Xestia mane, Gyulai, 2017

Gyulai, Péter, 2017, Two new species of Xestia Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) from Bhutan and China, Zootaxa 4358 (1) : -

Xestia mane sp. n. ( Figs 7 , 13 )

Holotype. Female. East Tibet, Gyatsa , 3200 m, 7. VI. 1996, leg. Willi Fickler, slide No. M. Hreblay 10496f (coll. PGM, later to be deposited in the HNHM).

Diagnosis. Xestia mane sp. n. ( Fig. 7 ) resembles mostly Xestia orthosioides Boursin, 1963 ( Fig. 8 ), from which it is best distinguished by the significantly smaller size (wingspan 23,5 mm, versus 27–30 mm) and the structure of the female genitalia. The differential external features between the two species are as follows: the vertex and the collar of the new species is brown, while these are ashy grey in X. orthosioides ; the new species lacks the triangular black patch from the forewing apex; orbicular stigmata conspicuously longer and stronger black defined than in X. orthosioides , the antemedial transverse line less wavy and the ground colour of the wings less greyish, rather brown suffused.

In the female genitalia ( Fig. 13 ), the differences between the two species are found in the shape and size and particularly in the ductus bursae and appendix bursae. The genitalia of the new species is much smaller, the parallel strongly sclerotized plates on the wall of ductus bursae are also significantly smaller. The most striking differences are in the membranous anterior section of ductus bursae, which is weak, tubular, almost straight in the new species, however a large, ample, curved tube in the X. orthosioides ( Fig. 14 ); the appendix bursae of new species is much prominent, conical.

Description ( Fig. 7 ). Wingspan 23,5 mm, length of forewing 12,5 mm. Female. Antennae fine, filiform, collar vesture of body and forewing ground colour light brown. The most remarkable external features of the new species are the pointed forewing apex, well discernible black definition of the pericellular streak, more or less outlining the large, elongated orbicular stigma; wavy antemedial line; absence of the reniform and claviform stigmata and the basal and postmedial lines (the latter one is signed by a black dot on the costa); conjectural, slightly sinuous, subterminal line, and the rather unicolorous, pale brown suffused hindwing with brown cellular spot.

The female genitalia ( Fig. 13 ) can be characterized with the setosed long ovipositor, funnel–like anthrum, membranous almost straight, tubular ductus bursae with two parallel large, strongly sclerotized laminar plates in the wall distally; conical, prominent appendix bursae and the large, saccate corpus bursae.

Distribution. The unique known specimen was found in East Tibet, at a high altitude mountain region, in the early summer period. The males probably are on wing in May.

Etymology. The specific name indicates the relatively early (in Latin “ mane ” means “early”) emerge of the adults above 3000 meter.

Figures

FIGURES 7–10. Xestia adults & males genitalia. 7. X. mane, holotype, female, Tibet, HM 10496 (PGM); 8. X. orthosioides, female, China, Sichuan,GYP 4471 (PGM).9. X.carissima, holotype,Bhutan, GYP 4585;10.X.lithoplana,paratype,Tibet,RL 5627.

FIGURES11–14. Xestiafemalesgenitalia.11.X.carissima,paratype,Bhutan GYP4606;12.X.lithoplana,paratype,Tibet,RL5805; 13. X.mane, holotype, Tibet, HM10496; 14.X.orthosioides, China, Sichuan GYP 4471.