Agacysma, Huang & Horie & Fan & Wang & Espeland, 2023

Huang, Si-Yao, Horie, Kiyoshi, Fan, Xiao-Ling, Wang, Min & Espeland, Marianne, 2023, A review of the genus Agalope Walker (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Chalcosiinae) with taxonomic notes and descriptions of three new genera and three new species, Zootaxa 5284 (2), pp. 291-321 : 306-312

Agacysma S.-Y. Huang & Horie, gen. n.

( Figs 45–48 , 61, 62 , 88–90 , 105, 106 , 120–122 )

Type species: Agacysma sinica S.-Y. Huang & Horie, sp. n., by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized moth with greyish, translucent wings. The combination of the following features is diagnostic: 1) Forewing veins M 2 and M 3 arise independently from the lower angle of the discal cell. 2) In the male genitalia, the juxta lobes are shield-like with outer surface covered by numerous spinules and are connected with the basal plate by an anterior extension (an autapomorphy). 3) The valva is slender and narrow, the costa and the sacculus band-like, sclerotized, fuse at the distal end of the valva and form a short dent-like distal process. 4) The subapical section of the valva bears several longitudinal sclerotized folds.

Externally, Agacysma gen. n. is most reminiscent of Rotundagalope gen. n. among the genera in the present study by having similar forewing venation, and the differences between the two genera have been provided in the diagnosis part of Rotundagalope gen. n. In male genitalia, Agacysma gen. n. is intermediate between Paragalope gen. n. and Elcysma by having the typical Paragalope gen. n. uncus while the valva is very similar to those of Elcysma .

Description. Male. Forewing length 22.8– 30 mm. Antennae bipectinate. Head, thorax and abdomen nearly glabrous, with abdomen covered by thin piliform scales dorsally. Both wings thinly scaled and translucent, greyish. Forewing upperside sometimes with base of costa marked with a small orange patch. Veins darkened. Hindwing upperside with veins darkened. Eighth abdominal tergite narrowed medially, nearly trapezoid with distal end elongate and bifurcate.

Male genitalia. Uncus same width as tegumen at basal section, distal end varying from rounded or slightly concave at middle. Subscaphium sclerotized and U-shaped. Tegumen in ventral view rectangular with nearly straight lateral margins. Posterior tegumenal projection distally covered by spinules and granulation, broadly arrow-shaped with distal end slightly bilobated, with a pair of process extending anteriorly in lateral view. Vinculum slender. Saccus broad U-shaped and rounded distally. Juxta comprising of a broad (ca. same width as saccus) basal plate and a pair of shield-like lobes which and covered by numerous long spinules on surface. Valva elongated (ca. 6 × uncus length) and dilated subapically, distal section of costa band and whole sacculus band strongly sclerotized, fusing distally and forming a triangular dent-like distal process. Phallus slightly S-like curved and bearing a small dorsal process near base.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The generic name Agacysma is the aggregate of the genera name Agalope and Elcysma , referring to the similarities with the Agalope -related genera (Agalope & Paragalope gen. n.) and Elcysma . Gender is feminine.

Biology. Nearly all the males examined were attracted to light traps.

Distribution. Endemic to mainland China. Known from Shaanxi and Hubei Provinces and Chongqing City ( Fig. 123 ) in central and southwestern China ( Fig. 124 ).

Species composition

A. sinica S.-Y. Huang & Horie, sp. n.

Figures

FIGURE 124. Distribution map of the new species described in the present study.

FIGURES 45–50.Adults of Agacysma gen. n. and Elcysma spp. 45, Agacysma sinica sp. n., HT, male, Simianshan, Chongqing, China, SMS1 (CHSY, will be subsequently deposited in ZFMK); 46, ditto, PT, male, Jinfoshan, Chongqing, China (CHSY); 47, ditto, PT, male, Shennongjia, Hubei, China (CHSY); 48, ditto, PT, male, Taibai, Shaanxi, China, En-225403 (CSYSU); 49, Elcysma westwoodii, male, Takarazuka, Japan, ZFMK Lep153369 (ZFMK); 50, ditto, female, Kyoto, Japan, ZFMK Lep153370 (ZFMK).

FIGURES 51–63. Lateral view of the male genitalia of Agalope/Elcysma-related genera. Depository: 51, 52, 58: ZMH; 53, 55, 63: ZFMK; 54, 57, 61: CHSY; 56: SCAU; 59, 60: NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 62: CSYSU.

FIGURES 88–92. Male genitalia of Agacysma gen. n. and Elcysma spp. Depository: 88: CHSY; 89, 90: CSYSU; 91, 92: ZFMK.

FIGURES 93–107. Eighth tergite of Agalope/Elcysma-related genera. Depository: 93, 94, 100: ZMH; 95, 96, 107: ZFMK; 97, 101, 103: NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 98: SCAU; 99, 102, 105: CHSY; 104: CJF; 106: CSYSU.

FIGURES 120–123. Adult and habitat of Agacysma sinica gen. n. & sp. n. in China: 120, Shennongjia, Hubei (photographed by Lu Qiu); 121: Yintiaoling, Chongqing (photographed by Qian-le Lu); 122: Simianshan, Chongqing (photographed by Weiwei Zhang); 123, habitat in Simianshan, Chongqing.