Belciana hemodi (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874)

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A revision of the genus Belciana Walker, 1862 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae) from East and South East Asia. Revision of Pantheinae, contribution XII, Zootaxa 4027 (3), pp. 341-365 : 351-352

Belciana hemodi (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874)

( Figs 21, 22 , 39 , 50 )

Belciana hemodi Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874 , Reise der Oesterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1859. Zoologischer Theil, Zweiter Band, Zweite Abtheilung, Lepidoptera . Pl. 111: 25. Holotype: India, Himalaya (NHM).

References: Poole 1989: 160 (as synonym of Belciana biformis ); Holloway 2009: 19 (bona species, commentary, Belciana ).

Material examined. LAOS: 1 male, Prov. Ban Nam Phong, road Khammonan to Lak Sao, (Lime stone), 380 m, 18°08′267 N, 104°32′332 E, Ihle T. leg., 8–9.iii.2008, slide GB 7412 m, BC ZSM Lep 48887, coll. Behounek, ZSM, Munich; 1 male, 1 female, same data, slides GB12169 female, and 12170 male, coll. A. Becher; 1 male, MYANMAR, Shan State, Soe Pin vill., Utut Ni Pass, 1773m, 20°57,142′ N, 96°37, 636′ E, Ihle Th., S. Löffler & Spona leg., 4–5.viii.2007, slide GB12171 male, coll. A. Becher.

Note. The specimen labelled as BC ZSM Lep 48887 has been used for barcoding. Molecular distance based on the Kimura two-parameter model for COI DNA barcodes between nearest T. hemodi and T. hreblayi is 3,17 %; the distance between B. hemodi and B. pinratanai is 6,42%.

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs 21, 22 ). Wingspan 35–39 mm. B. hemodi together with B. pinratanai sp. n. represents fourth species group of Belciana . Externally it is similar to the species of biformis group by having of bluish-green ground colour, but differs by more developed wing pattern. Head, thorax and forewing bluish-green, tegulae bordered with blackish-brown. Wing pattern in the male with more expressed blackish elements; female almost has not blackish lines, looks more similar to B. biformis . Subbasal field half-filled with blackish brown, outlined with whitish line; antemedial line blackish, thin, distinct; orbicular and reniform expressed as white spots, orbicular with black bottom spot; medial mark in costal area small; medial line blackish, diffused, connected with costal mark; postmedial line blackish, thin, diffused; subterminal line as row blackish dashes outlined with whitish; subapicalapical mark brown with blackish dashes; subtornal-tornal mark brown; terminal line as row of interrupted blackish streaks; cilia brown with pale bluish-green marks opposite veins. The hindwing are dull greyish-brown around terminal margin, pale yellowish-grey towards base and along anal margin, with slightly traceable discal spot and medial fascia. In females blackish transversal lines expressed by white bordering lines, except medial line, which is formed by diffused blackish scales; the hindwing darker than in male.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 39 ). In the male genitalia it differs from other groups by extended flattened shape of valva and structure of the aedeagus with extended branches of carina armed with strong spines. Uncus more solid than in B. biformis , less curved and more extended apically; valva broader more rounded and more sclerotised, sacculus more formed compared with B. biformis , with large basal coremata; harpe short, but broadly extended, flattened, terminated by small spine. Aedeagus with broad lobes of carina, vesica in joining with carina armed with row of strong short spines and cluster of spines; basal diverticulum with 12–14 moderate and small cornuti.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 50 ). In the female genitalia antevaginal plate one-piece, like in biformis -group, much smaller than in prasina -group. Ovipositor quadrangular; apophyses anteriores and posteriors ones moderate and equal in length, rather strong; antrum quadrangular, with not split antevaginal plate; ductus bursae short, membranous; corpus bursae elongated, with strongly sclerotised slightly ribbed patch in junction with ductus bursae and prominent lateral extension.

Distribution and bionomics. India ( Hindustan, Uttar Pradesh, Bhimal, East and Westghats, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri), * Laos (Khaimmonan), * Myanmar (Shan state). The species was collected in lowland at elevation 380 m. Moth flies in March, Mai, June and August.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 24. Belciana spp., adults. 17. B. prasina, male, North Vietnam (AB / ZSM); 18. B. bicolor, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4177 (ZSM); 19. B. bicolor, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4176 (ZSM); 20. B. bicolor, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4223 (ZSM); 21. B. hemodi, male, Myanmar, slide GB 12171 (AB / ZSM); 23. B. hemodi, female, Laos, slide GB 12169 (AB / ZSM); 23. B. sp., China, Shaanxi, RL 10996; 24. B. pinratanai, sp. n., female, holotype, Thailand, slide GB 12177 (AB / ZMS).

FIGURES 38 – 40. Belciana spp., male genitalia. 38. B. bicolor, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4177 (ZSM); 39. B. hemodi, Laos, slide GB 7412 (GB); 40. B. pinratanai sp. n., paratype, Thailand, slide MJP 707 (MJP). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.

FIGURES 46 – 52. Belciana spp., female genitalia. 46. B. sp., Indonesia, Lombok I., slide GB 7362 (GB); 47. B. pratti, Papua New Guinea, slide GB 7700 (GB); 48. B. prasina, Sumatra, slide GB 7708 (GB). 49. B. bicolor, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4227 (ZSM); 50. B. hemodi, Laos, slide GB 12169 (GB); 51. B. sp., China, Shaanxi, slide RL 10996 (GR); 52. B. pinratanai sp. n., holotype, Thailand, slide GB 12177 (AB / ZSM); 53. B. scorpio, Thailand, slide GB 8252 (GB). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.