Taxonomic review of the genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888 from China, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae)

Abstract The genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888 from China is reviewed. Nine species are treated, including descriptions of four new species: Teliphasa spinosa Li, sp. n., Teliphasa similalbifusa Li, sp. n., Teliphasa erythrina Li, sp. n., and Teliphasa hamata Li, sp. n. Photographs of adults, wing venation, and both male and female genitalia are provided, along with a key for the identification of all the Chinese species.


Introduction
The genus Teliphasa was erected by Moore (1888) to accommodate the two species, T. orbiculifer and T. nubilosa from India, with T. orbiculifer as the type. Teliphasa is closely allied to Macalla Walker, 1859, in which several Teliphasa species were once included. Janse (1931) recombined Stericta picta Warren, 1895 from Macalla to Teliphasa, which was later placed in the genus Orthaga by Shaffer et al. (1996). Mutuura (1957) transferred T. elegans (Butler, 1881) and T. amica (Butler, 1879) from Macalla to Teliphasa. Ghesquière (1942) reported T. dibelana from Congo and Zaire, and Viette (1960) described T. andrianalis from Madagascar. Inoue and Yamanaka (1975) made a revision of the Teliphasa species in Japan, in which they transfered T. albifusa (Hampson, 1896) from Macalla to the present genus and described a new species T. sakishimensis. Solis (1992) provided a list of the Old World Epipaschiinae, in which six species of Teliphasa were included. Koçak (1987) proposed a new genus Sultania with Macalla lophotalis Hampson, 1900 as the type. But currently Sultania is considered as a synonym of Teliphasa (Nuss et al. 2003(Nuss et al. -2015.
Teliphasa comprises nine species worldwide, occurring in the Oriental, Palaearctic and Ethiopian regions. Five species were recorded in China prior to this study. The aim of the present paper is to review nine species of Teliphasa recognized in China, including descriptions of four new species.

Materials and methods
The present study is based on the examinations of the specimens collected by light traps. Adults were examined using an Olympus SZX9 stereomicroscope. Permanent mounting methods of genitalia and venation follow the techniques introduced by Li (2002). Images of adults and genitalia were taken by using a Leica M205A stereo microscope and a Leica DM750 microscope.
All the studied specimens, including the types of the new species, are deposited in the Insect Collection of College of Life Sciences, Nankai University (NKUM), Tianjin, China.

Genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888
Teliphasa Moore, 1888: 200. Type species: Teliphasa orbiculifer Moore, 1888. Sultania Koçak, 1987 119. Type species: Macalla lophotalis Hampson, 1900. (Figs 1-4): Large sized. Head with thick chaetosema. Labial palpus in male ( Fig. 1) often stronger than in female (Fig. 2), with diameter of second segment longer than three times length of female, upturned far above vertex of head, even extending back to thorax (Fig. 3), third segment thin, very short, hidden in scales of second; in some species, both male and female labial palpus slender, upturned beyond vertex of head, second segment slightly stronger than third, third segment slender. Antenna thicker in male than in female, male with a row of short cilia along anterior margin. Forewing broad; discal and discocellular spots conspicuous, bearing scale tufts; scale tuft usually set below lower margin of cell near base; antemedian line narrow; postmedian line relatively broad, usually curved outward to form an angle medially; subrectangular spots uniformly placed along inner side of terminal line, in- terrupted by pale color at veins; hindwing broad triangular, with discocellular spot. Venations (Fig. 4): Forewing with Sc to 2/3 of costa, R 1 and R 2 stalked, R 3 and R 4 long stalked, R 5 stalked with R 3+4 , M 1 from upper angle of cell, M 2 and M 3 from lower angle of cell and adjacent in basal 1/4, CuA 1 , CuA 2 and M 3 parallel, CuP degenerated, 1A+2A furcated basally; hindwing with Sc+R 1 and Rs connected at middle of Sc+R 1 , M 2 , M 3 and CuA 1 from lower angle of cell, CuA 2 nearly parallel to CuA 1 .

Generic characters. Adult
Male genitalia. Uncus various in shape. Gnathos separated, being paired long processes, lateral arms slender. Scaphium columnar, usually narrowed gradually from base to apex. Valva extremely broad, roundly expanded, with numerous long setae. Costa well-developed, varied in shape. Transtilla banded, extending backward to base of uncus, joined medially. Sacculus narrowly banded, sometimes ill-defined. Saccus separated, broad, inverted triangular, or complete, only protruding in short triangle, or ill-defined. Phallus stout, with one or two complicated cornuti.
Diagnosis. This genus is much similar to Termioptycha Meyrick, 1889 superficially by having both discal and discocellular spots with scale tufts, the postmedian line relatively broad and curved outward to form an angle medially, and the subrectangular spots set uniformly along the inner side of the terminal line. Teliphasa can be easily separated from Termioptycha by the costa of forewing without a stigma in the median area, and the hindwing with a discocellular spot; in Termioptycha, the costa of forewing has a distinct stigma in the median area, and the hindwing lacks the discocellular spot.
Remarks. Differences within a species exist in Teliphasa, including the variations of the wing color and the degree of scale density. For example, T. elegans is divided into a blackish form and a whitish form due to such variations (Inoue and Yamanaka 1975). Diagnosis. This species is different from its congeners by the valva triangularly protruding dorso-and ventro-apically and the juxta with clustered spines in the male genitalia. This species is similar to T. hamata sp. n. superficially, but can be differentiated by the subrhombic uncus, the approximately fan-shaped valva, and the phallus with one cornutus in the male genitalia. In T. hamata sp. n., the uncus is trapeziform, the valva is subrhombic, and the phallus has two cornuti in the male genitalia.

Key to Chinese species of Teliphasa based on male genitalia
Description. Adult (Fig. 5): Wingspan 34.0-38.0 mm. Head brown, tinged with white scales. Labial palpus blackish brown mixed with white, white at apices of second and third segments; third segment slender, about 1/3 length of second. Maxillary palpus blackish brown, with a few white scales, short, slightly upturned. Antenna with scape brown mottled black, or blackish brown mixed with white; flagellum alternately yellowish brown and deep brown. Thorax and tegula blackish brown, with white scales. Forewing tinged with pale olive-green luster; basal area blackish brown, mixed with black and white scales, with two subrounded white spots near base; median area white, with scattered pale brown and blackish brown scales, with dense brown and blackish brown scales from costa diffused to above cell, forming a narrow elongate dark streak; distal area deep brown, with black scales; costa with a white spot at outside of postmedian line, spreading to R 5 , mixed with pale brown; antemedian line black, extending from costal 1/4 obliquely inward to scale tuft near base, then obliquely outward to 1/3 on dorsum; postmedian line black, extending from costal 2/3 slightly oblique outward to R 5 , then running slightly oblique inward to dorsal 2/3, its inner margin more or less serrated; discal spot almost circular, smaller than discocellular spot; discocellular spot nearly trapeziform; terminal line white, with ill-defined subrectangular black spots uniformly placed along its inner side, interrupted by grayish white mixed with blackish brown or brown scales at veins; cilia yellowish brown to brown, blackish brown along extension of veins. Hindwing with basal 3/4 white, distal 1/4 deep brown; discocellular spot pale grayish brown; cilia yellowish brown or brown. Legs brownish yellow, mixed with white, brown and black scales; tarsi with each tarsomere white apically, except black at apex of last tarsomere. Abdomen blackish brown with white, intersegment white.
Transtilla joined medially in a knot. Juxta nearly circular, heavily sclerotized, with clustered spines. Saccus separated. Phallus curved at middle; cornutus a long plate, narrow basally, serrated along dorsal margin of distal half and on apex.
Distribution. China (Yunnan). Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin spinosus (with many spines), in reference to the juxta with clustered spines in the male genitalia.
Remarks. The labial palpus of this species is not sexual dimorphic. The shape and pattern of wing is consistent with the diagnostic characters of Teliphasa, and the male genitalia resemble other congeners in having a paired gnathos, the roundly expanded valva, and the separated inverted triangular saccus. Therefore, we regard this species as a new species of Teliphasa and describe it here. Diagnosis. This species is similar to T. albifusa superficially, but can be separated from the latter by the gnathos about 3/5 the length of the scaphium, the costa without process near base on the ventral margin, and the phallus with two cornuti in the male genitalia. In T. albifusa, the gnathos is about 3/4 the length of the scaphium, the costa is protruding subtriangularly near base on the ventral margin, and the phallus has a single cornutus in the male genitalia. In addition, T. similalbifusa sp. n., T. hamata sp. n. and T. sakishimensis are much similar in the male genitalia by the subtrapeziform uncus, the approximately rhombic valva, the broadly banded transtilla, the irregularly shaped juxta, the separated saccus, and one of the paired cornuti stretching out from before the apex of the phallus. However, the gnathos is hooked apically, and the stretching out cornutus is stout and shorter than 1/3 the length of the phallus in T. similalbifusa sp. n.; the gnathos is obtuse apically, and the stretching out cornutus is slender and longer than 1/2 the length of the phallus in T. hamata sp. n.; the gnathos is also obtuse apically, but the stretching out cornutus is horned and slightly longer than 1/3 the length of the phallus in T. sakishimensis.
Description. Adult (Fig. 6) ly pale yellowish brown and deep brown. Thorax white, with scattered black and brown scales. Tegula blackish brown, mixed with white scales, with long brown scales distally. Forewing with basal area pale ocherous brown, mixed with black and white scales; median area white mixed with pale yellow and yellowish brown scales, with dense yellowish brown scales from costa scattered to above cell; distal area yellowish brown, mixed with black scales; antemedian line black, ill-defined anteriorly, extending distinctly from black scale tuft near base obliquely outward to below 1A+2A, then straightly reaching dorsal 1/3; postmedian line black, extending from costal 3/4 obliquely outward to M 2 , then arched and extending inward along CuA 1 , forming a blunt angle, finally straight to dorsal 2/3, its inner margin serrated; costa with a blackish brown spot at basal 1/3 diffused to above cell, with a white spot at outside of postmedian line spreading to R 5 ; discal spot small, black surrounded by pale yellowish brown, with raised white scales on its outer margin; discocellular spot nearly rectangular, relatively large, surrounded by pale yellowish brown scales; terminal line yellowish white, spots ill-defined along its inner side; cilia yellowish white mixed with pale brown, blackish brown along extension of veins. Hindwing with basal 3/4 white mixed with pale yellow; distal 1/4 grayish brown, deepening from costa to dorsum; discocellular spot pale grayish brown; cilia yellowish white, blackish brown along extension of veins, with a brown line near base. Legs yellowish white, mixed with blackish brown and grayish white scales; tarsi blackish brown, white at apex of each tarsomere except black at apex of last tarsomere.
Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).
Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin simil-(similar), and the specific name of another species albifusa, in reference to the similarity of the two species in the superficial morphology. Diagnosis. This species is obviously different from its congeners by the forewing reddish brown and the hindwing deep gray tinged with pale reddish brown in the distal area. In addition, this species is distinguishable by the subtriangular uncus and the relatively narrow valva with length obviously longer than the maximum width in the male genitalia. In other Teliphasa species, the uncus is not subtriangular, and the relatively broad valva is shorter than or equal to the maximum width.

Teliphasa erythrina
Description. Adult (Fig. 7): Wingspan 36.0 mm. Head white, mixed with pale yellow and blackish brown scales. Male labial palpus grayish white, with scattered brown scales; second segment dilated near base; third segment shorter than 1/10 length of second. Antenna with scape white, mixed with brown; flagellum alternately yellowish brown and brown. Thorax and tegula white, mixed with brownish yellow and black scales; tegula with brown long scales distally. Forewing white in basal 2/3, suffused with pale yellowish, pale brown and brownish black scales, with blackish brown scale tuft near base, mottled white; costa with brownish black scales from basal 1/3 to 2/3, diffused to above cell, with a white spot at outside of postmedian line, spreading to R 5 ; distal 1/3 reddish brown, tinged with white scales; antemedian line black wavy, extending from costal 1/3 obliquely outward to below cell, then obliquely inward to scale tuft near base, thereafter obliquely outward to 1A+2A, finally straight to dorsal 1/3; postmedian line black, extending from costal 2/3 obliquely outward to M 3 , then running obliquely inward to dorsal 2/3, its inner margin serrated; discal and discocellular spots brownish black, the former circular, the latter subrectangular; terminal line grayish white, with subrectangular blackish brown spots uniformly placed along its inner side, interrupted by pale brown at veins. Hindwing with basal 2/3 white mixed with grayish scales; distal 1/3 deep gray tinged with pale reddish brown, gradually paler from costa to dorsum; discocellular spot pale brown; cilia of fore-and hind-wings brownish yellow, blackish brown along extension of veins. Legs yellowish white, mixed with blackish brown and pale brown scales; tarsi blackish brown, white at apex of each tarsomere.
Female unknown.
Description. Adult (Fig. 8): Wingspan 32.0-36.0 mm. Head white, suffused with black and pale brown scales. Male labial palpus pale yellow to brownish yellow, suffused with white and black scales; second segment slightly dilated in distal 2/3; third segment short, pointed at apex; female labial palpus with second segment white, mixed with yellowish brown scales on dorsal surface; third segment slender, yellowish brown with black, about 1/5 length of second. Antenna with scape white mottled blackish brown; flagellum alternately grayish brown and blackish brown. Thorax white, with brown scales. Tegula deep brown, with black and a few white scales. Forewing with basal area dark brown, mixed with black scales; median area white, with scattered brown scales; distal area ochreous brown, mixed with black and white scales; costa brown from basal 1/3 to 2/3, mixed with black scales, diffused to above cell, with a white spot near base and raised black scales at its outside, with a second white spot at outside of postmedian line, spreading to below R 5 ; antemedian line black, extending from costal 1/4 obliquely inward to scale tuft near base, then obliquely outward to below 1A+2A, finally obliquely inward to dorsal 1/3; postmedian line black, extending from costal 2/3 obliquely outward to M 2 , then curved and extending inward along CuA 1 , forming an angle, finally straight to dorsal 2/3, its inner margin serrated; discal and discocellular spots black, the latter relatively large; terminal line pale yellow, with subrectangular brown or blackish brown spots uniformly placed along its inner side, interrupted by white mixed with brown at veins. Hindwing with basal 2/3 yellowish white, distal 1/3 grayish brown, becoming paler from costa to dorsum; discocellular spot pale grayish brown; cilia of fore-and hind-wings pale yellow, grayish brown to brownish yellow along extension of veins. Legs yellowish brown to blackish brown, mixed with black, brown and a few white scales; tarsi blackish brown, white at apex of each tarsomere. Abdomen white mottled black scales except first segment black.

Teliphasa nubilosa
Description. Adult (Fig. 10) Diagnosis. This species has two forms: the blackish form and the whitish from. The blackish form can be differentiated by the forewing and the distal 2/3 of hindwing blackish brown. The whitish form is similar to T. albifusa superficially, but can be separated from the latter by the uncus subovate, the costa without process ventrally, and the phallus ventrally with two short digitiform distal processes that lack spines internally in the male genitalia (Fig. 19); the ductus bursae with one sclerotized subtriangular plate posteriorly, and the signum narrow rectangular in the female genitalia (Fig. 25). Whereas in T. albifusa, the uncus is trapezoidal, the costa has a subtriangular process ventrally, and the phallus ventrally with a short slender distal process that has a row of spines internally in the male genitalia; the ductus bursae with two irregular sclerotized plates posteriorly, and the signum is subtriangular in the female genitalia.
Remarks. Inoue and Yamanaka (1975) described this species from Taiwan in detail. Song and He (1977) reported this species occuring in Hubei and Sichuan provinces from Chinese Mainland. We are unable to check this species in our study, but T. sakishimensis can be easily separated by having a clear thorn-like projection from the juxta (Inoue and Yamanaka, 1975).

Funds
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31272356) and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. 20130031110008).