Purpurata, Xue & Lu & Du, 2024

Xue, Xin-Lei, Lu, Xiao-Qiang & Du, Xi-Cui, 2024, The new genus Purpurata (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae), with descriptions of two new species from China, ZooKeys 1219, pp. 175-194 : 175-194

Purpurata gen. nov.

Type species.

Purpurata directa sp. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis.

Purpurata is readily distinguished from its phylogenetic sister genus Nosophora (type species: Botys dispilalis Hampson, 1896 ) by the yellow wings with their purple-brown lines and patches, while in Nosophora , the wings are dark shiny brown and feature a large, comma-shaped spot in the forewing. Furthermore, the vertex of the head is hollowed out in males of N. dispilalis (see Lederer 1863: pl. 4 fig. 24 (misidentified as N. chironalis ); Hampson 1896: 288), whereas it is rounded in Purpurata species (Fig. 2 ). In Purpurata , compared to the similar genera Patania and Nagiella , the uncus is arc-shaped on the posterior margin, the valva is shorter and broader than those of the latter two, and the fibula is shorter and smaller in male genitalia; the apophyses anteriores is not broadened or very slightly broadened near the base in the female genitalia. Comparatively, in Patania and Nagiella , the uncus is generally trapezoidal (except that N. bispina has a rather short and broad uncus, with rounded posterior margin), and the fibula are generally well developed and sclerotized; the apophyses anteriores broaden rhomboidally near the base. In addition, in Purpurata , the gnathos is present and setose apically, generally undeveloped (except that P. iopasalis and P. shompen have well-developed gnathos). Patania species usually lack a gnathos, and a few species have a gnathos but no setae at the apex. Nagiella species generally have a gnathos, but no setae at the apex. In Purpurata , the phallus has a protruding sclerotized structure at the posterior end, with a thick needle-like or spine-like cornutus and a brush-like cornutus. Comparatively, the phallus of Patania and Nagiella lack a protruding sclerotized structure posteriorly. Patania species have, or lack, a cornutus (if present, diverse morphologically), and Nagiella species generally lack a cornutus (except for N. bispina with a curved hook cornutus). The compared characters here are present in the type species of Patania and Nagiella , Botys concatenalis , and Nagia desmialis respectively, which were fully investigated in our study.

Description.

Habitus. Body and wings yellow, with purple-brown wing markings. Frons rounded. Labial palpus upturned, exposed 3 rd joint short and blunt (Fig. 2 ). Antenna filiform, male with ventral cilia. Forewing with length of cell ~ 1 / 2 of wing; discocellulars incurved; R from cell at ~ 5 / 6 above; Rs 2 anastomosed with Rs 3 ~ 3 / 5 of Rs 3 beyond cell; Rs 1 close to Rs 2 + s 3; Rs 4 slightly curved towards Rs 2 + s 3 at base; M 2, M 3 and CuA 1 from posterior angle of cell and uniformly spaced at the base; CuA 2 from cell at ~ 2 / 3 below. Hindwing with length of cell ~ 1 / 3 of wing; discocellulars incurved; Sc + R anastomosed with Rs ~ 1 / 5 beyond the cell; M 2, M 3 and CuA 1 separately from posterior angle cell; CuA 2 from cell at 2 / 3 below (Figs 3 , 4 ). Abdomen yellow dorsally; 1 st and 2 nd tergites with black spots laterally and 7 th tergites black posteriorly in male. Tympanal organs with praecinctorium strongly bifid (Fig. 5 ).

Male genitalia. Uncus short and broad, with arc-shaped posterior margin, except for P. iopasalis with narrowed apex of uncus. Gnathos present and bearing setae apically, or vestigial to a transverse band. Valva ligulate, relatively broad and short generally. Fibula small and membranous, with setae. Sacculus undeveloped. Phallus cylindrical, with a protruding sclerotized structure posteriorly, with a thick needle-like or spine-like cornutus and a brush-like cornutus composed of a spine cluster, and a granular sclerotized area near the middle.

Female genitalia. Apophyses anteriores longer than apophyses posteriores, occasionally slightly broadened near base. Antrum sclerotized. Ductus bursae usually long and slender. Corpus bursae round or oval, usually with a round signum.

Distribution.

This genus is mainly distributed in the Palaearctic and Oriental realms. And P. plagiatalis is also found in the Neotropical and Australasian realms, P. iopasalis is also found in the Australasian realms.

Etymology.

The genus name Purpurata is derived from the Latin word purpuratus meaning purple, indicating the distinctive purple-brown coloration of wing markings. The gender is feminine.

Remarks.

This new genus comprises four known species from the genus Patania of Spilomelinae, and two new species described in the present study. It corresponds to the main diagnostic characters of Crambidae : forewing with vein R S 4 free and with oval sclerotization costad at base of vein 1 A + 2 A; bullae tympani open cephalad; tympanum and conjunctivum lying at a blunt angle; praecinctorium present; and male genitalia without uncus arms. Further, it corresponds to the main diagnostic characters of Spilomelinae: fornix tympani projecting ventrad from tympanic frame; praecinctorium bilobed; retinacular hook absent; and females with two frenular bristles. Moreover, based on the Agroterini characters stated in Mally et al. (2019), labial palps upturned and 3 rd labial palpomere directed dorsally; uncus with a broad base, head chaetae simple and unsplit; the ratio between saccus length and sacculus breadth> 1, we place this genus in the tribe Agroterini .

Figures

Figures 2–5. Purpurata directa sp. nov. 2 head ♂ 3 wing venation ♂ 4 wing venation ♀ 5 tympanal organ. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (2, 5); 1.0 mm (3, 4).