Anabelcia nepalensis ( Haruta, 1993 )

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 : 4-5

Anabelcia nepalensis ( Haruta, 1993) , stat. n., comb. n.

( Figs 6–8, 19, 24, 25, 31)

Belciana kala nepalensis Haruta, 1993 , Tinea , 13 (Suppl. 3): 63, Pl. 49: 5 ( Belciana kala nepalensis ). Holotype: male, Nepal, Godavari, NHNM, Tokyo.

References: Yoshimoto 1998: 45 ( Belciana kala nepalensis ); Speidel & Kononenko 1998: 560 (‘ Belciana’ sp. nr. kala ).

Material examined. 1 male, North India, Bhimtal / Nainital, 1600 m, 24.viii–3.vix.1980 ( ABF) prep. 7413GB; 2 females, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley , Godavari 1600–1800 m, 6.viii.1967, 11–15.vii. 1967 (leg. Dierl-Schacht)/ genit. prep. N 4162GB ( ZSM) ; 1 male, Nepal, Kanchenichunga region , Nesim , 1500 m, 21–22.viii.2000 (leg. M. Hreblay & T. Csôvári ( PG); 1 female, Nepal, Ganesh Himal, Sherpakharkha, 2200 m, 13–14.ix.1995 (leg. P. Gyulai & A. Garai) ( PGM).

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs 6–8, 19). Wingspan 42–44 mm. A. nepalensis is very close to A. kala . Compared with A. kala the species differs by much shorter labial palps ( Fig. 19) with broader second segment and shorter third segment; by somewhat duller colouration of forewings, less bright yellow hindwing, details of wing pattern and details of structure of male and female genitalia. Externally A. nepalensis easily can be distinguished from A. kala by presence of dark brown or blackish suffusion in the mid-section of medial field below Cu trunk (not expressed in A. kala ), less developed dentate lines in the medial field and uninterrupted brown submedial field (in A. kala it is interrupted in the mid-section, forming isolated subapical and tornal brown patches). In male genitalia ( Figs 24, 25), it differs from A. kala by somewhat shorter and thicker uncus, somewhat shorter and broader valva, by juxta having pointed medial extension; by triangular shape of clasper ( A. kala has rounded clasper) and shape of saccular extension, which is shorter, more straight and more massive compared with A. kala . Aedeagus more massive and thicker, spine of carina shorter than in A. kala , vesica broader and bearing broader diverticulum with larger cornuti and scobinate lateral diverticulum. In the female genitalia ( Fig. 31) antrum twice as long as in A. kala , splitted medially, with two lateral lobes; ductus bursae longer and narrower than in A. kala ; corpus bursae with sclerotised semi-circle patch (in A. kala antrum shallow, cup-like, sclerotized patch missing from corpus bursae).

Distribution. (Map 36). North India, Nepal.