Cerura xenia, Morozov & Shovkoon, 2023

Morozov, Pavel & Shovkoon, Dmitry, 2023, A new species of Cerura SCHRANK, 1802 (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) from Southern Kazakhstan, Zootaxa 5230 (1), pp. 90-94 : 90-93

Cerura xenia species nov.

Holotype: Ô, Kazakhstan, South Kazakhstan region, West Tian Shan, Ugam mts, Sazanata river N42°09’58,1” E70°24’14,2” leg. Shovkoon D.F. —in coll. Zoologische Staatsammlung München | two paratypes: Ô, the same data in coll. Laboratory of Animal Systematics and Faunistics Samara National Research University, Samara, Russia | Ô, the same data in coll Dr Morozov P.S., Moscow, Russia.

Diagnosis: The males of Cerura xenia resemble C. viidaleppi externally but shape of the forewings of C. xenia is narrower, and the colour of the forewings is greyish. The dark grey, serrated fasciae and spots are well-marked. The apex of the anal margin of the whitish hindwings has blackish markings.

The male genitalia is characterized by narrowed triangular valvae, small bilobed uncus and small rounded socii and rather small saccus. The aedeagus is long, slender and slightly curved, distally tapered. The 8th sternite with very short processes.

The female is unknown so far.

Cerura viidaleppi —the forewing color is slightly more fuscous, margin spots are weakly developed. Male genitalia displays broader triangular valvae, very large saccus, a long dagger-shaped aedeagus and prominently longer processes of 8th sternite. Cerura przewalskii shows a very variable forewing color of the forewings from white to grey and fuscous. The blackish pattern of the forewings can be well or weakly developed. The hindwingsc are usually white. The abdomen pattern consists of alternating white, gray and black fasciae. Male genitalia is characterized by massive uncus, broad valvae and the broader aedeagus with the dilated caudal part and the large apical spur. The 8-th sternite has the paired widely spaced arrow-like sclerotisations with short processes.

Biology. Several specimens of C. xenia (3 ÔÔ) have been collected by light at 1845 m a.s.l. on the mountain slopes with steppe vegetation mixed with some trees ( Malus, Prunus , Populus, Juglans and Juniperus ) and bushes ( Rosa, Pistacia and Berberis ). It shares the habitat with C. przewalskii .

The early stages are unknown. The larva probably feeds on Salicaceae as in congeners.

Distribution. known only from the type locality: South kazakhstan, West tian-Shan, Ugam range.

etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mrs Kseniya Proskuryakova, České Budějovice ( Czech Republic),who made the excellent genitalia preparations for this work.