Bellulia jiaxuanae, Han & Kononenko, 2021

Han, Hui Lin & Kononenko, Vladimir S., 2021, Six new species of the genus Bellulia Fibiger, 2008 from China and Cambodia (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Hypenodinae). Taxonomic study of Micronoctuini Contribution III, Zootaxa 4938 (1), pp. 117-130 : 122-123

Bellulia jiaxuanae sp. n.

( Figs 7 , 22 )

Type materials. Holotype: male, China, Prov. Yunnan, Mt. Gaoligong, Baihualing , 30.vii-2.viii.2014, H.L. Han, genit. prep. hhl-3537-1, coll. NEFU . Paratype: 1 male with same data as holotype, coll. NEFU .

Diagnosis. Superficially this species is similar to B. bibella Fibiger, 2011 ( Fig. 8 ), but can be distinguished by the following characters: the ground colour of the forewing is lighter; the basal line is indistinct (in B. bibella it is distinct); the antemedial line waved, its outer line darker than the inner line (in B. bibella it is smoothly curved, similar to a fused double line); the postmedial line is more slender (; the subterminal line appears with round straw spot in apical area (in bibella it is bar or wedge-shaped). In the male genitalia of B. jiaxuanae ( Fig. 22 ), the ventral part of the tegumen is fused with the fultura superior with a prominent process, rather longer and broader than in B. bibella ; the sacculus in the left valva is broader, as long as the valva (in B. bibella it is narrower and shorter than the valva); the right ampulla is curved, bar-shaped (in B. bibella it is disc-shaped apically); the terminal part of the aedeagus is bent at a right angle, smoothly raised dorsally (in B. bibella the aedeagus is smoothly curved posteriorly, with raised hump).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Wingspan 12.5-13.0 mm. Head grey; thorax and abdomen light, greyish brown with yellowish grey patagia, reddish grey on mesothorax; abdomen with tuft of black scales on second segment. Forewing greyish brown with darker brown and black pattern; basal line blackish brown, slender, indistinct, slightly waved; antemedial line blackish brown to black, double, incurved in discal cell and Cu-A2, its outer line broader and darker than inner line; postmedial line blackish brown to black, double, slender, from costal arched around inner margin of discal cell, then incurved towards inner margin; subterminal line black, formed by rounded spots between costa and M2, otherwise indistinct; terminal line black; fringe same as ground colour; basal, postmedial line areas darker towards costa, mixed with small white scales; reniform spot yellowish-white, outlined with black. Hindwing lighter than forewing; discal spot tinged, dark.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 22 ). Tegumen narrow, about 4/3 as long as vinculum; its ventral part fused to fultura superior with prominent, log-shaped and curved process on each side, with swollen rounded apex, left one longer than right, in right process apex irregularly trifid; basal part of right process broader than left. Vinculum thicker than tegumen, V-shaped. Saccus short, U-shaped, broad. Juxta sclerotized, with circular ring. Valvae rather narrow, strongly asymmetrical, left one shorter than right; sacculus asymmetrical, left one broader and shorter than right, as long as valva, right sacculus about 1/3 length of valva, apically rounded; ampullae asymmetrical, curved, bar-shaped, with heavy setae, right one larger and broader than left; costa thick and arched, right one significantly broader than left. Aedeagus with coecum about 1/5 length of aedeagus, medially slightly waved, terminally bent at right angle, slightly swollen apically; vesica with five small sclerotized cornuti.

Female genitalia. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species named by Chinese women’s name “ Jiaxuan ” and dedicated to the first daughter of the first author.

Distribution. China (Prov. Yunnan: Gaoligong Mt.). The species was collected in the tropical rainforest zone.

Figures

FIGURES 1-8. Bellulia spp., adults. 1. B. kareni (after Fibiger 2008); 2. B. tenebrosa sp. n., holotype, Cambodia; 3. B. clara sp. n., holotype, Cambodia; 4. B. mariannae (after Fibiger 2008); 5. B. parabella (after Fibiger 2008); 6. B. hanae (after Fibiger 2008); 7. B. jiaxuanae sp. n., holotype, China; 8. B. bibella (after Fibiger et al. 2011).

FIGURES 17-22. Bellulia spp., male genitalia. 17. B. kareni (after Fibiger 2008); 18. B. tenebrosa sp. n., holotype, Cambodia, genit. prep. hhl-3720-1; 19. B. clara sp. n., holotype, Cambodia, genit. prep. hhl-3728-1; 20. B. parabella (after Fibiger 2008); 21. B. hanae (after Fibiger 2008); 22. B. jiaxuanae sp. n., holotype, China, genit. prep. hhl-3537-1.