Euxoa porphyrofusca, Gyulai & Varga, 2024

Gyulai, Péter & Varga, Zoltán, 2024, Two new species of Euxoa Hübner, [1821] from Central Asia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Noctuinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 73, pp. 443-452 : 450-452

Euxoa porphyrofusca sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E503850B-5EC4-408C-8BAC-3FC4B5D24058

( Figs 11–15 , 24, 25 , 31 )

Type material. Holotype: female, Tajikistan, W– Pamir , Vantsh Mts. , 3400 m, Rushan district, Gorno Badakhshan, 1–10. VIII. 2002; leg. V. Gurko, slide no. GYP 3002 ( PGM).

Paratypes: 9 males, 5 females, same data as of the holotype ( PGM) ; 4 males, 6 females, same data as holotype but with the date 10–20. VIII. 2002, leg. V . Gurko ( PGM) ; 1 female, same data as of the holotype but with the date, 20–30. VII. 2015, leg. V . Gurko ( PGM) ; 2 males, Tajikistan, W – Pamir, 3400m, Rushan , 21–30. VII. 1998, leg. V . Gurko ( PGM) ; 2 females, Tajikistan, 3400 m, W– Pamir, Sarez lake area, N. Irkift meteor stant., 20–30. VII. 2011, leg. V . Gurko ( PGM) ; 2 females, Tajikistan, 3700 m, E– Pamir, Zulumart Mt. range ; 20–30. VII. 2014, leg. V . Gurko ( PGM) ; 2 females, Kyrgyzstan, Enilchek , 5–10. VIII. 1994, leg. A. Saldaitis ( PGM) ; 1 male, Kyrgyzstan, in Russian: yuzh. bereg oz. Issyk Kul, okr. p. Borskhaun , 7.VIII.1990, V . Sibanov , gen. 2237 [south shore of lake Issyk Kul, vicinity of Borskhaun (misspelling of the name Barskoon, which is really not far from Issyk Kul) village, 7.VIII.1990, leg. V. Sibanov, gen. [preparate in glycerine] N 2237; ex coll A. V. Nekrasov ( ZISP); 1 male, 1 female, Transcaspia, ex coll Kavrigin ( ZISP); 1 female, Kyrgyzstan, in Russian: Oshskaya obl., Alayskiy hreb., Daraut-Kurgan, 18. VIII. 81, Selivanov, iz kollekcii A. V. Nekrasova (Osh region, Alai ridge, Daraut-Kurgan, 18. VIII. 81, Selivanov, ex coll. A. V. Nekrasov ( ZISP). Slide Nos.: GYP 2100, 5743 males; GYP 3003, 5765 females ( Tajikistan, Gorno Badakhshan, Rushan district).

Diagnosis. Euxoa porphyrofusca sp. n. ( Figs 11–15 ) is closely related to Euxoa cuprina Staudinger, 1899 ( Figs 16–18 ) from the type locality ”Korla” (940 m) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (NW China). The type series of E. cuprina was very likely collected in the near–lying lower Tien Shan Mountain’ s chains Kuluke Mountain and Huangshan Mountain, to the north of Korla, North of the Taklimakan Desert. Both species belong to the relatively larger ones in Euxoa , with a wingspan of 36–47 mm, but the specimens of the new species are somewhat larger in average. E. porphyrofusca sp. n. can be distinguished from E. cuprina by the almost concolorous dark brownish–greyish ground colour of the thorax vesture and forewings, with slight dark purplish–bluish irroration, while the dark reddish suffusion is much less extended and extense than in E. cuprina , or visible only as a slight suffusion in the subterminal field on the forewings in certain specimens. In E. cuprina the dark reddish– grey patagia and tegula usually have a lighter greyish margin and the ground colour of forewings is also reddish in all specimens of the type series with some lighter greyish defined maculation and crosslines. The postmedial transverse line of the new species is more arched with a more prominent fore section than in E. cuprina . The underside of the wings of the new species lacks the reddish suffusion, which is more or less present in the specimens of E. cuprina .

In the male genitalia, E. porphyrofusca sp. n. ( Figs 24, 25 ) significantly differs from E. cuprina ( Figs 26, 27 ) in the simply arched harpe (and not arcuate as in the closely related species) and the significantly shorter (particularly on the left side) and curved inward, slightly asymmetric saccular extensions. The comparison of the endophallus tube of the two taxa is impossible since this structure is fractured in both males of E. cuprina . In the female genitalia, E. porphyrofusca sp. n. ( Fig. 31 ) has longer sclerotized dorsal and ventral plates in the longer ductus bursae, a shorter anterior saccular part, which is, however, significantly larger, the more spacious posterior section of the corpus bursae, and the proportionally larger appendix bursae, compared to the corresponding structures of E. cuprina ( Fig. 32 ).

Description. Wingspan 38–47 mm. Antenna finely bipectinated in male and filiform in female. Vesture of head and thorax, ground colour of forewing and fringe almost concolorous dark brownish– greyish with slight dark bluish irritation, and with some dark reddish suffusion, more extended and stronger in subterminal field of forewing while slight in certain specimens. Wing pattern mostly obscure, orbicular and reniform macules concolorous with ground colour, more or less finely whitish encircled; claviform small, finely bordered with black line. Antemedial transverse lines double, well defined, zigzagged, blackish with more or less whitish suffusion inside; postmedial line fine, arcuate, finely serrate, and blackish with pale brownish inner shade. Subterminal line fine, interrupted, dark brownish with light brownish shade inside. Hindwing whitish with broad and very diffuse light brownish marginal suffusion, and finely arched and conspicuous cellular macula. Forewing underside whitish with pale greyish suffusion, almost lacking the shade of upperside pattern, with exception of reniform stigma; hindwing clear white.

Male genitalia ( Figs 24, 25 ). Uncus weak and long. Juxta subquadrangular, with U–shaped deep incision dorsally–medially two symmetric lateral, triangular extensions, and with triangular, acutely pointed ventral extension. Valva elongate and broad with dorsally elongate cucullus section, terminated in a row of strong setae, their dorsal margin slightly convex, ventral margin slightly concave. Harpe arched and slender. Saccular processes moderately long, asymmetrical (left one much shorter), both medially upcurved. Vinculum v–shaped. Aedeagus strong and somewhat curved ventrally. Everted tube of endophallus recurved ventrally, its basal diverticulum large, asymmetrically ovoid; medial diverticulum recurved, similar to basal one, but conspicuously smaller. Tube of endophallus terminated with a small dorsal diverticulum.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Ovipositor elongated and broad, terminally slender, apically rounded. Apophyses anteriores medium long, strong; apophyses posteriores very long, finer, about twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Laminar plate of antrum v-shaped. Ductus bursae membranous, elongate tubular, dilated anteriorly and posteriorly, laminar plates on its wall elongate, about the same length, posteriorly dilated. Appendix bursae slightly prominent postero–laterally, broadly conical. Corpus bursae large, saccate, anterior part smaller, medially constricted, posterior section enlarged, spacious, with broadly conical appendix bursae.

Distribution. The new species is known only from the Pamir-Alai mountain system in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, exclusively from high altitudes.

Etymology. The name of the new species expresses the darker and less cupreous colouration of the body and forewings.

Lectotype designation. All the specimens of the short series of E. cuprina show the same label data, with pale reddish “Origin” label, excepted one female with red “Cotype” label. Since the vesica of the formerly dissected two males were unsuitable for any comparison with that of Euxoa porphyrofusca sp. n., described above, one of the authors dissected the female labelled as “Cotype” and designated as lectotype here.

Lectotype: female, “Cotype. cuprina Stgr. ” ♀ (red label), (the species name with handwriting of Staudinger); white label: “Asia centr. Korla” (“Korla” with handwriting of Staudinger) ( MfN). The lectotype is illustrated on the Fig. 16 , the genitalia on the Fig. 32 .

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Theo Leger, Viola Richter (Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany) for type documentation of Euxoa cuprina ; Gábor Ronkay (Budapest, Hungary) for type documentation of Euxoa enixa and Euxoa cuprina ; Alexey Matov (ZISP, St. Petersburg, Russia) for consultation and photo documentation; Adrienne Gyulai–Garai (Miskolc, Hungary) for computer assistance; Péter Kozma (Debrecen, Hungary) for scanning of genitalia slides, and to an anonymous Referee for the careful revision and useful suggestions.

References

Fibiger, M. (1997) Noctuinae III. Noctuidae Europeae 3. Entomological Press Sorø, 418 pp.

Fibiger, M. & Hacker, H. (2005) Systematic List of the Noctuoidea of Europe. Esperiana, 11, 93–205.

Lafontaine, J.D. (1987) Noctuoidea, Noctuidae (Part). The Moths of America North of Mexico 27.2. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, 238 pp.

Püngeler, R. (1906) Neue palaearctische Macrolepidopteren. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 19 (2), 78–98. [In German]

Staudinger, O. (1899) Neue Lepidopteren des palaearktischen Faunengebiets. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 12, 352–403. [In German]

Varga, Z. (2014) New and revised Euxoa Hübner, 1821 species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae) from Western and Central Asia. Fibigeriana Supplement, 2, 9–30.

Varga, Z. & Gyulai, P. (2001) New species of the genera: Euxoa, Dichagyris and Chersotis from Central Asia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Noctuinae) Esperiana, 8, 771–790.

Figures

Figures 11–18. Euxoa spp. adults. 11. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., HT, f, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko, GYP 3002 (PGM); 12. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., PT, m, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko (PGM) 13. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., PT, m, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko, GYP 2100, (PGM); 14. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., PT, f, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko (PGM); 15. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., PT, f, Kyrgyzstan, 5 km S Enilchek, 5–10. VIII. 1994, leg. Saldaitis, GYP 5765, (PGM); 16. E. cuprina Staudinger, 1899, Lectotype, f, Asia Centr., Korla, MfN 841 (MfN); 17. E. cuprina Staudinger, 1899, CT, m, Korla (MfN); 18. E.cuprina Staudinger, 1899, f, CT, Korla (MfN).

Figures 23–27. Euxoa spp. male genitalia figures. 23. E. anthracina Varga & Gyulai 2001, HT, Tajikistan, Karategin range, Gorge Sangikar, 1700 m, 28. VIII. 1969, GYP 1007 (PGM); 24. E. porphyrofusca sp. n., PT, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko, GYP 2100 (PGM); 25. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., PT, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko, GYP 5743, (PGM); 26. Euxoa cuprina Staudinger, 1899, CT, Korla, 2–58 V (MfN); 27. E. cuprina Staudinger, 1899, CT, Korla, 10–1 V (MfN).

Figures 28–32. Euxoa spp. female genitalia figures. 28. E. scotopamira sp. n., PT, Tajikistan, Peter I, near Ganishou, 2070 m, 22. VIII. 1974, leg. Tshetkin, GYP 4714 (PGM); 29. E. enixa (Püngeler, 1906), ST, Turkestan Oriental, Prov., Semirechgensee, Fort Naryne, G. S. Akulin, 1907, VZ 9747 (Sammlung Dr. A. Corti, ex coll Pglr.); 30. E. anthracina Varga & Gyulai, 2001, PT, Tajikistan Peter I. Mts., Ganishou, 10. VIII. 1974, leg. Tshetkin, GYP 4506 (PGM); 31. E. porphyrofusca, sp. n., HT, Tajikistan, Wantsh Mts., 3400 m, Gorno Badakhstan, W Pamir, Rushan distr., 1–10. VIII. 2002, leg. V. Gurko, GYP 3002 (PGM); 32. E. cuprina Staudinger, 1899, Lectotype, Asia Centr., Korla, MfN 841 (MfN).