Purpurata plagiatalis (Walker, 1859) comb. nov.

Figs 11, 19, 19 a – c, 20

Botys plagiatalis Walker, 1859: 673. Type locality: Sri Lanka.

Pleuroptya plagiatalis: Inoue 1982: 1: 343, 2: 234.

Patania plagiatalis: Nuss et al. 2003–2024. Global Information System on Pyraloidea.

Material examined.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region • 1 ♂, Nonggang National Nature Reserve, Longzhou County, alt. 188 m, 27 July 2011, Gui-Qing He leg., genitalia slide number: HGQ 13237 • 1 ♂, Mulun National Nature Reserve, alt. 288 m, 22 July 2015, Dan Xu leg. • Hainan Prov., 1 ♀, Jianfengling Nature Reserve, alt. 770 m, 13 July 2014, Pei-Xin Cong, Lin-Jie Liu & Sha Hu leg. (NKU), genitalia slide number: XLJ 14204 .

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguished by wings with postmedial line punctiform and excurved between M 2 and CuA 2 (Fig. 11); gnathos vestigial to a narrow band (Fig. 19 a); sacculus narrowed medially, with a lamellar projection near distal end (Fig. 19); fibula ear-shaped, with long setae (Fig. 19 b); phallus posteriorly with a rounded protruding sclerite, with a thick needle-like cornutus and a brush-like cornutus, and a short thorn-like cornutus near posterior end (Fig. 19 c).

Redescription.

Habitus (Fig. 11). Forewing length 8.0–9.5 mm, wingspan 18.0–22.0 mm. Frons and vertex yellowish brown. Labial palpus yellowish white, pale brown at distal end of 2 nd segment. Maxillary palpus brown. Antenna yellowish brown, with ventral cilia ~ ½ in length of diameter of flagellomere in male. Patagium and tegula yellow, with pale yellowish brown patches centrally and basally respectively. Thorax yellow dorsally, white ventrally. Legs yellowish white, distal end of front tibia black. Wings yellow, with purple-brown lines and patches. Forewing with three small spots at base, another spot near basal dorsum; antemedial line slightly wavy, accompanied by a large elliptical patch inside; orbicular stigma a dark brown dot; discoidal stigma reniform, yellow centrally; postmedial line punctiform and excurved between M 2 and CuA 2; an irregular large patch near apex beyond anterior postmedial line, a nearly semicircular patch near tornus below CuA 2; a line of small spots along terminal margin. Hindwing with discoidal stigma a short oblique stripe; postmedial line same as forewing before CuA 2, not apparent afterwards; a large patch near apex beyond anterior postmedial line; a thin band below discoidal stigma, accompanied by an irregular misty wide band extended to tornus. Cilia of fore and hind wings yellowish white. Abdomen yellow dorsally, 1 st and 2 nd tergites with pale black spots laterally and 7 th tergites black posteriorly in male.

Male genitalia (Fig. 19). Uncus short and broad. Gnathos vestigial to a narrow band and setose (Fig. 19 a). Valva broad tongue-shaped with long setae along distal costa; fibula ear-shaped with long setae (Fig. 19 b). Sacculus narrowed medially, with a lamellar projection near distal end. Saccus triangular. Juxta forcipate. Phallus posteriorly with a rounded protruding sclerite, with a thick needle-like cornutus and a brush-like cornutus composed of a spine cluster, and a short thorn-like cornutus near posterior end (Fig. 19 c).

Female genitalia (Fig. 20). Apophyses anteriores ~ 2 × as long as apophyses posteriores. Antrum relatively long, with a long, sclerotized band. Ductus bursae ~ 4 × as long as corpus bursae. Corpus bursae nearly rounded, with a round signum.

Distribution.

China (Xizang, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian) (Lu and Guan 1953; Wang et al. 2003), Australia, Guatemala, Japan, India, Sri Lanka (Walker 1859; Inoue 1982; Klima 1939).

Host plants.

Ipomoea spp. (Wang et al. 2003).