Anabelcia, Behounek & V.S.Kononenko, 2012

Behounek, G. & V. S. Kononenko, 2012, A revision of the “ Belciana ” kala Prout, 1924 species group with description of a new genus and two new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae) from East Asia. Revision of Pantheinae, contribution VI, Zootaxa 3590, pp. 1-15 : 2-3

Anabelcia gen. n.

Type species: Belciana kala Prout, 1924 , Bulletin of the Hill Museum, Witley , 1: 442. Sumatra, Barisan Range , Mt. Korintji .

Diagnosis. Externally the new genus is similar to the genera Belciana, Diptheroides , Donda and Belciades Kozhanchikov, 1950 , these closely related phyletic lineages form a common generic complex. Externally this group is characterized by bluish, bluish-green, green or green-brown ground colour of forewing and rather permanently stable main elements of wing pattern with blackish-brown subbasal, subterminal and tornal patches. The structures of the male genitalia show, however, clearly recognisable apomorphic features in the different genera. Compared with Belciana ( Figs 1, 17) the new genus differs by more deeply green ground colour of forewing (bluish-green in Belciana ) and more developed brown subbasal patch in costal area and more developed subterminal and tornal patches. Wing pattern formed with numerous black thin dentate lines (in most cases one blackish medial line in Belciana ). Hindwing usually bright, yellow or pale yellowish with prominent terminal band (fuscous in Belciana , without clear terminal band). Holloway (2009) noted that “ B. kala Prout has atypical male genitalia sharing some features with striatovirens Moore ”. The male genitalia of Anabelcia differ from those of Belciana ( Fig. 21) by stronger apically tapered valva covered with strong setae, strong plate-like clasper, by presence of strong saccular extension, shape of juxta and uncus. Aedeagus stronger sclerotised than in Belciana , carina usually with conical spine, vesica tubular, with dorsal diverticula bearing thin but strong spine-like cornuti. In the male genitalia of Belciana valva broad, weak, rounded apically, sclerotised in costal part only; sacculus small, rounded, juxta amorphic, plate-like, uncus strongly arched, usually hooked, clasper and harpe very small; ventral margin of valva weakly sclerotised or membranous, the base of valva with large membranous gland bearing tuft of hairs. Aedeagus with carina armed by small spines, vesica bulbous, armed with stick-like or needle-like cornuti. The female genitalia in both genera are rather similar, but Belciana has membranous ductus bursae and heavily sclerotised cervix bursae, while in new genus the ductus bursae usually sclerotised and cervix bursae often not expressed.

The genus Anabelcia comprises three lineages or species-groups, which are easily distinguished by their external and genital features. The first group represents by A. kala , A. nepalensis and A. thai . It characterized by rather uniform mossy-green with brown patches forewing pattern, weakly developed saccular extension and presence of diverticulum armed with row of spine-like cornuti in vesica. The female genitalia could be characterized by elongated split antrum and presence of sclerotised patch in joining of the ductus bursa with corpus bursa. The second group includes A. siitanae and A. taiwana . Both species have characteristic white mark between orbicular and reniform; in the male genitalia saccular extension is much stronger than in A. kala species-group; the female genitalia have rounded split antevaginal plate, sclerotised patch in joining of the ductus with corpus bursa not expressed. The third group comprised by single species— A. staudingeri . The imagoes is characterized by bluish-green ground colour of forewing with brown patches and thin distinct transversal lines; in contrast to A. kala and A. siitanae species-groups in A. staudingeri the hindwing are brownish-grey, paler in inner part. The male genitalia of A. staudingeri are characterize by presence of large basal extension of sacculus, the vesica differs by presence of large basal and small, sclerotised subapical diverticula, which are not presented in other species-group. The female genitalia differ from those in other groups by rather narrow, elongated antrum, with deep apical cut and long and thin membranous ductus bursa.

Description. Adult ( Figs 2–16, 18–20). Medium-sized moths, wingspan 38–50 mm. Head with rounded, slightly bulging frons covered with scales; labial palps relatively long, extending over frons, with slightly curving upward with 3rd segment stick-like, large, about half as long as 2nd segment; proboscis developed; antennae filiform, fasciculate, scapus white; eye moderate, rounded; ocelli present; head and thorax covered with brown and green scales, thoracic and abdominal crests present, formed with green and black scales. Leg segments ringed with white. Forewing venation typically quadrifine with Cu vein appearing four branched; hindwing with typical for pantheine venation (i.e., M2 fully developed, arises near low angle of cell. Abdomen without coremata.

Male genitalia ( Figs 22–28). Subscaphium sclerotised. Uncus moderate in length, rather thin, slightly arched apically, cylindrical, tapered to spine-like apex, tegumen moderately broad, about 2 times as wide ventrally as medially; vinculum shorter than tegumen, narrow with rather broad V-like saccus; paratergal sclerites broad, flat; juxta relatively small, heavily sclerotised plate-like, broader anteriorly with central sclerotised bar posteriorly or with central extension; valvae symmetrical, broader mesially, tapered apically, rounded at apex, cucullus not separated, corona not expressed; valvae surface covered with dense strong setae irremovable by maceration; sacculus moderate, elongate, with rather broad lobe and strong longitudinal saccular extension or fold; clasper positioned in basal half of valva, like triangular plate; harpe not expressed; costa strong, heavily sclerotised; ventral margin of valva in basal half weakly sclerotised. Aedeagus straight or somewhat curved, vesica tubular, extended medially, with medial diverticula, bearing row of medium-sized cornuti or with basal and medial diverticuli without cornuti.

Female genitalia ( Figs 30–34). Papillae anales small, quadrangular; apophyses anteriores and posteriores short, antrum shallow cup-like or deep, split; ductus bursae short, usually sclerotised, corpus bursae elongate, ovoid, in some species with sclerotised patch in joining with ductus bursae.

Distribution. The genus occurs predominantly in the Oriental region from North India and Nepal to Philippines and in the Eastern Palaearctic (two species live in the China-Manchurian subregion).

Etymology. The generic name Anabelcia is an anagram of Belciana .