Emphylica cruoralis (Warren, 1895) Warren, 1895

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 cruoralis (Warren, 1895) comb. n. Figs 4, 14, 18, 22, 24

Syllythria cruoralis Warren, 1895: 471.

Pyrausta cruoralis (Warren, 1895): Hampson 1896: 432.

Material examined.

Type material. Lectotype (here designated) ♂: INDIA, Meghalaya: Khasis, Mar.1894, Nat. Coll., Pyralidae NHMUK Slide no. 10935 (NHMUK).

Other material examined.

INDIA, Meghalaya: 7♂ (Fig. 14), Khasia Hills, Assam, Nissary (NHMUK); 8♂, Assam, Khasis, Nat. Coll. (NHMUK); 1♂, same data as type (NHMUK); 1♂, Khasis Hills, Assam (NHMUK); 1♂, Khasis Hills (NHMUK); CHINA, Tibet: 1♀, air-raid shelter, Beibeng Village, Medog County, 29.24N, 95.17E, alt. 750 m, 31.VII.2018, leg. Qi Mujie, genitalia slide no. ZDD12100 (molecular voucher no. SYSU-LEP0377) (NKU).

Diagnosis.

Emphylica cruoralis resembles E. crassihamata in the reddish brown subterminal band and the saffron fringe. The differences between the two species are provided in the diagnosis of E. crassihamata . In appearance, E. cruoralis can be best recognized within the genus by the yellow postmedial band of the forewing, in male genitalia by the narrow trapezoid uncus with hair-like setae at distal third, the large, thumb-shaped, weakly sclerotized process of the ventral valva near the distal sacculus as well as the triangular ventral sella overlaid by a folded, distally blunt process. In female genitalia, it resembles E. crassihamata except for the less sinuate distolateral antrum and the relatively shorter and wider antrum anteriorly.

Redescription

(Figs 4, 14). Head. Frons and vertex yellowish brown. Antenna pale yellowish brown, cilia in male as long as width of corresponding flagellomeres. Labial palpus yellowish brown with white scales at base. Maxillary palpus yellowish brown. Thorax. Yellowish brown dorsally, whitish ventrally. Foreleg: femur brown; tibia brown and white alternately; tarsi white except for pale brown distal three. Midleg: femur pale brown; tibia yellow on dorsum, white ventrally, outer spur half as long as inner one; tarsi white ventrally, pale yellow dorsally. Hindleg: yellowish brown, basal inner spur in male about three times as long as basal outer spur, apical inner spur about twice as long as apical outer spur. Wingspan 16-19 mm. Forewing with reddish brown ground colour, except for saffron circle at base and sinuate, saffron postmedial band, narrowing towards costa and dorsum; costa straight, slightly arched to apex, brown at basal 2/3, yellowish brown at distal third; terminal margin with narrow, saffron intermittent band; fringe saffron, mixed with reddish brown near tornus. Hindwing with costal margin translucent white to 2/3 of costa, basal half medially reddish brown, followed by yellow postmedial band, narrowing towards tornus, outer margin sinuate, edged by reddish brown subterminal band, terminal band narrow, intermittent, saffron, posterior margin pale yellow; fringe as in forewing. Abdomen. Dorsally yellowish brown, apical margins of segments tinged with white. Male genitalia (Fig. 18). Uncus slightly bulging at base, gradually narrowed towards truncate apex, maximal width approximately 3 × minimal width, distal third with hair-like setae. Valva evenly wide medially, slightly tapering towards rounded apex, ventral margin with weakly sclerotized, thumb-shaped process projecting basally near distal end of sacculus; costal sclerotized band moderately wide, slightly curved to beyond 2/3 of dorsal margin; sacculus broad, distal third expanded and bearing a strongly sclerotized, hook-like process; ventral sella triangular, weakly sclerotized, overlaid by strongly sclerotized, folded, distally blunt process. Juxta U-shaped with two narrow tapering arms, basally broadened. Phallus as in E. crassihamata (without interlaced spicules of vesica in Fig. 18). Female genitalia (Fig. 22). As in E. crassihamata except: distolateral antrum less sinuate, relatively shorter and wider anteriorly; ductus bursae narrower than width of anterior part of antrum.

Distribution

(Fig. 24). India (Meghalaya), China (Tibet).

Remarks.

This species was formerly placed in the genus Pyrausta . However, both the molecular phylogeny and the genital traits suggested that it should be placed in Emphylica . According to the male genitalia (Fig. 18) of the type specimen of Emphylica cruoralis (Warren, 1895), comb. n., this species agrees with diagnostic characters of Emphylica . It differs from Pyrausta by the conical frons, in male genitalia by the the presence of an editum made of modified, scale-like setae, the more anteriorly positioned and ventrally directed and sclerotized sella, and the more strongly developed sclerotized dorsal process of the sacculus, and in female genitalia (Fig. 22) by the strongly sclerotized antrum.