Strotihypera plumbeotincta, Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015

Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A new species and two new combinations in the genus Strotihypera Kononenko & Han, 2011 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae: Elaphriini). A postscript to the description of the genus Strotihypera, Zootaxa 4034 (3), pp. 594-600 : 594-595

Strotihypera plumbeotincta sp.n.

( FigS 2–5 , 11 , 15 )

Type material. Holotype. Male, China, Prov. Yunnan, Tengchong City, Heinitan, 2.v.2013, (H.L. Han), genitalia slide: HHL-2944-1. Paratypes 2 males, 1 female with same data; 6 males, 1 female, Prov. Yunnan, Tengcheng, Huanxipo, 6.viii.2014 (H.L. Han); 2 males, 1 female, Prov. Yunnan, Tengcheng, Dalianpo, 7.viii.2014 (H.L. Han); genitalia slides: HHL-2940-1s; HHL-2940-2 [Coll. NEFU].

Diagnosis. Small, dark brown-grey colour moth, differs externally from related S. flavipuncta by somewhat narrower shape of forewing, dull-brown basal part of forewing (brown or yellowish brown in S. flavipuncta ) and paler grey with grey-whitish dusting outer part of wing. Medial spot darker and not so prominent as in S. flavipuncta . In the male genitalia it differs from S. flavipuncta in the somewhat narrower valva, stronger harpe, curved and flattened apically (not flattened in S. flavipuncta ) and by size and shape of cornutus which is 1.5 times shorter than in S. flavipuncta . The female genitalia differ from those of S. flavipuncta in the broader cup-like antrum without central plate, stronger and longer ductus bursae with well-developed sclerotisation in joining with corpus bursae and in the size and shape of corpus bursae. Except S. flavipuncta , “ Hyperstrotia ” ochreipuncta (Wileman, 1914) from Taiwan resembling to the new species, however it differs well by wing pattern, particularly by large medial spot surrounded with black, traceable reniform and orbicular, joined with black strike and well expressed waved border between subterminal and terminal fields. Judging by external appearance of the type illustrated by Wang (1995), this species described from Taiwan may belongs to the genus Strotihypera but requires revision.

Description. Adult ( Figs 2–5 ). Wingspan 21 – 22 mm. Head and thorax covered with broad grey-brown scales; thorax and 1st segment of abdomen with thoracic and abdominal crest, formed by black erected scales. Forewing greybrown in basal half, paler around base, grey with whitish-grey dusting in terminal half; basal field pale grey, not restricted by thin black line like in S. flavipuncta ; subbasal field dark- brown, darker in costal part, with wide black patch formed by erected scales along ventral margin of wing, restricted outwardly by clear pale grey and black submedial line; medial field brown, darker than submedial, with distinct dull yellowish-brown spot outward submedial line; orbicular hardly traceable, diffused; antemedial line blackish-brown, twin, with darker inner line; bordered outwardly with thin pale-greyish line; reniform more or less distinct, hardly traceable; postmedial field grey, with whitish-grey suffusion; subterminal field dark grey, darker than postmedial; terminal line thin, blackish, separated by grey streaks; cilia dark grey. Hindwing grey with distinct discal spot; cilia yellowish-grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 11 ). Uncus moderate in length, arched, gradually tapered to spine-like, slightly hooked apex; tegumen broad, enlarged into posterior lobes ventrally; vinculum shorter than tegumen, narrow with short distal extensions and narrow V-like saccus; paratergal sclerites broad, recurved; juxta relatively large, heavily sclerotised, plate-like, broader anteriorly with central shallow notch posteriorly; valves symmetrical, gradually tapered to apical part, somewhat narrower than in S. flavipuncta , rounded at apex, without corona; sacculus elongate; clasper positioned lower than center of valva, arising from wider base immediately distally to sacculus; harpe large, about one third length of valva, thin, slightly arched, tipped and curved apically; curved tip of valva unlike to S. flavipuncta flattened, flag-like; costa straight, strong, heavily sclerotised, reaching tip of valva, not pointed apically as in S. flavipuncta , with rather strong acute subapical digitus; ventral margin of valva weakly sclerotised. Aedeagus straight, thinner than in S. flavipuncta , smoothly sclerotised; vesica tubular, bearing moderate apical cornutus about half length of those in S. flavipuncta .

Female genitalia ( Fig. 15 ). Ovipositor short, papillae anales, rather small, quadrangular, covered with setae; apophyses posteriores and anteriores short, thin, apophyses posteriores two time shorter than anteriores ones; antrum shallow, wide cup-like, with very small rounded antevaginal plate; ductus bursae longer and stronger sclerotised than in S. flavipuncta , ribbed, straight, extended and sclerotised in connection with bursae; corpus bursae pyriform, rounded anteriorly, gradually narrower posteriorly into rather wide appendix which is larger than in S. flavipuncta .

Etymology. The species name indicating the plumbeous-grey tint of coloration of the forewing of the new species.

Distribution. South West China (Prov. Yunnan). The species occurs at elevation 800-1000 in primary and predominantly secondary broad-leaved forest habitats ( Figs 18, 19 ) along roads and clearings together with S semiochrea and S. macroplaga . The moths fly in May and August, probably in several generations.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Strotihypera spp., adults. 1. S. flavipuncta, South Korea, CIS; 2 – 5. S. plumbeotincta, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan (2 — male, holotype, 3 – 5 — female and two males, paratypes), NEFU; 6, 8. S. semiochrea (6 — type, illustration by Hampson (1910); 8 — male, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, NEFU); 7, 9. S. macroplaga (7 — type, illustration by Hampson (1910); 9 — male, South- West China, Prov. Yunnan, NEFU).

FIGURES 10 – 13. Strotihypera spp., male genitalia. 10. S. flavipuncta, North China, Prov. Liaonin, genit. prep. HHL- 2264 - 1 (NEFU); 11. S. plumbeotincta, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, holotype, genit. prep. HHL- 2944 - 1 (NEFU); 12. S. semiochrea South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2624 - 1 (NEFU); 13. S. macroplaga, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2551 - 1 (NEFU).

FIGURES 14 – 19. Strotihypera spp., female genitalia and habitats. 14. S. flavipuncta, North China, Prov. Liaonin, genit. prep. HHL- 1279 - 2 (NEFU); 15. S. plumbeotincta, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, paratype, genit. prep. HHL- 2940 - 2 (NEFU); 16. S. semiochrea South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2553 - 2 (NEFU); 17. S. macroplaga, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2658 - 2 (NEFU); 18,19. Typical habitats of S. plumbeotincta, S. semiochrea and S. macroplaga in South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, near Puer.