Spininola kendricki, László & Sterling, 2020

László, Gyula M. & Sterling, Mark, 2020, Illustrated checklist of Nolinae (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) of Hong Kong, China, with description of two new species, Ecologica Montenegrina 33, pp. 35-58 : 48-49

Spininola kendricki sp. n. ( Figs 41, 42 , 68 , 91 )

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9AF018B0-E5F9-4C95-977A-E61562E08318

Holotype: Male , China, Hong Kong, New Territories, Kadoorie BG, MV, 1100ft, 4.3.2001, leg. M.J. Sterling, slide No.: LGN 2878 ( NHMUK).

Paratype: 1 female, China, Hong Kong, Kadoorie Institute , Shek Kong, New Territories, 200m a.s.l., 22.4283°N, 114.1138°E, 125W Robinson, 17.5.2016, leg. M.J. Sterling , slide No.: LGN 2897 (coll. M. Sterling).

Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to S. armata László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 ( Figs 43, 44 , 69 , 92 ) described from North Thailand ( László et al. 2010), but is distinguished by its considerably paler, rather greyish brown colour of wings and the less sharply defined elements of forewing pattern, whereas the wings of S. armata are markedly darker brownish grey, conspicuously darkened towards the distal margins, with scattered blackish streaks and dots on veins; in addition, the forewing of S. kendricki is somewhat narrower than that of S. armata . The differences between the genitalia of the new species and its congener are as follows: S. kendricki sp. n. has somewhat longer and basally broader uncus, slightly shorter valvae, where the cucullus of dorsal lobe less elongate and the ventral lobe somewhat broader compared than those characters of S. armata ; in addition, the medially angled harpe is noticeably thicker in the new species than in S. armata . The aedeagus of S. kendricki has apically conspicuously dilated, somewhat T-shaped coecum penis, whereas that of S. armata is unmodified, simply rounded; in addition, the vesica of the new species is without scobination, while that of its congener bears a conspicuous, extensive, elongate scobinated plate (cf Figs 68, 69 ). In the female genitalia, the differences between the two species are as follows: the new species has markedly longer papillae anales, somewhat longer and thinner apophyses posteriores, considerably wider ostium bursae, much shorter, funnel-like antrum with straight distal margin (that of S. armata is rather cupshaped with evenly arcuate, concave distal margin), somewhat shorter sclerotized distal section of ductus bursae, notably longer and thinner ductus bursae compared to those of S. armata ; in addition, the pair of thorn-like signum bursae are of different size in the new species, the distal one being much smaller than the proximal one, whereas the two signa bursae of S. armata are equal in size (see Figs 91, 92 ). The female adult and genitalia of S. armata are illustrated here for the first time.

It is worth noting that S. kendricki also resembles S. subvesiculalis Hu, Wang & Han, 2012 described from the Donglashan Mountains, Sichuan, China due to its similarly greyish brown forewing ground colour and the characteristically narrow, dark brownish, short quadrangular dash in the medial section of forewing costa ( Hu et al. 2012), but differs in the following features: the head, tegulae, collar and thorax of S. kendricki are covered by uniform greyish brown hair scales, whereas those of S. subvesiculalis are diffused with white scales; in addition the hindwing of the new species is somewhat darker than that of its congener. In the male genitalia, the new species has a somewhat shorter and considerably broader, apically rounded, triangular uncus, while that of S. subvesiculalis is longer, narrower, apically pointed and rather spike-like; the dorsal lobes of the bilobate valva are much narrower, the ventral lobes are markedly broader in the new species than in S. subvesiculalis ; in addition, S. kendricki has notably shorter harpe compared to that of its congener. The simple, short and relatively narrow, tubular aedeagus of the new species is similar to that of S. subvesiculalis , but it has somewhat longer, apically conspicuously dilated, T-shaped coecum penis, whereas that of S. subvesiculalis is apically rounded, without dilation.

Description.

Adult. ( Figs 41, 42 ). Forewing length of male 8 mm, that of female 7.5 mm. Antenna of male bipectinate with relatively short rami, that of female filiform. Sexual dimorphism limited, expressed by the somewhat wider and shorter forewing and slightly darker hindwing of female compared to those of male. Head relatively large, labial palps shortish, porrect, three segmented; basal segment short with a small whitish ochreous scale tuft, second segment almost twice as long as third, covered with a thick tuft of scales which substantially broadens medially, ochreous grey, third segment short, fairly broad, fairly thickly covered in ochreous grey scales; frons and vertex pale grey; compound eyes moderately large, globular. Thorax pale grey, abdomen brownish grey. Forewing rather broad, triangular, apically rounded. Forewing ground colour pale greyish brown, with somewhat reddish brown tone in the terminal area. Subbasal and basal transverse lines deleted, basal area with a short, fine, sharply defined, blackish subcostal streak; antemedial line poorly visible, diffuse, interrupted, represented by scarce, small patches consisting of dark brown scales, medial line deleted. Orbicular stigma rather large, rounded, consisting of dark brown raised scales. Postmedial line poorly visible, diffuse, interrupted, represented by short dark brown dashes; subterminal line diffuse, shadow like, interrupted, consisting of reddish brown patches of different size; terminal line very narrow, off white; cilia greyish brown. Hindwing pale greyish brown; cell spot elongate, greyish; cilia somewhat darker.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 68 ). Uncus short, broad at base, triangular, apically rounded; tegumen medium long, rather narrow; subscaphium rather long, membranous, with relatively wide, ribbon-like, slightly arcuate lateral sclerotizations; transtillae broad at base then tapered, medially fused, ribbon-like; fultura inferior small, cordiform; valva medium long, bilobate, deeply cleft, dorsal lobe very narrow in its basal half, then gradually dilating, cucullus elongate, relatively narrow, apically rounded, ventral half membranous, costal margin well sclerotized in basal three-quarter, weakly sclerotized in apical quarter; ventral lobe rather broad, apically rounded, dorsal margin straight, membranous, ventral margin evenly arched, heavily sclerotized, apical area with a dilated sclerotization bearing a row of long, needle-like, easily removable spines, apex of ventral valval lobe without spine; harpe relatively large and thick, heavily sclerotized, medially curved towards valval apex, slightly tapering, apically narrowly rounded; sacculus short, broad at base, gradually tapered, without processi; vinculum moderately wide, rather short, broad V-shaped. Aedeagus short, tubular, almost straight, coecum penis relatively long, medially narrow, apically conspicuously dilated, forming a more or less T-shaped lobe with rounded corners; apical part of aedeagus only very slightly tapered, apically broadly rounded, without modification of carina; vesica without cornuti or scobination.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 91 ). Ovipositor moderately long, papillae anales medium long, apically rounded; apophyses posteriores medium long, thin in whole length, apically rounded; apohyses anteriores short, broad at base, then tapered, apically rounded; 8 th tergite very short, ribbon-like, medially slightly narrowed; ostium bursae rather wide, antrum very short funnel-like with straight distal margin; ductus bursae medium long, distal quarter heavily sclerotized, conspicuously curved, proximal three-quarter membranous, rather narrow, cervix bursae slightly swollen, membranous, corpus bursae almost globular; signum bursae consisted of a pair of thorn-like sclerotized processi, distal one considerably smaller than proximal one, signa bursae connected by a narrow scobinated strip; appendix bursae present, small, globular.

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Roger Kendrick, renowned entomologist and specialist in South East Asian Lepidoptera , who has spent much of the last 20 years compiling material for his comprehensive and shortly to be published Illustrated Guide to the Moths of Hong Kong.

Figures

Figures 31-42. Adults (Hong Kong, in coll. NHMUK unless otherwise indicated). 31, 32: Nola pascua ♂, ♀; 33: N. taeniata ♂; 34: N. thyrophora ♂; 35, 36: Spininola nepali ♂, ♀; 37: S. nepali holotype, Nepal, ♂ (MWM/ZSM); 38, 39: S. nepali, India-Khasis, ♂, ♀; 40: Spininola sp. indet, paratype of S. nepali, Vietnam ♀ (MWM/ZSM); 41: S. kendricki sp. n. holotype, ♂; 42: S. kendricki sp. n. paratype, ♀.

Figures 63-70. Male genitalia (Hong Kong, in coll. NHMUK unless otherwise indicated). 63: Nola pascua LGN 2894; 64: N. marginata LGN 2895; 65: Spininola nepali, LGN 2931; 66: S. nepali, holotype, Nepal, LGN 1704 (MWM/ZSM); 67: S. nepali, India-Khasis, LGN 2787; 68: S. kendricki sp. n., holotype, LGN 2878; 69: S. armata, holotype, Thailand, LGN 982 (MWM/ZSM); 70: Melanographia flexilineata LGN 2886.

Figures 88-93. Female genitalia (Hong Kong, in coll. NHMUK unless otherwise indicated). 88: Spininola nepali LGN 2872; 89: S. nepali India-Khasis, LGN 2786; 90: Spininola sp. indet, paratype of S. nepali, LGN 1202 (MWM/ZSM); 91: S. kendricki sp. n., paratype LGN 2897; 92: S. armata Vietnam, LGN 1824 (HNHM); 93: Casminola johannstumpfi LGN 2907.

Figures 43-50. Adults (Hong Kong, in coll. NHMUK, unless otherwise indicated). 43: Spininola armata holotype, Thailand, ♂ (MWM/ZSM); 44: S. armata Vietnam, ♀ (HNHM); 45, 46: Meganola zolotuhini ♂, ♀; 47, 48: Melanographia flexilineata ♂, ♂; 49: Xenonola limbata ♀; 50: Aeneanola acontioides ♀.