Thysanoplisna tenebrosa, Volynkin, 2024

Volynkin, Anton V., 2024, Taxonomic review of the Thysanoptyx Hampson generic complex (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini). II. The genus Thysanoplisna Volynkin with descriptions of seven new species from Vietnam and mainland China, Zootaxa 5506 (3), pp. 428-450 : 440

Thysanoplisna tenebrosa sp. nov.

( Figs 31, 32 , 51 , 66 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 31 , 51 ): ♂, “ China, Sichuan-prov. | Kangding | 30.VI.2009 ” / “Museum Witt | München” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 448♂ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. CHINA: 1 ♀, same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 448♀ (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, [Sichuan Prov.] 25.31. Mt. Omei , 3000–4000 ft., 17.vii.[19]31, G.M. Franck [leg.] ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♂, [Sichuan Prov., Kangding] Chasseurs indigénes de Tâ-tsien-lou, Récolte de 1910 / Ex Oberthür Coll., Brit. Mus. 1927–3. / Brit. Mus. 1963-505, unique ID: NHMUK010606151 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 16.5–17.5 mm in males and 18.0–19.0 mm in females. Thysanoplisna tenebrosa sp. nov. is superficially similar to Th. directa but can be distinguished by its darker, brownish-grey forewing ground colour (it is ochreous brown in the congener), and the remarkably broader medial forewing spot in both sexes. The male genital capsule of the new species is very similar to Th. directa but has a narrower and somewhat more elongate distal section. The phalli of the two species are alike. Compared to Th. directa , the vesica of Th. tenebrosa sp. nov. has a longer basal diverticulum, a narrower distal section with markedly thinner and slightly shorter cornuti, and an additional, short lateral diverticulum bearing a small spike-like cornutus. The female genitalia of Th. tenebrosa sp. nov. differ from Th. directa in the posteriorly broader ductus bursae, the larger posterior gelatinous enlargement of the corpus bursae, and the longer and broader appendix bursae. Additionally, the signum bursae of the new species is smaller and nearly round whereas it is elliptical in the congener.

Distribution. Southwestern China (Sichuan Province).

Etymology. The Latin ‘tenebrosus’ means ‘dark, gloomy’ and refers to the dark forewing ground colour of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.

Figures

FIGURES 25–32. Adults of Thysanoplisna spp. Depositories of the specimens: 25, 26, and 29–31 in MWM/ZSM; 27, 28 and 32 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 49–52. Male genitalia of Thysanoplisna spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 62–67. Female genitalia of Thysanoplisna spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.