Parvispinia Babics, Kononenko & Saldaitis, 2012

Babics, J., Kononenko, V. S. & Saldaitis, A., 2012, New genus and three new species of the subfamily Xyleninae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3509, pp. 55-68 : 56

Parvispinia Babics, Kononenko & Saldaitis gen. n.

Type species: Ammoconia parvispina Tschetverikov, 1904 [ Russia, Tuva AutonomicRepublic ] here designated .

Diagnosis. The species of the new genus have typical noctuoid wing pattern, in most cases with full set of the lines and stigmata. Facially they resemble Atrachea spp. ( Figs. 1, 2), or Apamea spp , however have somewhat narrower elongate forewing and never have green elements of wing pattern which often presented in Atrachea spp. The features of the genitalia of both sexes show characters distinct from Apameini and indicate for the position of the new genus in the tribe Xylenini . Compared with A. nitens and other Apameini , the valva in Parvispinia have fully developed harpe and clear, more or less developed digitus (ventral extension of costa), while in Apameini and Atrachea particularly only strong digitus presented and the harpe is completely reduced of vestigial; the juxta (fultura interior) of Parvispinia has characteristic U-like shape with two lateral extensions, while in most Apameini juxta is shield-like or anchor-like. The vesica of Atrachea usually armed with strong single cornutus or unarmed, while the vesica in Parvispinia armed with two patches of the minute needle-like cornuti and in one case by two patches of small and two large cornutus. Females of all species of Parvispinia have modified telescopic ovipositor with very long apophyses anteriores and posteriores, long, heavily sclerotised ovipositor lobes, covered with short setae, adopted for laying eggs to folded substrate. The structure of papillae anales is different from those of Apameini , having sclerotised, rather short, laterally broadest, flattened dorso-ventrally ovipositor lobes with two heavily sclerotised rod-like structures between the ovipositor lobes (absent in Parvispinia ).

Description. Adult ( Figs. 3–15). Medium sized moths, wingspan 36–49 mm. Head rounded, frons covered with scales; labial palps short, with very small 3 rd segment, about 1/4 of 2 nd; proboscis developed; antennae filiform, fasciculate; eye moderate, rounded; ocelli present; head and thorax covered with brown and yellowish scales, thoracic and abdominal crests present in some species, formed with brown and blackish scales. Tibia without spines, segments of tarsus with three regular rows of spines. Forewing shape somewhat narrow, elongate; hindwing venation typical for trifine Noctuidae (i.e. vein M2 strongly reduces or missing); wing colour grey, brown or reddish-brown; wing pattern includes main elements, typical for Noctuidae . Abdomen without coremata. Male genitalia ( Figs. 17–22). Subscaphium sclerotised. Uncus moderate in length, rather thin, slightly arched, tapered to apex, tegumen broad, with large penicular lobes; vinculum equal or somewhat shorter than tegument, narrow with rather broad V-like saccus; paratergal sclerites recurved; juxta characteristic for the genus, U-like shape with two lateral extensions; valvae symmetrical, parallel margins, oblique cut at apex, cucullus not separated, with distinct one-row corona; costa strong, with small flat broad digitus, not exceeded ventral margin of valva; sacculus relatively small, clasper positioned in mid of valva, as longitudinal plate, harpe moderate long, flattened, often expanded apically. Aedeagus somewhat curved, vesica tubular, in some species extended medially, with 1–2 medial diverticula, usually bearing two row of small cornuti in subapical part. Female genitalia ( Figs. 24–30). Ovipositor telescopic. Papillae elongate, rather thin, heavily sclerotised, apically pointed, bearing short setae in apical part; apophyses posteriores and anteriores thin, very long, posterior apophyses about 3/4 length of anterior ones; 8 th segment elongate, ostium split-like, antrum small, shallow cup-like; ductus bursae long, membranous, in joining with bursae usually sclerotised and wrinkled; corpus bursae relatively small, ovoid, sclerotised in joining with ductus, with clear, usually with moderate appendix; ductus seminalis arises from appendix bursae.

Distribution. The genus occurs predominantly in the Central-Asian subregion of the Palaearctic from South Siberia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, through Mongolia to West China.

Etymology. The genus name is derived from the name of its type species, parvispina .