Cranionycta ( Nefrendinycta ) atrazonaria, Kiss, 2025

Cranionycta ( Nefrendinycta) atrazonaria sp. nov.

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( Figs 52, 53 View FIGURES 51–54 , 113 View FIGURES 107–113 , 146 View FIGURES 140–146 )

Holotype. Female, China, Prov. Guangxi, Jinxiu , 1 km NW of Pingban, 900 m, 24°5'52"N, 110°9'35"E, 29.vi.2018, at light, leg. D. Rédei & J.F. Tsai, slide No.: KA2494f ( GR). GoogleMaps

Paratype. China. Prov. Guangxi: 1 female, Jinxiu , 1,5 km NE of Pingban, 1017 m, 24°6'28"N, 110°10'37"E, 30.vi.2018, at light, leg. D. Rédei & J.F. Tsai, slide No.: KA2495f ( GR) GoogleMaps .

Note. The male is unknown.

Diagnosis. Cranionycta ( Nefrendinycta) atrazonaria ( Figs 52, 53 View FIGURES 51–54 ) externally can be distinguished from its sister species C. ( N.) dieteri ( Fig. 51 View FIGURES 51–54 ) by its larger size (wingspan 33 mm vs. 28 mm, respectively); the darker greyish forewing with occasionally brownish in the inner half of the antemedial field, the reniform stigma and the outer part of the medial field; the more indistinct antemedial line; the darker orbicular stigma; the somewhat more irregularly curved medial line; the wider medial fascia; the less contrastingly marked and more crenulate, rather greyish-white postmedial line; and the somewhat more indistinct wider tornal streak.

The female genitalia differ ( Fig. 113 View FIGURES 107–113 ) from those of C. ( N.) dieteri ( Fig. 112 View FIGURES 107–113 ) and C. ( N.) albothoracica ( Fig. 111 View FIGURES 107–113 ) by the shorter appendix bursae with a relatively smaller distal turn and a wider but shorter terminal twist; and, additionally, from those of C. ( N.) dieteri by the wider ductus bursae; and from those of C. ( N.) albothoracica by the less ribbed ductus bursae.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 146 View FIGURES 140–146 ), the sternite has slightly convex, and parallel lateral sides with slightly more pointed distal corner, and somewhat wider, more outstanding semi-circular distal band than C. ( N.) albothoracica ( Fig. 144 View FIGURES 140–146 ) and C. ( N.) dieteri ( Fig. 145 View FIGURES 140–146 ).

Description. Imago ( Figs 52, 53 View FIGURES 51–54 ). Wingspan 33 mm. Head. Relatively large; 2 nd segment of palpus longer than 3 rd; antennae filiform. Thorax. Moderately wide, whitish-grey suffused with blackish scales; patagia whitish-grey with wide blackish outline; tegulae whitish-grey suffused with blackish scales. Abdomen. Whitish-grey with some darker middorsal scale tufts. Wing. Forewing narrow, elongate, apically obtuse, whitish-grey with ochre; basal spot blackish, moderate, more or less triangular; basal streak indistinct, blackish, wide, short, wedge-shaped; tornal streak indistinct, blackish, long, between medial and postmedial lines wide, between postmedial and terminal lines thin; apical dash absent; basal line blackish, double, indistinct, outer line narrow, inner line very short, dot-like, filled with dark greyish-black; antemedial line double, reduced, thin, filled with whitish-grey-ochre scales, more or less continuous with three indistinct blackish spots at costal area or dashed, and with tiny blackish spot at outer edge of inner margin; medial line thin, blackish, irregularly curved, fused with conspicuously wide, blackish and outwardly fading medial fascia; postmedial line double, crenulate, inner line reduced or as developed as outer line, greyish-black, without narrow black stripe between veins R3 and M2, filled with whitish, suffused with grey, and with blackish scales at tornal streak; subterminal line narrow, zigzag, indistinct, whitish; terminal line whitish, interrupted by tiny, black on veins, most conspicuous on veins M1, Cu1 and Cu2; basal field dark greyish-black, narrow, fused with suprabasal patch, antemedial field and interior of basal line and joined to subbasal patch; subbasal patch whitish-grey, narrow and long; suprabasal patch reduced, greyish-ochre, more or less oval; antemedial field whitish-grey-ochre suffused with blackish scales throughout, with indistinct darker patch at costa; medial field inwardly whitish-grey suffused with ochre, outwardly more or less ochreous suffused with whitish-grey scales, both inner and outer parts moderately wide; subterminal field greyish-ochre suffused with whitish, and with large, brownish-grey, squarish patches in costal area, obscure between veins M1 and M2 and around tornal streak; terminal field narrow, whitish-grey; orbicular stigma reduced, slightly light whitish-grey with indistinct blackish, curved line inwardly; reniform stigma moderately large, reduced, ochreous, inwardly suffused with blackish scales, outline more or less complete or dashed; four narrow, whitish spots at costa between medial fascia and terminal line, gradually decreasing in size towards apex; tornal patch blackish, small; fringe whitish with greyish patches. Hindwing rounded, apically slightly pointed; fully greyish-brown; marginal band, postdiscal line, discal spot, and tornal patch slightly darker greyish-brown; fringe whitish with greyish patches.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 113 View FIGURES 107–113 ). Ovipositor rounded, slightly longer than wide, tapering posteriorly. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, oval, densely hairy. Anterior and posterior apophysis equal in length, weakly sclerotized, rod-like; posterior apophysis with slightly extended distal end. Ostium longitudinally ribbed, moderately sclerotized. Antrum short, moderately sclerotized, more or less funnel-shaped. Ductus bursae short, moderately sclerotized, ribbed. Corpus bursae large, bulbous, weakly sclerotized; two opposing distal signa. Appendix bursae shorter than corpus bursae, coiled, moderately sclerotized, ribbed except in distal third, terminal twist short and wide, tapered; junction with corpus bursae long and narrow.

Female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 146 View FIGURES 140–146 ). 7 th sternite quadrangular, as long as wide, weakly sclerotized with barely sclerotized, narrow semi-circular distal band; proximal edge straight; lateral sides slightly convex, parallel with slightly pointed distal corner and somewhat contrasting margin; distal edge concave. 7 th tergite roughly trapezoidal, slightly longer than wide, weakly sclerotized with slightly more sclerotized semi-circular distal band, and with indistinct, narrow and elongate window in distal middle; proximal edge more or less straight with two curved, somewhat sclerotized rods; lateral sides concave, slightly wavy with slightly contrasting margins; distal edge straight.

Distribution. This species is known only from south China (Prov. Guangxi, Jinxiu), relatively close to the type locality of C. ( N.) dieteri (Prov. Guangdong, Lianping County).

Etymology. The name “ atrazonaria ” refers to the contrasting blackish medial fascia on the forewing.

The falcata species-group

This species group contains only one species which is externally very similar to other species in other species-groups in the subgenus Nefrendinycta . The main distinctive character can be found on the male genitalia (female unknown), such as the strongly billhook-shaped valvae, and the medial sclerite almost reaches the ventral margin (not parallel than in other species).

The male terminal abdominal segments can be characterised by the following features: the 8 th sternite is more or less trapezoidal, having a relatively wide distal edge without a sclerotized patch; and the rounded, distally abruptly cut off window with a slightly concave distal margin and a relatively wide, slightly constricted sclerotized stripe proximally. The 8 th tergite is triangular, proximal half more sclerotized; has a pointed proximal edge; much narrowing, narrowest in the middle lateral sides with relatively wide, triangular spur-like distal end; and a more or less rhomboidal window with a pointed peak proximally.

Distribution. Himalayan.