A new bombycid genus Valvaribifidum is described based on V. huananense sp. nov. from South China. Trilocha sinica Dierl, 1979 is transferred to the new genus, i.e., Valvaribifidum sinica (Dierl 1979) comb. nov. The genus is separable from its closely related genus Triuncina Dierl, 1978 by male genitalia with valva bifid postmedially, costa long sickle-shaped, sacculus inflated, gnathos vestigial, saccus slender with apical oncoides, and aedeagus slender. A key to Valvaribifidum species is provided. Male adult and genitalia are described and illustrated. All type specimens are deposited in SCAU (South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China) and HUNAU (Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China).
Dierl (1978, 1979) reviewed the oriental Bombycidae that included most species from China, and reported 42 species belonging to 8 genera, including 6 new genera, 8 new species and 2 new subspecies. Chu & Wang (1993) reported 9 genera and 28 species of Chinese bombycid moths, in which 10 new species were described. Subsequently, Chu & Wang (1996) presented the morphology, biology and distribution maps, etc. of those 28 species in detail. In this paper, the new genus Valvaribifidum belonging to the family Bombycidae (Lepidoptera) is described on the basis of a new species V. huananense and a new combination of V. sinica (Dierl, 1979) occurring in South China.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Specimens of the new species were collected by light trap. The types of previously described species in the Natural History Museum, London, UK (BMNH) were examined. All specimens examined in this study are deposited in the Insect Collection of SCAU (South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China) and HUNAU (Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China). Specimens were cleared in 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), and mounted in Canada Balsam. Morphological terminology used in descriptions follows Lemaire & Minet (1999). Photographs of adult and genitalia were taken with a Canon 50D digital camera.
RESULTS
Genus Valvaribifidum gen. nov.
Type species: Valvaribifidum huananense sp. nov.
The new genus Valvaribifidum (Bombycidae) occurring in China is differentiated from its allied genera (e.g. Triuncina, Trilocha in appearance) by the following characters: uncus undivided, long and thin with pointed apex, valva bifid postmedially, costa long sickle-shaped, sacculus inflated; gnathos vestigial; Saccus slender with apical oncoides; aedeagus slender, slightly arched.
Description. Medium-sized moths. Head. Comparatively small, antenna bipectinate to tip, compound eyes naked, proboscis absent, labial palpi moderately long.
Thorax. Stout with dense scales. Forewing with discal cell closed, all Rs branches stalked together, M2 slightly closer to M1 than to M3, 1+2A stalked completely, 3A rather short; hind wing with subcosta arising from basal 1/8 of dorsal margin of discal cell, discal cell closed, M2 closer to Ml than to M3, stem of M vestigial, 1A and 3A present, 2A absent, frenulum simple with one bristle in male.
Abdomen. Tergum VIII with height slightly larger than width, dorsal margin with lateral, drooping and folding sclerotized bars, U-shaped medially; sternum VIII helmet-shaped, ventral margin widely depressed with both sides descending to form two acute processes.
Male Genitalia. Uncus thin, finger-shaped, apex pointed, both sides folded inwardly; tegumen triangular; left and right valva entirely fused basally, basal part broader, bifid postmedially, costa long sickle-shaped, curved ventrally, apex pointed, sacculus inflated; gnathos indistinct; saccus slender, swollen distally; aedeagus slightly arched, curved cornuti at apex, microtrichia on inside of slightly exposed membrane.
Distribution: South China.
Etymology
The name of the genus Valvaribifidum (valvarum + bifidum = valva + bifid) is derived from the type species with valva bifid postmedially.
Remarks
According to the phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences (COI + 18S +28S), the new genus is similar to Triuncina Dierl, 1978 with bootstrap proportion 59% in NJ tree and Bayesian posterior probability 1.00 in Bayesian tree between V. huananense and T. brunnea (type species of the genus Triuncina) (Wang et al., unpublished), but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: forewing ground color brownish grey, costa dark brown with yellow-brown patterns, forewing with a median pale blue kidney-shaped translucent spot, dorsum brownish-grey with medial yellow-brown patterns; hind wing ground color brownish grey, dorsum with yellowish white stripes and spots; abdomen conical, brownish-grey, terminal fanshaped scale-tufts; uncus not forked, thin and pointed apically, valvae fused basally, bifid postmedially, costa long sickle-shaped, bending inwardly to base of uncus.
KEY TO SPECIES OF THE GENUS VALVARIBIFIDUM
1. Forewing ground color brownish grey with a large median kidney-shaped translucent pale blue spot; uncus long and tegumen narrow V. huananense sp. nov.
— Forewing ground color brownish yellow without a large median blue spot, uncus short and tegumen broad V. sinica com. nov.
Fig. 1.
Male adults and genitalia of Valvaribifidum spp. A–B. V. huananense sp. nov., Holotype; C. Adults of V. sinica com. nov., Holotype & Paratype.
Valvaribifidum huananense sp. nov. (Fig. 1A–B)
Material Studied. Holotype. Male, Nanling National Nature Reserve, Ruyuan County, Guangdong Province, China, 22-X-2007, leg. Lui-Sheng Chen. Paratypes. 1 male, same data as holotype; 2 males, Maoershan National Nature Reserve, Xingan County, Guangxi Province, China, 8-VIII-2005, leg. Min Wang and Lui-Sheng Chen.
Description. Male. Wing expanse 38–40 mm, forewing length 18–20 mm, antenna length 5–7 mm (Fig. 1A).
Head. Brownish grey, irons yellow- brownish. Antenna dark grey, 24 segments. Proboscis absent. Labial palpus moderately long.
Thorax. Brownish grey. Forewing ground color brownish grey with yellowish brown spots, costa dark brown with yellow-brown patterns; apical costa with a distinct triangular black spot; mesial forewing with a pale blue kidney-shaped translucent spot, dorsum with some irregular yellowbrown patterns; postmedian transverse line indistinct, nearly straight with distinct white dots at veins. Hind wing almost hemicycle, ground color brownish grey, dorsum nearly straight with yellowish white stripes and spots along anal margin.
Abdomen. Dorsum brownish-grey with long dense bristles, terminal fan-shaped scale-tufts.
Male Genitalia (Fig. 1B). (Also see the characters of the genus). Uncus slightly curved ventrally about 2/3 × length of sacculus, tegumen narrow, nearly equal to uncus in length, valvae entirely fused basally, bifid postmedially, costa about 1.3 × length of sacculus, saccus slightly longer than sacculus, aedeagus curved ventrally, about 3.3 × length of sacculus.
Etymology.
The specific epithet is from the type locality Huanan District, China (South China).
Host(s): Unknown.
Distribution: China (Guangdong, Guangxi).
Remarks.
The new species is similar to V. sinica (Dierl 1979) comb. nov. in male genitalia, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: central forewing with a pale blue kidney-shaped translucent spot; uncus long, tegumen narrow, aedeagus curved ventrally.
Valvaribifidum sinica (Dierl, 1979) comb. nov. (Fig. 1C)
Trilocha sinica Dierl, 1979, Spixiana, 2 (3): 255. Type locality: Guangxi, China.
Material Studied. Holotype in BMNH. Male, Guangxi Province, China, 9-VII-1925, leg. J. J. Joicey Paratype in BMNH. 1 male, same data as holotype except 24-VII-1924.
Diagnosis. This species was originally described as Trilocha species based on the appearance of similar characters in Trilocha varians, but based on the male genitalia, it does not belong to the genus Trilocha with uncus triangular; valva small, separated, curved, and tapering.
Male. Wing expanse about 28 mm, forewing length 13 mm, antenna length 3–4 mm (Fig. 1C). Head brownish yellow. Antenna and legs lightly yellowish brown. A collar and ring present between thorax and abdomen. Forewing ground color brownish yellow with dark brown markings. Hind wing almost brownish yellow. Abdomen. Dorsum brownish yellow.
Male Genitalia. (See Dierl 1979: Fig. 1; also see the characters of the genus.) Uncus slightly curved ventrally about 1/5 × length of sacculus, tegumen broad, near 4.0 × length of uncus, valva bifid postmedially with costa about 1.3 × length of sacculus, saccus slightly longer than sacculus, aedeagus almost straight, about 2.0 × length of sacculus.
Female. Unknown.
Host. Unknown.
Distribution. China (Guangxi).
Remarks.
The only known specimens are the holotype and paratype in the BMNH. Trilocha sinica is transferred to Valvaribifidum based on the following characters: uncus thin, finger-shaped; valvae fused basally, bifid postmedially, costa long sickle-shaped, and sacculus inflated; saccus slender swollen distally.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to Dr. Liu-Sheng Chen (Shihezi University, China) for collecting specimens in the field, and Dr. Mamoru Owada (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan) for his kind suggestions and help with the manuscript. We thank Mr. K. Tuck (The Natural History Museum, UK) for providing access to the type specimens. This research was supported by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (20091K277).
