Thysanoplisna suffusa, 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 : 436-437

Thysanoplisna suffusa sp. nov.

( Figs 23–26 , 49 , 64 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 23 , 49 ): ♂, “ Nord-Vietnam | [Tuyên Quang Province] Tam Dao , (Sek. Wald [secondary forest]) | 60km NW Hanoi, 1200m | (21.34’N 105.20’E [21°34'N 105°20'E]) | 1.–15.XI.1992 leg. | Sinajev [recte: Sinyaev] & Simonov” | vertical inscription “Museum Witt” / “Genitalpräparat | Heterocera | Nr. 35.968 | Museum WITT München” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. VIETNAM: 1 ♂, same data as holotype but ex coll. Schintlmeister ( CKC) ; 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype but 1–5.v.1993 (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 ♀, same locality as previous but 950m, iv.1995, V. Sinyaev leg., gen. prep. Nos.: MWM 35.964, 35.965, 36.029 (♂♂), 36.027 (♀) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 ♀, Vietnam sept., Tam Dao , 6.ix.–5.x.1977, Ivan Kubát leg. ( CKC) ; 1 ♀ Vietnam sept., Tam Dao , 950m, 18.x.1984, Karel Spitzer lgt. ( CKC) ; 1 ♂, [Lào Cai Province] Mt. Fan-si-pan, Cha pa (north), 1700m, 22°15'N 103°46'E, vi.1994, [ V.] Sinyaev & local collector leg., gen. prep. No.: MWM 36.037 (MWM/ ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.5–17.5 mm in males and 15.5 mm in the only female examined. Thysanoplisna suffusa sp. nov. is superficially reminiscent of the allopatric Th. minuta sp. nov. with its hindwing intensely suffused with brownish-grey and the detailed comparison is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to the sympatric Th. grandimacula sp. nov., the new species has a smaller medial spot of the forewing, a paler, ochreous-yellow longitudinal androconial stripe on the male forewing, and intense brownish-grey suffusion on the distal half of the hindwing whereas the hindwing of Th. grandimacula sp. nov. is slightly suffused only at apex. The male genitalia of Th. suffusa sp. nov. differ clearly from Th. grandimacula sp. nov. by the strongly distally dilated vesica with a rounded ventral medial diverticulum, which is the broadest in the genus, and are most similar to the allopatric Th. bachma sp. nov., from which the new species is distinguished by the narrower and somewhat longer phallus, the broader distal section of the vesica with a markedly broader and semiglobular ventral medial diverticulum (it is sack-like in the congener), and the reduced distal diverticulum. In the female genitalia, Th. suffusa sp. nov. differs from Th. grandimacula sp. nov. in the posteriorly broader ductus bursae, the broader posterior gelatinous enlargement of the corpus bursae having a larger left lateral protrusion and lacking the sclerotised plate, and the somewhat broader appendix bursae. Compared to Th. bachma sp. nov., the new species has a longer and posteriorly broader ductus bursae, a longer and anteriorly broader posterior gelatinous enlargement of the corpus bursae lacking both the sclerotised plate and the diverticulum, and a narrower appendix bursae directed latero-posteriorly whereas it is laterally curved in Th. bachma sp. nov.

Distribution. Northern Vietnam (Lào Cai and Tuyên Quang Provinces).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the intense brownish-grey suffusion on new species’ hindwing. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 17–24. Adults of Thysanoplisna spp. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

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.