Argyresthia (Argyresthia) aphoristis Meyrick, 1938

Liu, Tengteng, Wang, Shuxia & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Argyresthia Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea: Argyresthiidae) from China, with descriptions of forty-three new species, Zootaxa 4292 (1), pp. 1-135 : 51-52

40. Argyresthia (Argyresthia) aphoristis Meyrick, 1938

( Figs. 9 , 49, 50 , 118 , 174 , 230 , 276 )

Argyresthia aphoristis Meyrick, 1938 , In: Caradja & Meyrick: 22; Clarke, 1965: 280. TL: China (Yunnan). TD: BMNH (Lectotype, male).

Description. Adult ( Figs. 49, 50 ) wingspan 12.0̄14.0 mm.

Variation. The forewing pattern varies considerably. Populations from Sichuan Province have a more pronounced forewing pattern ( Fig. 49 ); populations from around Shanxi ( Fig. 50 ) and Hebei provinces have the costal and terminal black spots reduced in number, the dot at basal 3/10 of the fold sometimes absent, and the dorsal spot before the middle of the wing reduced with the distal 3/4 indistinct.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 118 , 174 , 230 ): Tuba analis shorter than width of valva. Socius covered with 14̄21 scale-like setae, bearing two short setae posteriorly ( Fig. 230 ). Gnathos not inflated distally, without long thick setae apically. Valva widest in basal 1/5; a row of long thick setae from center near ventral margin to distal area. Saccus length 2/3 width of valva, narrowed distally. Phallus arched, 3.7 times as long as width of valva ( Fig. 174 ). Second sternite with about 20 micro-setae in each row; eighth sternite V-shaped, or slightly Y-shaped. Coremata present.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 276 ): Ovipositor 3.4 times as long as eighth segment. Anterior apophysis 1/2 length of posterior apophysis, bifurcate at anterior 2/5; branch bifurcate a second time, with dorsal branch extending to lamella postvaginalis, ventral branches fused, forming ventral margin of ostium bursae. Lamella postvaginalis almost rectangular, slightly narrowed posteriorly. Antrum funnel-shaped or nearly cylindrical, 4/11 length of eighth segment. Ductus bursae densely spinulate near and before opening of ductus seminalis; ductus seminalis originating from anterior 2/5 of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae nearly ovate, with dense micro-denticles becoming denser posteriorly; signum with basal plate band-shaped, horns slightly curved inward before apex, water caltropshaped in general.

Material examined. Liaoning Province: 1Ƌ, 1♀, Shilazi (40.56°N, 124.69°E), Kuandian , 10̄ 12.viii.2009, leg. Weichun Li and Jiayu Liu, slide nos. LTT12098Ƌ , LTT12099 ♀. Hebei Province: 2Ƌ , 2♀, Mt. Wuling (40.63°N, 117.43°E), Xinglong County, 800 m, 21.viii.2009, leg. Aihuan Zhang and Xueling Tian, slide nos . LTT12345♂, LTT12361♂; 1♀, Mt. Wuling (40.63°N, 117.43°E), Xinglong County, 1000 m, 16.vi.2014, leg. Shurong Liu et al. Beijing: 1Ƌ , 3♀, Xiaolongmen Forest Farm (39.97°N, 115.44°E), 1080 m, 14, 28.viii.2006, leg. Aihuan Zhang, Aihua Sun and Xueling Tian, slide nos. LTT12344Ƌ , LTT12343 ♀. Tianjin : 1♀, Mt. Baxian (40.18°N, 117.55°E), Ji County, 500 m, 8̄ 11.ix.2009, leg. Houhun Li et al., slide no . LTT12346. Shanxi Province: 1Ƌ, Mt. Mian (36.87°N, 111.90°E), Jiexiu County, 1370 m, 25.vii.2013, leg. Tengteng Liu and Peixin Cong, slide no . LTT12347; 1♂, Mt. Lingkong (36.61°N, 112.08°E), Qinyuan County, 1560 m , 31.vii.2013, leg. Tengteng Liu and Peixin Cong; 1♂, Mt. Li (35.59°N, 111.97°E), Jincheng City , 1520 m, 19.viii.2006, leg. Xu Zhang and Haiyan Bai, slide no. LTT12528W. Shaanxi Province: 2Ƌ, Mt. Qinling (34.06°N, 108.40°E), 18̄ 27.viii.2003, leg. Min Wang and Guohua Huang, slide no . LTT12348. Gansu Province: 7Ƌ, 3♀, 1 ex. (without abdomen and hindwings), Mt. Xinglong (35.80°N, 104.07°E), Yuzhong County, 2120̄ 2130 m, 29̄ 31.vii, 2 , 4.viii.1993, leg. Houhun Li, slide no. LTT12101♂, LTT12350♀, LTT12530W; 4♂, Mt. Xinglong (35.80°N, 104.07°E), Yunzhong , 2178 m, 21.viii.2007, leg. Feng Yang and Hanguang Gao, slide no . LTT12355; 1♀, Dangchuan Forest Farm (34.35°N, 106.15°E), Tianshui City , 1342 m , 28.vii.2006, leg. Xinpu Wang and Xiangfeng Shi, slide no. JQ07319; 2♀, Huamiaogongqu (34.35°N, 106.15°E), Dangchuan Forest Farm, Mt. Xiaolong , Tianshui City , 13.viii.1988, leg. Xingyu Wu, slide no. LTT12349. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region: 2Ƌ, 1♀, Xiaonanchuan plant garden (35.34°N, 106.31°E), Erlonghe Forest Farm, Mt. Liupan , 1900 m, 28.vi.2006, leg. Shulian Hao and Zhiwei Zhang, slide nos . LTT12351♂, LTT12708♀; 1♂, 1♀, Qiuqianjian Forest Station (35.56°N, 106.44°E), Qiuqianjia Forest Farm, Mt. Liupan , 1700 m, 2.vii.2008, leg. Shulian Hao and Zhiwei Zhang, slide no . LTT12044♂; 1♂ (without abdomen), Longtan Forest Station (35.39°N, 106.35°E), Mt. Liupan , 1710 m, 25.vi.2008, leg. Shulian Hao and Zhiwei Zhang. Sichuan Province: 3Ƌ , 7♀, Wolong (30.34°N, 103.42°E), 1900 m , 7.viii.2004, leg. Yingdang Ren, slide nos. JQ08129̄30♀, LTT12080Ƌ, LTT12110♀, LTT12709♀, LTT12110W; 1♂, Zharu (33.25°N, 103.97°E), Jiuzhaigou , 2250 m, 19.viii.2002, leg. Shulian Hao, slide no . LTT12352.

Distribution. China (Beijing, Gansu, Hebei, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Yunnan).

Diagnosis. This species resembles A. (A) submontana Frey, 1870 superficially and in the female genitalia. Argyresthia (A.) aphoristis can be separated by the forewing with the spot at basal 3/10 of the fold not extending to the dorsum, and the dorsal fascia represented by a trapezoidal black spot on the dorsum, and the arched phallus in the male genitalia. In A. (A) submontana the spot at the fold reaches the dorsum, the spot on the dorsum is pale fuscous, and the phallus is straight. Argyresthia (A.) aphoristis is also similar to A. (A.) triangulata , sp. nov., and the differences between them are stated under the latter species.

Remarks. The male and female genitalia of this species are described for the first time; Clarke (1965) illustrated the male genitalia. Argyresthia (A.) kurenzovi Gershenson, 1988 , typically recorded in Russian Far East, which is adjacent to Northeast China, is almost identical with A. (A.) aphoristis in both superficial and genital features. Argyresthia (A.) aphoristis is typically recorded in South China (Yunnan Province), but it is also widely distributed in North China including the Northeast part (Liaoning Province). Considering the sympatric distribution and the high morphological similarity, A. (A.) kurenzovi is probably a junior objective synonym of A. (A.) aphoristis . The synonymic relationship can not be formally proposed until the holotype of A. (A.) kurenzovi is examined.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 10. Genital structures of Argyresthia spp. 9, male genitalia, a – b, A. (Argyresthia) aphoristis Meyrick, 1938, slide no. LTT 12348, c – d, A. (Blastotere) anthocephala Meyrick, 1936, slide no. LTT 12312; 10, female genitalia, A. (A.) brockeella Hübner, [1805], slide no. LTT 12549. (Scales, 9 a – c = 0.2 mm, 9 d = 0.1 mm; 10 = 0.5 mm)

FIGURES 44 – 51. Adults of Argyresthia spp. 44, A. (Argyresthia) campylotropa, sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 45, A. (A.) punctuata, sp. nov., ♀, paratype; 46, A. (A.) trochaula Meyrick, ♂; 47, A. (A.) chlorella, sp. nov., ♂, holotype; 48, A. (A.) subrimosa Meyrick, ♀; 49, A. (A.) aphoristis Meyrick, collected from Sichuan Province, ♀; 50, A. (A.) aphoristis Meyrick, collected from Shanxi Province, ♂; 51, A. (A.) triangulata, sp. nov., ♂, holotype. (Scales = 2.0 mm)

FIGURES 114 – 119. Eighth sternite and male genitalia excluding phallus of Argyresthia spp. 114, A. (Argyresthia) punctuata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12534, holotype; 115, A. (A.) trochaula Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12335; 116, A. (A.) chlorella, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12337, holotype; 117, A. (A.) subrimosa Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12713; 118, A. (A.) aphoristis Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12348; 119, A. (A.) triangulata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12362, paratype. (Scales = 0.2 mm)

FIGURES 174 – 177. Phallus of Argyresthia spp. 174, A. (Argyresthia) aphoristis Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12348; 175, A. (A.) triangulata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12362, paratype; 176, A. (A.) subzonata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12338, holotype; 177, A. (A.) pygmaeella ([Denis & Schiffermüller]), slide no. LTT 12722. (Scales = 0.2 mm)

FIGURES 221 – 232. Socii of Argyresthia spp. 221, A. (Argyresthia) decurtata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12334, paratype; 222, A. (A.) minutisocia, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12438, holotype; 223, A. (A.) scalprata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12134, holotype; 224, A. (A.) grammosacca, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12439, paratype; 225, A. (A.) campylotropa, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12443, holotype; 226, A. (A.) punctuata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12534, holotype; 227, A. (A.) trochaula Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12335; 228, A. (A.) chlorella, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12337, holotype; 229, A. (A.) subrimosa Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12713; 230, A. (A.) aphoristis Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12348; 231, A. (A.) triangulata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12362, paratype; 232, A. (A.) subzonata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12338, holotype. (Scales = 0.1 mm)

FIGURES 274 – 276. Female genitalia of Argyresthia spp. 274, A. (Argyresthia) punctuata, sp. nov., slide no. LTT 12535, paratype; 275, A. (A.) subrimosa Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12714; 276, A. (A.) aphoristis Meyrick, slide no. LTT 12346. (Scales = 0.5 mm)