Metachrostis batanga ( Draudt, 1950 ) Draudt, 1950

V, Ато, 2009, A review of Palaearctic Metachrostis Hübner, [1820] 1816 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Eublemminae), Zootaxa 2026, pp. 1-17 : 9-10

Metachrostis batanga ( Draudt, 1950) , comb. n.

( Figs. 13, 14 , 29 )

Eublemma batanga Draudt, 1950 , Mitteilungen der Münchener Entomologischen Gesellshaft 40: 130, Pl. 8: 21 (Typelocality: China, Sichuan, Batang [Holotype: ZFMK, Bonn]).

Material examined. Holotype: male, Batang (Tibet). Im Taldes Yangtze (ca. 2800 m). 1.vi.1936 (H. Höne) / Holotype Eublemma batanga Draudt male / Eublemma batanga Draudt. Paratype: male, 24.viii.1936, same locality and collector / Allotype Eublemma batanga female (in fact male). Other material (not syntypes): 8 males, 4 females, same locality and collector, 22. iv, 6.v, 11.v, 10.vi, 15.vi, 6.vii, 8.vii, 12.vii, 15.vii, 8.vii, 12.viii, 23.viii.1936 [coll. ZFMK].

Diagnosis. Metachrostis batanga is similar to the western Palaearctic M. velox and M. velocior , but differs by the more reddish tint in wing coloration, a less strongly developed wing pattern, a more prominent rufous brown band in the subterminal field, and a more unicolorous grey or grey-brown terminal field. The male genitalia are have a narrower valva and narrower proximal extension of the aedeagus.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Wingspan: 19–20 mm. Head, thorax and abdomen pinkish-ochreous; wings pale pinkish-ochreous with waved grey band in terminal field along outer margin; all lines dark-brown, well marked in costal area; submarginal line very thin, with wide yellowish-ochreous outer bordering; subterminal field with rufous-brown band between postmedial and subterminal lines; orbicular small, darkbrown, reniform pinkish-ochreous with dark brown bordering. In male genitalia ( Fig. 29 ) valva narrow, constricted apically, with ventral margin medially slightly constricted; aedeagus stragit, with constricted coecum; proximal extension of aedeagus short and narrow, oval. Female not examined.

Distribution. China: Sichuan Prov., south Tibet. The species was collected in the mountain region of China at the elevations 2000–2800 m. This species is an eastern vicariant of the western Palaearctic M. velox and M. velocior .

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Metachrostis spp., adults. 9. M. sefidi, North Africa (ZISP); 10. M. quinaria, female, North India (ZISP); 11. M. djakonovi, male, holotype, Kazakhstan, (ZISP); 12. M. djakonovi, male, paratype, Mongolia (ZISP); 13. M. batanga, male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 14. M. batanga, male, China (ZFMK); 15. M. hoenei, male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 16. M. hoenei, male, paratype, China (ZFMK).

FIGURES 29 – 32. Metachrostis spp., male genitalia. 29. M. batanga, paratype, prep. 2090 VK ZFMK, China (ZFMK); 30. M. hoenei, paratype, prep. 2089 VK ZFMK, China (ZFMK); 31. M. sinevi, holotype, prep. 0 0 35 Matov, Russia, Primorye terr. (ZISP); 32. M. miasma, (after Yoshimoto, 1999), Japan.