Strotihypera macroplaga (Hampson, 1898) Hampson, 1898

Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A new species and two new combinations in the genus Strotihypera Kononenko & Han, 2011 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae: Elaphriini). A postscript to the description of the genus Strotihypera, Zootaxa 4034 (3), pp. 594-600 : 599

Strotihypera macroplaga (Hampson, 1898) comb. n.

( FigS 7, 9 , 13 , 17 )

Naranga macroplaga Hampson, 1898 , The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 17: 646 (Type-locality: Sri Lanka [Holotype: BMNH, London]).

References: Hampson 1910: 561, Pl. 165: 23 ( Hyperstrotia ); Wang 1995: 13: figs. 122–123 ( Hyperstrotia ); Kononenko & Pinratana 2013: 311, Pl. 42, figs 56, 57 (Strotihypera).

Material examined. 1 male, 2 females, China, Prov. Yunnan, Jiangcheng, 15–17.ix.2008 (Han & Qi); 1 male, Prov. Yunnan, 8–9.ix.2008 (Han & Wang); 1 female, Prov. Yunnan, Yuanmo, Tulin, 1.v.2009 (H.L. Han); 5 specimens, Prov. Yunnan, Tengchong, Heinitan, 2.v.2013 (H.L. Han); 2 males, Prov. Yunnan, Kunming, Mt. Xishan, 7.v.2013 (C. Zhang); 6 males, 5 females, Prov. Yunnan, Puer, Manxieban, 12.ii.2014 (H.L. Han); 1 male, 1 female, Prov. Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Mt. Jinuo, 16.ii.2014 (H.L. Han); genitalia slides: HHL-2551-1; HHL-2552-1; HHL-2627-2; HHL- 2658-2.

Diagnosis. ( Figs 7, 9 ). The species is smaller compared with its allies, wingspan 15–17 mm. S. macroplaga can be recognized by reddish-straw coloration of forewing with pattern formed by hardly traceable basal and subbasal lines; medial and submedial lines expressed in inner part of wing, joined by prominent brown semicircular mark; medial yellowish spot traceable, lies under brown mark; subterminal and terminal fields with two oblique blackish streaks and brown-greyish suffusion. The genitalia of S. macroplaga are rather dissimilar compared with related species. In male genitalia ( Fig. 13 ) uncus rather short, almost straight, hooked apically; tegumen and vinculum joined by very long paratergal sclerits; valva elongate lobe-like with short rudimental ampulla-like harpe with sensory setae on its tip and strongly developed, apically bifurcated costa; apical branches of costa dentate. Aedeagus thin, with sclerotised spine on a large sclerotized base in apical part; vesica T-like, bearing large single flat spine. Female genitalia differ ( Fig. 17 ) in the broad antrum with extremely broad antevaginal plate; 8th segment bearing two lateral spine-like extensions; ductus bursae strongly sclerotised, extended to joining with bursae; corpus bursae rounded.

Distribution. Sri Lanka, Thailand, Southwest China, Taiwan, Philippines. The species occurs at elevation 800–1000 in primary and predominantly secondary broad-leaved forest habitats ( Figs 18, 19 ) along roads and clearings. The moths fly in February, May and September, probably in several generations.

Note. Though externally S. macroplaga is similar to other Strotihypera taxa, this taxon is quite different in genitalia of both sex, however we believe that it is extreme specialized taxon of the genus Strotihypera. All genitalia structures characteristic for S. flavipuncta , S. plumbeotincta and S. semiochrea are presented in S. macroplaga , while in the male genitalia harpe is reduced, ampulla-like and apex of costa in the male genitalia and antevaginal plate and ductus bursae in the female genitalia are strongly modified. S. macroplaga could not belong to the original genus Naranga Moore, 1881 (subfamily Eustrotiinae ) nor to Hyperstrotia Hampson, 1910 (subfamily Boletobiinae, Erebidae ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Strotihypera spp., adults. 1. S. flavipuncta, South Korea, CIS; 2 – 5. S. plumbeotincta, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan (2 — male, holotype, 3 – 5 — female and two males, paratypes), NEFU; 6, 8. S. semiochrea (6 — type, illustration by Hampson (1910); 8 — male, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, NEFU); 7, 9. S. macroplaga (7 — type, illustration by Hampson (1910); 9 — male, South- West China, Prov. Yunnan, NEFU).

FIGURES 10 – 13. Strotihypera spp., male genitalia. 10. S. flavipuncta, North China, Prov. Liaonin, genit. prep. HHL- 2264 - 1 (NEFU); 11. S. plumbeotincta, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, holotype, genit. prep. HHL- 2944 - 1 (NEFU); 12. S. semiochrea South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2624 - 1 (NEFU); 13. S. macroplaga, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2551 - 1 (NEFU).

FIGURES 14 – 19. Strotihypera spp., female genitalia and habitats. 14. S. flavipuncta, North China, Prov. Liaonin, genit. prep. HHL- 1279 - 2 (NEFU); 15. S. plumbeotincta, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, paratype, genit. prep. HHL- 2940 - 2 (NEFU); 16. S. semiochrea South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2553 - 2 (NEFU); 17. S. macroplaga, South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, genit. prep., HHL- 2658 - 2 (NEFU); 18,19. Typical habitats of S. plumbeotincta, S. semiochrea and S. macroplaga in South-West China, Prov. Yunnan, near Puer.