Prays helanshana Li

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Prays Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) from China, with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 201-227 : 220

Prays helanshana Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 20 , 36 , 46 )

Type material. CHINA: Holotype ♂, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region: Suyukou, Helanshan , 2000 m, 3.VI.2006, coll. Xinpu Wang, genitalia slide No. JQ 08082 . Paratypes: 2 ♀, same data as holotype, genitalia slide Nos. JQ 08131, JQ08176.

Diagnosis. Prays helanshana sp. nov. is similar to P. inconspicua . It differs from P. inconspicua by the stout saccus nearly same length as the socius in the male genitalia; the lamella postvaginalis being two eyebrow-like processes, and the small and irregular signum without any tooth on margins in the female genitalia. In P. inconspicua , the slender saccus is about 1.5 times the length of the socius; the lamella postvaginalis is a pair of triangular processes, and the large sub-quadrate signum is dentate on margins. In appearance, this new species resembles P. dorsiprotrusa sp. nov. and P. delta Moriuti, 1977 , and the differences between them are stated under each of the latter two species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 20 ) with wingspan 14.5 mm. Head yellowish brown. Labial palpus brown on ventral surface, white on dorsal surface. Antenna pale brown except scape white on ventral surface. Body pale brown. Foreleg with femur white on dorsal surface, midleg with coxa and femur white on dorsal surface, remaining part brown; hindleg with coxa and femur white, femur mixed with pale brown scales on ventral surface, tibia pale brown on outer surface, remaining part white, tarsus pale brown except each tarsomere with a white streak apically.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 36 ): Socius wide basally, gradually narrowed to 3/5, distal 2/5 produced to a thorn, pointed at apex; arched inwards, bearing several teeth and dense long setae. Tegumen medially extended for 2/5 length of lateral band, anterior margin concave semicircularly at middle, laterally produced to a short pillar-like process; lateral band gradually oblique outwards anteriorly. Gnathos widened and heavily sclerotized medially. Valva with basal half wide, distal half gradually narrowed and separated from sacculus, apex blunt; dorsal margin concave archly, more or less protruded at about distal 1/5, bearing long setae; transtilla thorn-shaped, medially connected by a large sclerotized elliptic plate; sacculus S-shaped, approximately 7/10 length of valva, covered with long setae along ventral margin, distal 1/5 free from valva, triangular, pointed at apex; large membranous area between sacculus from base to 4/5 and valva. Vinculum U-shaped; saccus stout, nearly same length as socius, slightly narrowed medially, dilated distally, rounded apically. Juxta obliquely extending outwards; anellus lobe long fingerlike, arising from inner margin of juxta posterolaterally, extending obliquely downwards. Aedeagus almost as long as valva, straight, broad in basal 2/5, slightly narrow in distal 3/5; cornutus being a large thorn, about half length of aedeagus, dilated in basal 1/3, placed medially.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 46 ): Apophyses posteriores about three times length of apophyses anteriores. Lamella postvaginalis being a pair of adjacent eyebrow-like processes. Ostium bursae rounded. Eighth sternite with anterior margin protruded semicircularly. Ductus bursae 2/5 length of corpus bursae, stout, sclerotized; ductus seminalis arising from connection between ductus bursae and corpus bursae. Corpus bursae oviform; signum small and irregular, placed medially.

Distribution. China (Ningxia).

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality, Helanshan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 22. Adults of Prays spp. 17, P. lobata, holotype, ♂; 18, P. dorsiprotrusa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 19, P. inconspicua, ♀; 20, P. helanshana sp. nov., paratype, ♀; 21, P. acinacea sp. nov., paratype, ♀; 22, P. alpha, ♀. (Scales = 2.0 mm).

FIGURES 35 – 38. Male genitalia of Prays spp. 35, P. inconspicua (slide no. CPX 15158); 36, P. helanshana sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. JQ 08082); 37, P. acinacea sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15154); 38, P. alpha (slide no. CPX 15152). (Scales = 0.2 mm).

FIGURES 44 – 48. Female genitalia of Prays spp. 44, P. semicircularis sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 16013); 45, P. inconspicua (slide no. CPX 15146); 46, P. helanshana sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. JQ 08176); 47, P. acinacea sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15196); 48, P. alpha (slide no. CPX 14081). (Scales = 0.5 mm).