Biston pustulata (Warren, 1896) Warren, 1896

Jiang, Nan, Xue, Dayong & Han, Hongxiang, 2011, A review of Biston Leach, 1815 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China, with description of one new species, ZooKeys 139, pp. 45-96 : 61-63

Biston pustulata (Warren, 1896) New to the fauna of China Figs 31, 3279106

Buzura pustulata Warren, 1896, Novit. zool., 3: 401. Holotype ♂, Peninsular Malaysia: Perak. (BMNH)

Biston pustulata : Holloway, 1994, Malay. Nat. J.,47: 210, pl. 12, fig. 452.

Description.

Head. Male antennae about two-fifths length of forewing, bipectinate in basal two-thirds, filiform in terminal one-third, rami long, length of longest ramus about three and half times diameter of antennal shaft. Frons not protruding, smoothscaled, with basal half pale yellow, upper half black. Labial palpus black, small, pale yellow apically, not extending beyond frons. Vertex pale yellow.

Thorax. Dorsum white-dotted with black scales. Patagia and tegulae white, mottled with black scales, yellow apically. Posterior margin of metanotum with two pairs of pale yellow spots. Hind tibia with two pairs of spurs in male, slightly dilated, without hair-pencil. Forewing length: male 29 mm. Forewing outer margin straight, hindwing round. Wings greyish white, dotted with pale grey scales. Pattern of forewing: antemedial line black, slightly waved, distinct, accompanied by a pale yellow band basally; medial line pale yellow, indistinct; postmedial line black, distinct, bilobedly protruding outwards between M1 and M3, then incurved, protruding outwards between CuA2 and 1A + 2A; a pale yellow band distally of postmedial line; black patches present between M1 and CuA1 distally of postmedial line and reaching outer margin between M1 and M3; submarginal line white, dentate; terminal line a series of short black strips between veins; fringe yellow mixed with black; discal spot present as grey dot. Hindwing with basal line black; medial line pale yellow, indistinct; postmedial line black, acutely protruding outwards between M1 and M3; a pale yellow band distally of postmedial line, scattered with black scales; submarginal line and fringe similar to those of forewing; terminal line less distinct than that of forewing; discal spot smaller. Underside pale yellow, transverse lines dark grey, similar to those of upper side, discal spots black, more distinct than those of upper side.

Abdomen. Dorsum greyish white, dotted with black scales, anal tuft pale yellow. Setal patch absent on third sternite of male abdomen.

Male genitalia. Uncus with bifurcate apex, about two-thirds length of basal width. Gnathos with median process slender, pointed terminally, equal to length of uncus. Valva compressed, about twice as long as basal width; costa sclerotized, straight, bearing long setae from center to apex. Saccus semicircular. Juxta long and broad, terminal half triangular, with pointed apex. Coremata not developed. Aedeagus cylindrical, striated posteriorly; vesica scobinate, without cornuti.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Biston suppressaria (see below).

Material examineds.

CHINA, Hainan (IZCAS): Ledong, Jianfengling, Tianchi, 808 m, 18.V.2009, coll. Chen Fuqiang, 1♂.

Distribution.

China (Hainan); S. Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sundaland.

Remarks.

The Hainan specimen is different from specimens of Bornean material in the distinct transverse lines and the more acute projection between M1 and M3 of the hindwing postmedial line. However, the male genitalia of the Hainan specimen are almost indentical to those of Biston pustulata from Borneo which were illustrated by Holloway (1994). Thus we classify the Hainan specimen as Biston pustulata . If these differences prove constant in a larger number of specimens, the Hainan population should be described as a separate subspecies.