Baimistra, Benedek & Volynkin & Saldaitis & Tóth, 2022

Benedek, Balázs, Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas & Tóth, Balázs, 2022, On the taxonomy of the Conistra generic complex with descriptions of three new genera and a new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), Zootaxa 5141 (5), pp. 442-458 : 447-448

Genus Baimistra gen. n.

Type species: Conistra (s. l.) baima Benedek, Babics & Saldaitis, 2011 .

Diagnosis. Species of the new genus ( Figs 5–8 ) are externally similar to those of the genus Conistra ( Figs 9–16 ). However, the genital capsule of Baimistra gen. n. ( Fig. 23 ) differs from those of the related genera ( Figs 21, 22 , 24–29 ) in the absence of penicular lobes, a feature unique within the generic complex. Compared to Marcinistra gen. n., the genital capsule of Baimistra gen. n. has a narrow but heavily sclerotised posterior section of the juxta whereas the juxta of Marcinistra gen. n. has two postero-lateral lobes separated by a medial depression. The valva structure of the new genus is similar to that of Conistra but the harpe is distally dilated (similar to Marcinistra gen. n.). In the phallus of Baimistra gen. n., the carina bears a dentate plate like in the type species of Marcinistra gen. n., but lacks such features characteristic for Marcinistra gen. n. as a robust thorn-like lateral process and a long and thin distal bar protruding in the vesica. The vesica of the new genus is markedly longer and broader than in other related genera (in proportion to the phallus size) and lacks cornuti. The similar vesica structure is characteristic for Marcinistra gen. n. but in the latter, the vesica is markedly shorter and narrower and lacks a weakly sclerotised wrinkled medial area which is present in the inner fold of the vesica of Baimistra gen. n. The female genitalia structure of the new genus ( Figs 32, 33 ) is most similar to Marcinistra gen. n. ( Figs 30, 31 ) but differs in the shorter and weakly sclerotised antrum (it is gelatinous in Marcinistra gen. n.) and the entirely sclerotised and dorso-ventrally flattened anterior section of the corpus bursae which is tubular and membranous with a narrow lateral sclerotised plate in Marcinistra gen. n. Compared to Conistra ( Figs 34–37 ), Suginistra ( Fig. 38 ) and Vargalorta gen. n. ( Fig. 39 ), the female genitalia of Baimistra gen. n. have a membranous appendix bursae and a very short, caliciform antrum having postero-lateral rugose ventral subostial lobes whereas in the related genera, the antrum is markedly longer, dorso-ventrally flattened and lacks subostial lobes.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 5–8 ). Forewing length 12–13 mm in both sexes. Antenna filiform in both sexes. Body and forewing ground colour varying from ochreous-brown to rusty-brown. Forewing relatively short and broad with convex anal and outer margins and typical noctuoid diffuse pattern. Hindwing ground colour varying from brown to blackish-brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). Uncus slender, down curved, laterally flattened and apically pointed. Tegumen short, with short but broad subuncal lobes. Peniculus without lobe. Vinculum somewhat longer than tegumen, V-shaped and apically rounded. Valva gradually tapered distally with slightly down curved distal section and medially convex costa. Clasper distally dilated, parallel to ventral margin of valva, with robust, flattened, medially down curved and apically dilated harpe. Sacculus broad, without processes. Juxta short shield-like, with short but heavily sclerotised posterior medial process. Anellus granulose. Phallus long and broad (in proportion to tegumen-vinculum complex), cylindrical, dilated anteriorly, with short and rounded coecum and narrow and strongly dentate lateral carinal plate. Vesica tubular, long and broad, down curved, membranous, with weakly sclerotised and rugose area in inner fold. Female genitalia ( Figs 32, 33 ). Papilla analis short and narrow, triangular and apically rounded, setose. Ovipositor strongly elongate and narrow. Apophyses thin, slightly dilated and flattened distally and rectangular apically. Apophysis posterioris ca. 2.8–3.2 times longer than apophysis anterioris. Ostium bursae broad. Antrum very short, weakly sclerotised, caliciform with sclerotised and rugose postero-lateral subostial lobes ventrally. Posterior section of ductus bursae short, tubular, membranous. Anterior section of ductus bursae dorso-ventrally flattened, sclerotised, with sclerotisation protruding antero-laterally and reaching the base of appendix bursae. Corpus bursae elongate pear-shaped with few small elliptical or round serrulate signa having medial groove. Appendix bursae somewhat smaller than anterior dilated section of corpus bursae, elliptical, membranous, originating from posterior section of corpus bursae laterally.

Distribution. Species of the genus are known from south-western China.

Etymology. The new genus name is an aggregation of the name of the type species and the genus group name Conistra . The gender is feminine.

Number of taxa. The genus comprises two species reviewed below.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Marcinistra gen. n. and Baimistra gen. n. spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in HNHM; 3–6 in AFM; 7 and 8 in ZSM.

FIGURES 9–16. Type species of subgenera of Conistra: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10 and 16 in HNHM; 11, 12 and 15 in BBT; 13 and 14 in GGF.

FIGURES 21–23. Marcinistra gen. n. and Baimistra gen. n. spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in HNHM; 22 and 23 in AFM.

FIGURES 24–26. Type species of subgenera of Conistra: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 24 and 26 in HNHM; 25 in BBT.

FIGURES 27–29. Type species of Conistra (Dasycampa), Suginistra and Vargalorta gen. n.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 27 in BBT; 28 and 29 in HNHM.

FIGURES 30–35. Marcinistra gen. n., Baimistra gen. n. and Conistra spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 30 and 34 in HNHM; 31 in AFM; 32 and 33 in ZSM; 35 in BBT.

FIGURES 36–39. Conistra, Suginistra and Vargalorta gen. n. spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 36 and 39 in HNHM; 37 in BBT; 38 after Ronkay et al. (2017).