Metachrostis djakonovi Matov & Kononenko

V, Ато, 2009, A review of Palaearctic Metachrostis Hübner, [1820] 1816 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Eublemminae), Zootaxa 2026, pp. 1-17 : 7-9

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.274739
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6219267
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BB87EC-FF90-1458-FF74-FACD82BDFDBA
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Metachrostis djakonovi Matov & Kononenko
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Metachrostis djakonovi Matov & Kononenko , sp. n.

( Figs. 11, 12 View FIGURES 9 – 16 , 27, 28 View FIGURES 23 – 28 , 46 View FIGURES 46, 47 )

Type material. Holotype, male, Kazakhstan, Semirechje, Djarkent, 1915 (ex coll. A.M. Djakonov), prep. 0 0 27 Matov; Paratypes: 1 male, Kazakhstan, Mangistau region, 13 km NNE of mt. Shetpe, mt. Mangistau, N 44°15΄0 7,4΄΄ EO 52°12΄0 2.6΄΄, 20.v.2007 (T.A. Trofimova, D.F. Shovkun), prep. 0 0 65 Matov; 1 male, Kazakhstan, Mangistau region, peninsula Tjub-Karagan, Mangyshlak gulf, coast, N 44°34΄0,13΄΄ EO 50°56΄25.4΄΄, 24.v.2007 (T.A. Trofimova, D.F. Shovkun), prep. 0 0 45 Matov; 1 male, Kazakhstan, Mangistau region, NO 43°48΄28.3΄΄ EO 53°32΄19.3΄΄, 15.v.2007 (T.A. Trofimova, D.F. Shovkun); 2 males, West Mongolia, Khovd aimak, 25 km NW of Mankhan, 1400 m, stony desert, 3.vii.2003 (P.Ja. Ustjuzhanin), prep. 0 0 29 Matov, 0 0 30 Matov; [coll. ZISP]. The type series, including the holotype, is in the collection of Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences ( ZISP, St. Petersburg, Russia).

Diagnosis. The new species differs from its close relatives ( M. velox , M. velocior , M. griseimargo , M. batanga ) by grey-ochreous tint to the wing coloration, by more contrasting wing pattern (wider and always clearly expressed medial line, usually having brown diffused shadow on inner side), by a smaller and more uniformly colored reniform spot, and by the absence of an orbicular spot in most specimens. In male genitalia the new species differs by having a narrower valva that is more deeply constricted medially at the ventral side, and by the shape of the proximal extension of the aedeagus and shorter proximal part of the aedeagus (coecum).

Description. Adult (Figs. 11,12). Wingspan: 17–19 mm. Head, thorax and abdomen ochreous-grey in specimens from west Kazakhstan or brownish-grey in specimens from western Mongolia. Wings brownishgrey in specimens from Mongolia or pinkish-grey in specimens from Kazakhstan. Basal, medial and postmedial lines on forewings black or dark brown; medial and postmedial lines on hindwing dark brown; medial line usually with brown diffused shadow on inner side; submarginal line with wide greyish-white bordering on outer side. Subterminal field with waved brown or rufous-brown band between postmedial and submarginal lines, which is weakly expressed on hindwing. Reniform spot dark-brown (in some specimens ochreous-grey inside); orbicular stigma absent, or hardly traceable as a small dot. Tergite 8th of male rectangular, in some specimens extended. Male genitalia ( Figs. 27, 28 View FIGURES 23 – 28 ). Valva broad, with parallel dorsal and ventral margins, its ventral margin deeply necked medially; proximal extension of aedeagus rather short, rounded-trapezoid. Female unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 46 View FIGURES 46, 47 ). West and south-east Kazakhstan, western Mongolia. The species was collected in lowland and hilly desert and dry steppes in Kazakhstan, and in mountainous stony desert at an elevation of 1400 m in Mongolia. Mongolian specimens differ from the Kazakhstan population in wing pattern, but the male genitalia are identical.