Craniophora sichuanensis Kiss, Gyulai & Saldaitis

Kiss, Adam & Gyulai, Peter, 2013, Two new species and one subspecies of Craniophora Snellen, 1867 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Acronictinae) from China, ZooKeys 353, pp. 61-70 : 66

Craniophora sichuanensis Kiss, Gyulai & Saldaitis sp. n. Figs 4, 11, 12

Type material.

Holotype: Male (Fig. 4), China, W. Sichuan, road Yaan/Kangding, Erlang Shan Mt., 2200 m, 02.Aug.2011, 29°87.340"N, 102°30.970"E, leg. Floriani and Saldaitis; slide No.: 2883 Gyulai (coll. P. Gyulai, to be deposited in HNHM, Budapest). Paratypes: None.

Diagnosis and description.

Wingspan 32 mm. Externally most similar to Craniophora harmandi and to a lesser degree to Craniophora fujianensis . The shared features with the two related taxa are the more or less similar forewing pattern and noctuid maculation and the less sinuous whitish-grey subterminal line. It can be distinguished from Craniophora fujianensis by its smaller size, with a wingspan of 32 mm compared to 35-38 mmin the two subspecies of Craniophora fujianensis and 33-40 mm in Craniophora harmandi ; the slight black circle in the centre of the thoracic tuft; the white, curved, fine, comma-like basal mark (which is not quadrangular as in the two related taxa); the conspicuous, clear white inner stripe of the medial area along the broad black medial fascia; the more recognisable white outline of the orbicular and reniform stigmata; the longer basal black streak, the diluted blackish streak extending in the submedial fold from the middle of the medial line outward to the lowest part of the terminal line (tornal area) and the more uniform, light brownish-grey hindwing with a faint dark-brown discal spot, sinuous medial line and darker suffused terminal area. Additionally, in comparison with Craniophora harmandi , Craniophora sichuanensis has darker and narrower dark suffusion in the medial area, and lacks the large whitish area extending outward from the reniform stigma toward the apex and in the postmedial line. Craniophora sichuanensis is more distinct from Craniophora fujianensis , especially in the conspicuous clear white inner third of medial area. Male genitalia (Figs 11, 12): Uncus almost evenly slender and apically hooked, valvae spatulate, lacking corona, vesica almost even in width with two equally long, weak, slender spines and one shorter, broader, stout cornutus and the broad, sclerotised distal area covered by numerous almost straight parallel ribs. These genitalia features, as well as the overall smaller male genitalia, shorter, more asymmetrical, medially broadened valvae, and V-shaped vinculum, separate the new species from the two close relatives.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The species name refers to the type locality in the Province of Sichuan, China.

Distribution.

The new species is known only from the Erlang Shan at the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau in China’s Sichuan province. The single male was collected at ultraviolet light. The new species appeared with a very local distribution, as it was discovered in only one valley in mountainous region. The new species was collected in virgin mixed forest habitat dominated by various broad-leaved trees such as oaks ( Quercus dentata Thunb., Quercus glauca Thunb.), poplars ( Populus cathayana Rheder, Populus simonii Carrière), elm ( Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.), rhododendrons ( Rhododendron brachycarpum D. Don ex G. Don, Rhododendron dauricum L.), and bamboos ( Phyllostachys ssp., Borinda ssp., Fargesia spp.). Adults are on the wing with many other late summer Noctuidae species, such as Pareuplexia chalybeate (Moore, 1867), Blepharosis bryocharis Boursin, 1964, Blepharosis lamida (Draudt, 1950) and Amphipyra amentet Babics, Benedek & Saldaitis, 2013.