Emphylica diaphana (Caradja & Meyrick, 1934) Caradja & Meyrick, 1934

Chen, Kai, Liu, Qingming, Jin, Jianhua & Zhang, Dandan, 2019, Revision of the genus Emphylica Turner, 1913 based on morphology and molecular data (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Pyraustinae), ZooKeys 836, pp. 113-133 : 113

Emphylica diaphana (Caradja & Meyrick, 1934) comb. n. Figs 2, 12, 16, 20, 24

Loxostege diaphana Caradja & Meyrick, 1934: 164.

Material examined.

CHINA, Fujian: 1♂, Letu rain forest, Hexi, Nanjing, 24.90N, 117.22E, alt. 270 m, 10.VII.2014, leg. Zhang Dandan, genitalia slide no. SYSU1040, molecular voucher no. SYSU-LEP0263; Guangdong: 1♂, Sanyue Reserve, 24.03N, 111.57E, alt. 272 m, 6.VII.2013, leg. Chen Xiaohua, genitalia slide no. SYSU1041, molecular voucher no. SYSU-LEP0264; Hainan: 1♂, Mt. Limushan, 5.V.2011, leg. Zhang Dandan and Yang Lijun; Chongqing: 1♀, Daheba, Mt. Jinfoshan, alt. 800-850 m, 15.VII.2010, leg. Du Xicui and Song Lifang, genitalia slides no. SYSU0969; 1♂, Daheba, Mt. Jinfoshan, alt. 800-850 m, 16.VII.2010, leg. Du Xicui and Song Lifang, genitalia slides no. SYSU0965.

Diagnosis.

Emphylica diaphana resembles other Emphylica species in the conical frons and the scale-like setae of the sella. It can be best distinguished from its congeners by the whitish ground colour suffused with pale brown scales on both wings, the dark brown lines at termen, in male genitalia by the triangular, distally narrowly-rounded uncus bearing only few short setae and the long, strongly sclerotized ventral sella usually projecting beyond the ventral margin of the valva. In female genitalia of E. diaphana , the antrum is strongly sclerotized, shorter than the length of the anterior apophysis, slightly wider than the ductus bursae; the maximal length of the signum is approximately 2/3 as long as the diameter of the corpus bursae; the two opposing angles of the signum without carinae are well-developed, almost as long as the other two. In E. xanthocrossa the antrum is broad, lightly sclerotized, no more than twice as wide as the ductus bursae; the two opposing angles of the signum without carinae are fairly short; in E. crassihamata the antrum is longer than the anterior apophysis, in E. cruoralis the antrum is as long as the anterior apophysis and the signum of both species is small (less than half of the diameter of the corpus bursae).

Redescription

(Figs 2, 12). Head. Frons and vertex pale yellow mixed with few white scales. Antenna pale brown, cilia in male less than half as wide as corresponding flagellomeres. Labial palpus brown mixed with pale yellow medially, with white scales at base. Maxillary palpus brown, pale brown at tip. Thorax. Whitish brown at dorsum, whitish ventrally. Foreleg: femur yellow, ventrally white, tibia pale brown, first tarsus pale brown, second tarsus white mixed with pale brown, third and fourth tarsus dark brown, fifth tarsus white. Midleg: femur dorsally and tibia pale yellow, remainder whitish; inner spur about twice as long as outer one. Hindleg: pale yellow; basal inner spur approximately three times as long as basal outer spur; apical inner spur about twice as long as apical outer spur. Wingspan 17-19 mm. Forewing whitish sprinkled with pale brown. Antemedial line pale brown from basal third of costa, oblique, reaching beyond basal 1/4 of dorsum; reniform stigma a short streak, pale brown mixed with dark brown scales posteriorly; postmedial line brown, arched from beyond basal 2/3 of costa to about 2/3 of CuA1, bent inwards to posterior angle of cell, then oblique to beyond half of dorsum; subterminal band whitish, with anterior 1/3 faint, gradually narrowed to tornus; termen line dark brown; fringe white at base and brown posteriorly. Hindwing white; postmedial line brown, darkened and thickened posteriorly, from base of Rs, weakly curved to about 2/3 of CuA1, bent inwards to beyond base of CuA1, then bent at right angle outwards to 3/4 of inner margin, latter section with pale brown anteriorly; subterminal line faint, from about 7/10 of M2, weakly curved inwards to 3/4 of CuA2, then slightly darkened, curved outwards to end of 2A; area between posterior part of posterior line and subterminal line sprinkled with few pale brown scales; terminal margin with few pale brown scales medially; termen edged by dark brown line; fringe as in forewing, entirely white near tornus. Abdomen. Dorsal segments pale brown, apical margins of basal four segments brown, edged by white scales, apical margins of remainder segments with white scales, 8th segment with two small dark brown spots posterolaterally; segments whitish ventrally. Male genitalia (Fig. 16). Uncus narrow, triangular, bearing few hair-like setae at distal third. Valva with ventral margin curved, gradually narrowed towards obtusely rounded apex; costal sclerotized band wide, slightly curved to 2/3 of dorsal margin; sacculus broad, distal half expanded, with a pointed, strongly sclerotized process projecting dorsally, sparsely setose; dorsal sella sub-rectangular; ventral sella long and slender, strongly sclerotized, distally curved, usually reaching or extending beyond ventral margin of valva. Juxta plate-shaped with lateral part strongly sclerotized, distal half slightly divided medially. Phallus tubular, straight, approximately 4/5 as long as length of valva, distal half with interlaced spicules, distal end dorsally with several small, teeth-like spines. Female genitalia (Fig. 20). Anterior apophysis with triangular expansion near basal third. Antrum cup-shaped, slightly wider than ductus bursae, medially somewhat constricted. Ductus bursae slender, approximately 2 × as long as diameter of corpus bursae; colliculum well developed, slightly sinuate laterally, approximately as long as antrum. Corpus bursae globular; accessory bursa globular; signum sea-star-shaped, with two angles bearing carinae disconnected medially, distally pointed, other two angles well developed, distally rounded.

Distribution

(Fig. 24). China (Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing).

Remarks.

This species was formerly placed in the genus Loxostege , probably based on the conical frons. However, genitalia traits of Loxostege moths, e.g. the cylindrical uncus with dense, scale-like setae, the few hair-like setae of the dorsal sella, the ventrobasally directed ventral sella and the usually coiled ductus bursae, are different in Emphylica diaphana . Although in appearance the wing colour and pattern of this species are somewhat dissimilar to those of other Emphylica species, the genitalia traits agree with the diagnostic characters of Emphylica xanthocrossa Turner, the type species. Moreover, according to the molecular phylogeny, this species was inferred as terminal lineage within Emphylica , rather than in Loxostege . Consequently, this species is considered as correctly placed in Emphylica .