Minclethrorasa chinensis, Qin & Zhu & Han, 2025

Minclethrorasa chinensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 View Figures 1–8 , 2 View Figures 1–8 , 9 View Figures 9–16 , 13 View Figures 9–16 , 22 View Figure 22 , 23 Chinese common name 小飘夜蛾 (Tiny Fluttering Noctuid View Figures 23–25 )

Type material.

Holotype: • male, China, Guangdong, Heyuan, Zijin, Baixi Reserve , 16.III.2023, leg. Y. Wu and J. Zhu, genit. prep. HHL-5798-1 . Paratypes: • 1 female, China, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, Longnan, Jiulianshan Nature Reserve, Hengkengshui Protection Station , 24–25.VII.2021, leg. T. T. Zhao et al., genit. prep. HHL-7046-2 ; • 2 males, China, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, Longnan, Jiulianshan Nature Reserve, Zhiqing Hotel , 16–17.VII.2021, leg. T. T. Zhao et al., genit. prep. HHL-7047-1 and 7048-1 ; • 1 male, China, Guangxi, Longsheng, Huaping National Reserve , 10–14.VII.2021, leg J. J. Fan and B. Gao, genit. prep. HHL-7049-11 ; • 1 male, China, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, Jiulianshan Nature Reserve, Daqiutian Protection Station , 18–20.VII.2021, T. T. Zhao, genit. prep. HHL-7050-1 ; • 1 male, China, Guangdong, Shaoguan, Chebaling , 29.IV–3.V.2019, leg. H. L. Han et al., genit. prep. HHL-7051-1 ; • 1 male, 1 female, China, Fujian, Wanmulin Nature Reserve , V.1986, unknown collector, genit. prep. HHL-7052-1 and 7053-2 .

Diagnosis.

This species closely resembles the three species in the genus Clethrorasa , but it can be distinguished based on the following characteristics (these characteristics are highly similar among Clethrorasa spp. ): In terms of external morphology, this species exhibits a smaller body size (wingspan 24–30 mm vs 29.0–38.5 mm), with mostly grayish-white forewings and relatively small but numerous black spots. The veins R and M 1 of the hindwings are relatively short, close to 1 / 3 of the hindwing length (Fig. 23 View Figures 23–25 ). The dorsal surface of abdomen is off-white instead of mostly black. In male genitalia, the uncus is straight and shaped like a ball rod rather than a sickle; the tegumen is helmet-shaped rather than tongue-shaped; the valva is relatively narrow and not very developed; the saccus is in a ‘ ’ U’ ’ shape instead of a ‘ ’ V’ ’ shape, with a smooth bottom; the juxta is shaped like a bull’s head instead of a claw; the aedeagus is relatively short and thick, with a well-developed vesica with multiple medial diverticula; the cornuti more slender and clustered in two distinct patches. In female genitalia, the papillae anales are relatively wide, the ductus bursae is relatively unsclerotized, the corpus bursae is relatively short, long pouch-shaped rather than tie-shaped, and has a strong, hardened spinal signum on the inner side.

Description.

Adult (Figs 1 View Figures 1–8 , 2 View Figures 1–8 ). Wingspan 24–30 mm. Head generally white; antennae blackish-brown. Dorsal side of thorax white, with four large purple-black spots; patagium white, with two prominent black spots located on the distal half; tegula white. Abdomen thin off-white, with a slight brownish tuft of hair at three terminal segments. Forewings white, with scattered black spots; transverse lines consisting of black spots, which are mostly shortband-shaped in costal margin area, the basal line only present as a black dot; antemedial line double, inner line formed by two black dots, exterior line by three black dots; median line double, formed by two black bands at inner and exterior lines, weakly incurved in inner margin area; postmedial line double, incurved posterior to end of cell, inner line formed by eight black dots or short bands, exterior line by seven black dots or short bands, the triangle spots at costal and inner margin areas are the largest; subterminal line parallel to postmedial line, formed by seven black dots; terminal line thin consisting of triangular black dots; orbicular spot medium, circular black dot; reniform spot large and black; fringe white with black patches. Hindwings pale-grayish with grayish-brown marginal shade darkest towards apex and costal and termen margins; discal spot indistinct; vein indistinct, brown.

Male genitalia (Fig. 9 View Figures 9–16 ). Uncus flattened, hook-shaped, apically nearly straight. Tegumen short and broad, shoulder helmet-shaped; dorsal lobe of tegumen covered in granules inside; subscaphium droplet-shaped; medial lobe of tegumen large, swollen. Valva sclerotized and narrow; costa shaped as a narrow strip, extending to cucullus, basal part incurved arc-shaped; sacculus short and irregular square-shaped; sacculus process narrow band-shaped, gradually widening apically, especially exceeding costa before cucullus; cucullus excurved arc-shaped. Juxta sclerotized, bullhead-shaped. Vinculum U-shaped; saccus broad tongue-shaped. Aedeagus cylindrical straight, gradually narrowing posteriorly; coecum short and coars; carina weakly sclerotized. Vesica membranous with three cornuti at middle part; diverticula short and smooth, nipple-shaped; subdiverticula bifurcated, one incurved and without cornuti, another short, covered with about eighteen cornuti; base of vesica ejaculatorius covered with thick graniculi, and rather expanded.

Female genitalia (Fig. 13 View Figures 9–16 ). Papillae anales petal-shaped, sclerotized. Apophyses anteriores and posteriores broad and approximately equal in length. Ostium bursae flat and straight. Ductus bursae membranous, curved, with oval-shaped swelling posteriorly. Corpus bursae long, pouch-shaped, curved towards one side in the middle, with a strong sclerotized signa plate in the middle of inner side. Appendix bursae produced at the posterior part of corpus bursae.

Distribution.

China ( Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi).

Etymology.

The specific epithet chinensis is assigned to reflect the species’ current distribution, which is exclusively recorded in southeastern China yet exhibits broad occupancy across this region.