Paramathes evdomo Saldaitis, Volynkin & Gyulai, 2020

Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V. & Gyulai, Peter, 2020, Paramathes evdomo, a new species from Sichuan, southwestern China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae), Zootaxa 4790 (2), pp. 397-400 : 397-400

Paramathes evdomo Saldaitis, Volynkin & Gyulai , sp. n.

( Figs 1, 2 , 5, 6 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 5 ): male, China, NW Sichuan, near Maniganggo , H- 3860 m, N31°47’22’’ E99°23’27’’, 30.vi.2019. Butvila & Saldaitis [leg.], slide AV5853 (Coll. PGM, later to be deposited in the HNHM).

Paratypes: 4 males, the same data as in the holotype, slides AV5851 and AV5854 (Colls AFM & ASV) .

Diagnosis. The new species ( Figs 1, 2 ) is very similar externally to P. daochengi ( Fig. 3 ) but differs in having a slightly wider forewing, a more angulate orbicular spot posteriorly and a darker perimacular patch. In the male genitalia of P. evdomo sp. n. ( Figs 5, 6 ), the valva shape is intermediate between P. daochengi ( Fig. 7 ) and P. xestioides ( Fig. 8 ).

The distal process of the valva of P. evdomo is more elongated and apically broadened than in P. daochengi . Its tip is blunt and curved ventrally, whereas in P. daochengi the pointed tip is significantly shorter, trigonal, and directed dorso-distally. Also, in P. evdomo the uncus is slightly more broadened basally and narrowed apically than in P. daochengi , the penicular lobe is slightly less broadened, the saccus is more rounded apically, the pseudopollex is longer, the subbasal vesicae are more prominent and the harpe is slightly longer and protrudes beyond the costa. The valva of P. evdomo ( Figs 5, 6 ) can be distinguished from P. xestioides ( Fig. 8 ) by its strongly broadened rather than subapically narrowed distal section with a broader tip and straight rather than concave costal margin. In P. evdomo the trigonal pseudopollex has a broader base and a more pointed tip than in P. xestioides and the basally broader harpe does not protrude as far beyond the costa. The male genital capsule of P. evdomo differs from that of P. xestioides by its slightly narrower penicular lobe, a larger medial juxta process, and a less elongated rounded vinculum. The phallus of P. evdomo is smaller than that of P. xestioides , its ventral subapical thorn is blunt rather than pointed and the carina is more weakly sclerotized and not dentate. The vesica of the new species has a longer ribbon-shaped sclerotization extending from the carina to the basal section, a slightly narrower subbasal chamber and a less rugose membranous inner area.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length 14.5– 15 mm in males (14.5 in holotype). Head dark grey with admixture of pale grey and brownish scales. Male antenna ciliate, whitish basally and brown medially and distally. Thorax dark grey with admixture of brown scales, tegulae outlined with pale grey scales. Legs brown. Forewing ground color dark grey with slight brown suffusion. Costal margin with three various sized blackish-brown dash-like spots opposite the cell and one large trapezoidal blackish-brown spot subapically. Subbasal line thin, blackish brown, irregularly wavy, indistinct posteriorly. Antemedial line blackish brown, oblique, irregularly wavy, spot-like broadened on costa, outlined with pale grey scales inwardly. Medial area with dark brown suffusion posteriorly. Postmedial line thin, blackish brown and shortly dentate posteriorly and indistinct opposite the cell and at costa. Subterminal line brown, diffuse, irregularly wavy, weakly outlined with pale greyish scales outwardly. Terminal line thin, blackish brown, interrupted into a series of strokes between veins. Orbicular stigma broadly trigonal with rounded corners and slightly wavy posterior margin, outlined with whitish scales posteriorly and indistinct along the costa. Reniform stigma elliptical, outlined with whitish scales inwardly and indistinct outwardly. Cell with blackish brown perimacular patch between antemedial line and reniform stigma.. Forewing cilia brownish grey. Hindwing pale grey with slight admixture of brown scales in outer area, dark brown suffusion on veins. Discal spot dark grey, broadly semilunar, indistinct. Hindwing cilia pale brownish grey. Abdomen brown. Male genitalia ( Figs 5, 6 ). Uncus arrowhead-shaped, dorso-ventrally flattened, apically blunted, slightly varies in its width. Tegumen less than half as long as valva, penicular lobes slightly broader than apical part of tegumen, with convex margin. Juxta broadly shield-like, with short rounded medial process. Vinculum ca. 1.5 times longer than tegumen, with robust saccus broadened apically. Valva elongate, broadened distally, with straight costa subbasally and short but broad sacculus. Distal process of valva broad, lobe-like, with blunt tip slightly curved ventrally. Pseudopollex robust, thorn-shaped, apically pointed. Clasper short, heavily sclerotized. harpe robust, narrowly trigonal, with broadened base and pointed tip slightly protruding beyond the costa. Phallus curved distally, with short and round coecum and small ventral apically blunt thorn-like cornutus; carina band-like, elongated. Vesica curved dorsally and outwardly, its medial section broad, with short, round ventral chamber and weakly granulated outer surface. Distal section of vesica elongate, conical, weakly granulated proximally and medially, membranous distally.

Female unknown.

Biology and distribution. Five males were collected at light on 30.vi. 2019 in remote part of west China Sichuan province near Maniganggo. The new species was collected at altitudes ranging 3860 meters in mountain mixed forests dominated by various conifer trees, bushes and rhododendron .

Etymology. ‘Έβδομο’ means ‘seventh’ in Greek. The specific epithet refers to the fact that the new species is the seventh known species in the genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Paramathes spp., adults. 1, P. evdomo sp. n., holotype male, China, NW Sichuan (PGM); 2, P. evdomo sp. n., paratype male, China, NW Sichuan (AFM); 3, P. daochengi, holotype male, W Sichuan (PGM); 4, P. xestioides, holotype male, N Sichuan (PGM).

FIGURES 5–8. Paramathes spp., male genitalia. 5, P. evdomo sp. n., holotype, China, NW Sichuan, slide AV5853; 6, P. evdomo sp. n., paratype, China, NW Sichuan, slide AV5854; 7, P. daochengi, holotype, W Sichuan, slide GYP 4469; 4, P. xestioides, holotype, N Sichuan, slide GYP 4250.