminal line and fringes similar to those of forewing. Underside: ocherous to yellowish brown, dark grey from base to postmedial line on forewing; postmedial and terminal lines dark grey; forewing with postmedial line oblique outwards between costa and M1 and inwards below M1, discal spot similar to upperside; hindwing with postmedial line wavy, discal spot dark grey, short strip-like. Ven at ion. Forewing with areole double; R2 – 4 and R5 arising from posterior angle of areole; M1 separate from areole. Hindwing with Sc+R1 separate from cell, connected by a slender, oblique bar at middle of cell; Rs and M1 arising from anterior angle of cell; discocellulars weakly biangulate; M2 arising from the second angle of discocellulars, a little close to M3; CuA1 arising from just before posterior angle of cell; 3A absent. Female genitalia. Papillae analis oval, covered with dense setae. Apophyses posteriores and apophyses anteriores slender and long. Sterigma not well developed. Ductus bursae slender and long, with antrum at middle. Corpus bursae large, almost rounded, membranous; twelve long strip-like signa at posterior half of corpus bursae, acute posteriorly and broad anteriorly.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to other congeners in the very broad forewing with the outer margin longer than the anal margin and double areoles; the hindwing Sc+R1 is separated from the cell and connected by a short bar near the middle of the cell; the strip-like signa around the corpus bursae of the female genitalia. But it can be easily distinguished by many other characters, especially the bipectinate female antenna and the protrusion on M1 of the forewing outer margin.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word inusitatus, which means rare or uncommon.

Remarks. The genus Heterophleps is a member of the tribe Trichopterigini within the subfamily Larentiinae . Parsons et al. (1999) included several generic names as junior synonyms of Heterophleps , including Lygranoa Butler, 1878 and Ortholithoidia Wehrli, 1932 , which were considered as subgenera by Prout (1914) and Wehrli (1932). Species of Heterophleps are mainly distributed in eastern Asia, with three representatives in North America. Until now, 25 species in Heterophleps have been recognized, with 12 species recorded in China ( Xue & Zhu 1999). The new species agrees with some morphological characters of Heterophleps but unlike any known members of the genus in some aspects, including the bipectinate female antenna, the dentate forewing outer margin and the unusual wing pattern. It is likely that the new species belongs to a new genus, but many important generic diagnostic characters are based on male characters in the tribe Trichopterigini (e.g., male antenna, venation, wing shape, genitalia, some secondary sex characteristics). Thus it may not be possible to make a generic or subgeneric assessment before finding a male or another close relative of the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. 1, Heinitang, the type locality of Heterophleps inusitata sp. nov.; 2, burning forests for cultivation of soil at Heinitang; 3 – 6. H. inusitata sp. nov., 3, female, holotype, upperside (1.5 X); 4, ditto, underside (1.5 X); 5, venation; 6, female genitalia.