Athetis simplex Han & Kononenko, 2011

Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2011, Twelve new species of Athetis Hübner, [1821] 1816 from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Zootaxa 3068 (1), pp. 49-68 : 52-53

Athetis simplex Han & Kononenko sp. n.

( Figs. 3 , 19 , 32 )

Type material. Holotype: China: male, [Prov. Yunnan], " Likiang, ( China) provinz Nord Yuennan " 24.iii.1935 (H. Höne), genit. prep. ZFMK 1746 . Paratypes: 16 specimens, same locality, 17.iii–14.iv.1935 ; 3 females dated 8.v, 15.vi, 1.vii.1935 (H. Höne), genit. prep.: ZFMK 1747m, 1748m, Hö 56m . The holotype and paratypes are deposited in the collection of ZFMK .

Diagnosis. The species differs from other representatives of the group by pale brownish grey coloration. It looks similar to A. cinerascens , but can easily be separated by the size and shape of 3rd segment of the palps. In male genitalia it differs from A. cinerascens and other allies by the leaf-shape of juxta, apically narrower valva, and the T-shape of vesica, bearing two large spines on basal diverticulum and row of moderate cornuti along tube of vesica and two patches of dense small cornuti.

Description. External appearance ( Fig. 3 ). Wingspan 32– 32 mm. Male antennae slightly fasciculate, ciliated; palps brownish laterally, pale grey yellowish ventrally, 3rd segment short, about half length of 2nd; eyes surrounded with lashes; head and thorax covered with pale yellowish brown hair-like scales; head with erected hairs. Ground color of forewing pale yellowish-brown; basal line marked as short thin dark line at costal field; subbasal line weak, thin, brown; orbicular not expressed or visible as black dot; reniform dark, diffused; medial shadow brown, diffused, similar in shape to those in A. cinerascens ; postmedial line thin, dark brown, weak; subterminal and terminal fields separated by indistinct diffused whitish subterminal line surrounded with brownish diffusion; cilia pale brown, basally yellowish. Hindwing pale grey brownish with traceable discal spot; cilia pale brown, basally yellowish. Male genitalia. ( Fig. 19 ). Hair brushes missing. Uncus reduced, tegumen high, two times higher than vinculum, with well developed lobes, vinculum U-shaped; juxta leaf-shaped, with moderate tapered apical part; valva elongated, with parallel dorsal and ventral margins, from mid to distal part somewhat extended and curved dorsally; cucullus extended, rounded, covered by dense thin hairs; harpe situated at distal third of valva, strong, bifurcated at apical part with acute apices, dorsal apex much longer and more pointed than apical one; costa with thin weak extension under harpe. Aedeagus large (larger than valva), straigth, distally strongly sclerotised, carina as long sclerotised ribbon; vesica tubular, T-shaped, with large subbasal diverticulum armed with 1–2 strong claw-like spines; dorsal surface of vesica from diverticulum to mid part with row of separated spines, in apical part two fields of cornuti formed by numerous small spine-like cornuti. Female genitalia. ( Fig. 32 ). Ovipositor elongate, papillae anales weak, relatively short, somewhat tapering, apophyses anteriores and posteriores long, thin, apophyses posteriores 1,3 tines longer than anteriores ones; antrum moderately sclerotised, elongated, rounded apically, centrally with deep split-like cut; ductus bursa wide, flattened, extended to join bursa, its distal part in connection with antrum membranous, rest part sclerotised; appendix bursa moderate, a little sclerotised, wrinkled; bursa somewhat saddle-like, consisting of two parts, with ductus inside; corpus bursae membranous, with additional appendix in left side.

Etymology. The species name “ simplex ” refers to relatively simple external appearance and genitalia structure of the species.

Distribution. South West China (North of Prov. Yunnan). The moths were collected from March to May and in July.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Athetis spp., adults. 1. A. cinerascens, male, China (ZFMK); 2. A. hoengshana sp. n. male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 3. A. simplex sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 4. A. orthosioides sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 5. A. eupsilioides sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 6. A. eupsilioides sp. n., female, paratype, China (NEFU); 7. A. tridentata sp. n., male, holotype, China (ZFMK); 8. A. linzhi sp. n., male, holotype, China (NEFU).

FIGURES 17–20. Athetis spp., male genitalia. 17. A. cinerascens South Korea, 676-1HL CIS; 18. A. hoengshana sp. n., paratype, China, ZFMK1722; 19. A. simplex sp. n., paratype, China, ZFMK1749; 20. A. orthosioides sp. n., holotype, China, ZFMK 1714.

FIGURES 30–34. Athetis spp., female genitalia. 30. A. cinerascens, China, 1742ZFMK; 31. A. hoengshana sp. n., paratype, China, 2005ZFMK; 32. A. simplex sp. n., paratype, China, 2009ZFMK; 33. A. eupsilioides sp. n., paratype, China, 1716ZFMK; 34. A. linzhi sp. n., paratype, China, HHL1978-2.