Xizanga Behounek, Han & Kononenko, 2012

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & V. S. Kononenko, 2012, Two new genera and three new species of the Pantheinae from East Asia and China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Contribution to revision of Pantheinae VIII, Zootaxa 3587, pp. 78-88 : 83

Genus Xizanga Behounek, Han & Kononenko gen. n.

Type species: Xizanga mysterica , sp. n. designated here.

Diagnosis. No genus of the Noctuidae , and Pantheinae in particular, in the Chinese-Himalayan fauna is similar to Xizanga in external and genitalic characters; see description below.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 9, 10, 11). Frons bulged, covered by short scales; eyes rounded, naked, surrounded with “lashes”; ocelli present; antennae of male filiform; proboscis well developed, short; labial palps moderate, not compressed, extending to mid of frons; 3 rd segment of palps small, about two times smaller than 2 nd, pointed; Thorax rather stout, covered with broad scales; hindwing venation with M2 well developed, unlike to other Pantheinae genera arising from the middle of discal cell. Male genitalia ( Fig. 12). Uncus short, relatively massive, extended basally, tegumen equal to vinculum, with broad lateral lobes; paratergal sclerites narrow, recurved; juxta moderate, anchor-like; vinculum rather massive with quadrangular saccus; valva short, broad basally, tapering distally and extended apically, costa very strong, heavily sclerotised, extended apically to abrupt tip of valva; basal lobe of sacculus very broad, elongate; clasper positioned longitudinally, as sclerotised plate; harpe missing; ventral margin of valva with distal sclerotised extension (saccular extension); presence of costal and ventral extension forms bifurcated ending of valva. Aedeagus straight, slightly curved basally; carina with scobinated ring-like band and strong, claw-like subbasal cornutus; vesica tubular, long, not armed. Female genitalia ( Fig. 19). Ovipositor rather small; papillae anales quadrangular, covered with hairs; apophyses anteriores and posteriores short, equal in length; antrum funnel-like, with two lateral lobes with twin cut in centre; ductus bursae short, rounded, sclerotised; corpus bursae membranous, narrow, tube-like, extended to pyriform bottom part.

Etymology. The generic name Xizanga refers to the type locality of the type-species, Xizang province of China (Tibet).

Notes. The systematic position of this genus is unclear. We did not find any genus related to the new one among Pantheinae and other subfamilies of the “lower trifinae”. We tentatively place the new genus in Pantheinae due to the quadrifid venation of the hindwing with developed vein M2, arising from the middle of discal cell, the bulged frons and short proboscis.