Lacanobia chayu, Han & Kononenko, 2017

Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2017, Two new species of the family Noctuidae from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 4338 (2), pp. 385-392 : 389-391

Lacanobia chayu sp. n.

( Figs 6, 7, 8 )

Type material. Holotype: male, China, Aut. Reg. Xizang, Chayu, Dangxiatong , 12.v.2015, Hui Lin Han leg.; male genitalia, slide HHL-3814-1 (coll. NEFU) .

Diagnosis. Lacanobia chayu sp. n. is more robust and much larger in size compared with other species of the genus (wingspan of the holotype 49 mm vs 35–42 mm of the average wingspan among Lacanobia spp.). It clearly differs from its congeners by dark blackish forewing colour with light bluish-grey dusting and black main elements of wing pattern formed by thin lines and clearly milky white colour of hindwing. Externally the new species somewhat resembling European Aporophyla nigra (Haworth) ( Noctuidae , Xyleninae , tribe Antitypini) (Fig. 13), but belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae , tribe Hadenini of Noctuidae . Most Lacanobia species have greyish or greyish-brown with reddish colouration of forewing and ordinary greyish-brown hindwing. Some species of the tribe Hadenini [like Polia mortua (Staudinger) , Mamestra persicariae (Linnaeus) , M. postabla Sugi (Figs 14–16) and some other] externally resemble Lacanobia chayu sp. n. by dark coloration of forewing, but the blackish forewing in combination with the clear white hindwing is really unique in these groups. The new species could not be confused with any other species of the tribe Hadenini .

By our opinion the new species could be placed in the genus Lacanobia (subgenus Diataraxia), whose typespecies is L. (D.) splendens Hübner. The the genitalia configuration of L. chayu sp. n., however, is not a typical for Lacanobia and its position in the genus requires further clarification. The genitalia characters of the new species show its closest relation to L. behouneki Hreblay & Plante ( Figs 10–12 ).

We place the new species to the genus Lacanobia , subgenus Diataraxia by its external characters and structure of male genitalia generally matched with those of subgenus Diataraxia species, namely by shape of valva with separated distal part, by structure of harpe and structure and shape of aedeagus and vesica shared with other species of the subgenus. The only autapomorphic character in the new species is the huge cornutus on the vesica.

Description. Adult ( Figs 8, 9 ). Wingspan 49 mm. Head and thorax blackish with dusting of bluish-grey scales; eyes with dense hairs; tegulae and patagia bordered with black; forewing elongate, triangular; ground colour of forewing greyish with very light bluish-grey tint, wing pattern formed with black lines. Basal field restricted by thin black line in costal area; basal streak expressed, thin; submedial line black, twin with thin bordering inside; medial field with clearly expressed large orbicular, reniform and claviform connected with postmedial line by black streak; orbicular large, slightly paler than background, formed with thin bordered line; reniform large, bordered with thin black line joined with bordering of orbicular in basal part, pale-grey inside; postmedial line thin, black, slightly waved; subterminal field with very light reddish tint; subterminal line as a row of long triangular streaks; terminal field with row of thin black streaks, joined with terminal line; terminal line thin, black; cilia blackish. Hindwing milky-white with greyish dusting along terminal margin and thin dark grey terminal line; discal spot hardly traceable; cilia greyish. Male genitalia. (Fig. 17). Uncus similar to those in L. splendens : rather short, curved basally, straight, duck beak-like, covered with short strong setae and long hairs in basal part; tegumen moderate broad, equal to vinculum in length; paratergal sclerits ribbon-like, bended; juxta deltoid; transtilla ribbonlike; valva moderate in length and wide, slightly curved, with smooth costal projection, clear cucullus neck, narrow apical part of valva, ending by thin, pointed extension; sacculus with prominent basal cut; clasper strong, rib-like; harpe strong, arched, with broad base and very small pointed ventro-basal extension and larger short finger-like dorsal extension; cucullus relatively short, bearing patch of strong setae on costal margin near apex, ended with thin pointed process. Aedeagus large, strongly sclerotised, with short ribbon-like carina; vesica tubular, projecting on straight angle to aedeagus, armed with one large needle-like cornutus, four gathered needle-like cornuti and several week hair-like cornuti.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The species in named by its type-locality, Chayu village in the Xizang Autonomic Region of China.

Distribution. The species is known only from its type-locality. Single male was collected in May.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 12. Lacanobia chayu, sp. n. and similar species. 8, 9. L. chayu sp. n. (8 — adult, holotype, 9 — head structure. (Coll. NEFU); 10 - 12. L. behouneki, holotype (10 — adult, 11, 12 — male genitalia) (after Hreblay & Plante 1995); 13 - 16. Similar species: 13. Aporophyla nigra; 14. Polia mortua; 15. Melanchra persimilis (dark form); 16. M. postabla; 17. L. chayu, sp. n., male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide HHL- 3814 - 1 (coll. NEFU).