Helcystogramma imagibicuneum, Li & Zhen, 2011

Li, H. H. & Zhen, H., 2011, Review of the genus Helcystogramma Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Dichomeridinae) from China, Journal of Natural History 45 (17 - 18), pp. 1035-1087 : 1045-1052

The hibisci group

This species group is characterized by the absence of ocellus, the antenna not ciliate, the labial palpus with metallic lustre, the mesothorax without hair pencil from anepisternum, the forewing with distinct markings and metallic lustre, the termen slightly concave below apex; the uncus usually narrowed near base, the gnathos slender with pointed tip, the culcitula broad trapeziform, the vinculum with lobes at right angle with margin distally, sharp apically, the saccus moderate in length as compared with other groups in China ( Figure 16B ), and blunt or pointed anteriorly, the aedeagus longer than valva, rounded basally, bluntly rounded apically in the male genitalia; the antrum usually sclerotized except membranous median portion, and spined in the female genitalia. The hibisci group includes four species in China: H. bicuneum ( Meyrick, 1911) , H. epicentra ( Meyrick, 1911) , H. hibisci ( Stainton, 1859) and H. imagibicuneum sp. nov.

According to the wingspan and markings on forewing, this group in China contains two types: the small type and the large type. The small type contains H. bicuneum (Meyrick) , H. epicentra (Meyrick) and H. imagibicuneum sp. nov., which can be easily distinguished by the wingspan shorter than 10.0 mm, the costal margin of forewing with short white streaks distally, and the termen with fuscous spots. The large type contains H. hibisci (Stainton) only, which can be separated from the small type by the wingspan longer than 12.0 mm, the costal margin of the forewing without streak distally, and the termen lacking fuscous spots.

Remarks

Ponomarenko (1997) considered the genus Schemataspis Meyrick as a synonym of Helcystogramma . She transferred bicuneum (Meyrick) , compositaepictum (Omelko et Omelko) , epicentra (Meyrick) , gradatum (Meyrick) , immeritellum (Walker) and rhabduchum (Meyrick) from Schemataspis to the present genus. From the adult figures provided by Clarke (1969b), we can see that H. gradatum and H. rhabduchum are similar to H. bicuneum , H. epicentra and H. imagibicuneum by the forewing having short white streaks on costal margin distally and with fuscous spots along termen. According to Clarke (1969b) and Omelko (1999), H. gradatum , H. rhabduchum and H. compositaepictum are similar to the species of the hibisci group in the male genitalia by the uncus narrowed near base, the vinculum with lobes at right angle with margin distally, the saccus moderate in length, and the aedeagus rounded basally, bluntly rounded apically. So the three species that do not occur in China are recognized as belonging to the hibisci group. Helcystogramma immeritellum is not discussed in this paper because of the lack of related material and information.

Species of the hibisci group in China mainly belong to the Oriental Region (Figure 1), distributed mostly in the south part of Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River , ranging to Zhouzhi County of Shaanxi Province in the north, to Mêdog County , Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region in the west, and to Taiwan in the southeast .

Figures

Figure 16. Saccus of Helcystogramma spp. (A) H. lutatella (Herrich-Schäffer); (B) H. imagibicuneum sp. nov.; (C) H. perelegans (Omelko et Omelko); (D) H. flavilineolella Ponomarenko; (E) H. angustum sp. nov.; (F) saccal region of Dichomeris okadai (Moriuti).