Valeria kalashiani, Saldaitis & Volynkin, 2022

Saldaitis, Aidas & Volynkin, Anton, 2022, Valeria kalashiani, a new species from Armenia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Amphipyrinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 58, pp. 79-85 : 80-85

Valeria kalashiani sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F27FE5A0-E4C9-4BE5-93AB-ADBFA52C3CC4

( Figs 1–3 , 9, 10 , 15 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 9 ): male, “ Armenia | Areni , h- 1240m | Noravank road | 39°41.8978'N | 45°12.6143'E | 29. iii. 2022 | A. Saldaitis leg.” / “Slide | AV6888 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( WIGJ).

Paratypes: 16 specimens of both sexes, the same data as holotype and the same, but 29.iv.2022 (colls AFM, AMF, ASV, CAV, GMF-B, HSV, JSL, WSO and WIGJ) .

Diagnosis. Valeria kalashiani sp. n. ( Figs 1–3 ) is morphologically similar to V. kartalea ( Figs 5–8 ) and V. schreieri ( Fig. 4 ) but is distinguished by its less elongate male forewing with a more diffuse pattern. In the male genital capsule, the new species ( Fig. 9, 10 ) differs from both the congeners ( Figs 11–14 ) in the less asymmetrical and more apically tapered valvae. Additionally, the harpe of V. kalashiani sp. n. is subbasally dilated and strongly tapered apically whereas it is shorter and thorn-shaped in V. schreieri , and longer and stick-shaped in V. kartalea . The phalli of the three species display no remarkable differences. Comparted to the aforementioned congeners, the vesica of V. kalashiani sp. n. is markedly longer and broader, and has broader diverticula (including the distal one bearing a serrulate plate). The cornuti of V. kalashiani sp. n. are similar to V. kartalea but somewhat broader basally, and markedly shorter than in V. schreieri . Since the females of V. kartalea and V. schreieri are unknown, the female genitalia of the new species were compared with V. oleagina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) having the most similar copulatory organ structure. In the female genitalia, V. kalashiani sp. n. ( Fig. 15 ) differs from V. oleagina ( Fig. 16 ) in the somewhat broader ostium bursae, the band-shaped ante- and postvaginal plates (they are horseshoe-like curved medially in the congener), and the longer and broader corpus bursae with a broader sclerotised rugose posterior plate.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–3 ). Forewing length 18.5–20.0 mm in males and 19.5–20.5 mm in females. Antenna ochreous-brown, bipectinate in both sexes with shorter rami in female. Sexual dimorphism limited: compared to male, besides pectination of antenna, female having somewhat narrower forewing with slightly paler reniform stigma and subterminal forewing margin. Head and thorax dark grey with dense admixture of creamy scales. Forewing broad, triangular with convex outer margin. Forewing ground dark grey with olive-green suffusion on veins postmedially and medially. Forewing pattern creamy-white, diffuse. Subbasal area with large elongate creamy-white spot medially and suffusion along costal margin. Antemedial line double, sinuous. Orbicular stigma trapezoidal, intensely suffused with creamy-white scales, and with indistinct margins. Reniform stigma large with concave inner and outer margins, intensely suffused with creamy-white scales, with indistinct margins. Medial area with four diffuse creamy-white spots on costa. Postmedial line diffuse, dentate, strongly curved in anterior half. Subterminal line indistinct. Postmedial area with intense creamy-white suffusion. Terminal line thin, sinuous, interrupted by indistinct creamy-white spots between veins. Cilia creamy-white with admixture of grey scales. Hindwing creamy-white with intense grey suffusion. Medial line dark grey, narrow and diffuse. Cilia pale ochreousyellow with admixture of grey. Abdomen greyish-brown with admixture of creamy scales and row of medial bunches of creamy scales on each segment dorsally. Male genitalia ( Figs 9, 10 ). Uncus short, thick, cylindrical, straight proximally and slightly upcurved postmedially, apically tapered and densely setose. Arms of tegumen broad. Vinculum equal in length to tegumen, with V-shaped saccus having slightly convex margins and tiny triangular tip. Valvae slightly asymmetrical: right one somewhat broader than left one. Each valva lobular, evenly tapered distally, with somewhat medially convex ventral margin and rounded apex. Sacculus short, strongly tapered distally, with small but heavily sclerotised semiglobular clavus. Clasper trapezoidal. Harpe elongate, reaching dorsal margin of valva, basally dilated but strongly distally tapered, subapically slightly upcurved and apically rounded. Juxta broad, shield-like with broad and deep medial posterior depression with lateral margins encircling phallus. Phallus broad, slightly dilated and downcurved distally, with broad semiglobular coecum and broad ostium of ductus ejaculatorius occupying more than half of phallus length. Vesica broad, sack-like, basally recurved latero-ventrally. Medial diverticulum broad, semiglobular, bearing two or three spike-like cornuti. Distal diverticulum conical with broad serrulate sclerotised plate occupying its anterior side. Female genitalia ( Fig. 15 ). Ovipositor short, cylindrical. Papilla analis elliptical, weakly sclerotised, densely setose. Apophyses long and thin, apophysis anterioris somewhat shorter than apophysis posterioris. Postvaginal plate short but wide, band-like with convex anterior margin. Posterior section of ductus bursae funnel-like dilated, membranous with narrow band-like antevaginal plate. Anterior section of ductus bursae gelatinous and rugose, slightly dilated anteriorly. Corpus bursae long and broad, sack-like with conically tapered anterior end. Posterior section of corpus bursae with broad rugose weakly sclerotised plate laterally at junction with ductus bursae protruding into appendix bursae. Appendix bursae broad, conical and apically rounded, positioned postero-laterally on left side.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in south-eastern Armenia (Vayots Dzor Province) ( Fig. 17 ).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Dr Mark Kalashian, expert in Coleoptera and head of

Entomological laboratory in Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology (Yerevan, Armenia).

Figures

Figure 17. Noravank (Gnishik River) Canyon, the type locality of Valeria kalashiani sp. n. (photo by A. Kazakevich).

Figures 1–8. Valeria spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 3 in WIGJ; 2 in CAV; 4 in AFM (photo by A. Floriani); 5 in ZFMK (after Ronkay et al. 2011); 6 in coll. Krüger (Germany, photo by D. Stüning); 7 and 8 in GMF-B.

Figures 9–12. Valeria spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 9 in WIGJ; 10 in CAV; 11 – after Ronkay et al. (2011); 12 in GMF-B.

Figures 13–16. Valeria spp.: male (13 and 14) and female (15 and 16) genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 13 in GMF-B; 14 in ZFMK (photo by D. Stüning); 15 in WIGJ; 16 – after Ronkay et al. (2011).