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Research Article
One new species and one newly recorded species of the genus Lasiochira Meyrick, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Oecophoridae) from China
expand article infoAihui Yin, Yanpeng Cai
‡ Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
Open Access

Abstract

Lasiochira wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov. is described herein from the island province of Hainan, China. It is diagnosed from a similar species, Lasiochira jianfengensis Yin, Wang & Park, 2014. Both species are sympatric in Hainan province, but the latter is also known in northern Vietnam. Lasiochira pallidiptera Yin, Wang & Park, 2014 is recorded for the first time from China. Color images of the adults and genitalia of the above three species are provided. In addition, a checklist and a geographical distribution map of all species of Lasiochira Meyrick are included.

Keywords

Checklist, key, morphology, moth, taxonomy

Introduction

Lasiochira Meyrick, 1931 is a small genus included in the Oecophoridae, with unknown biology. The type species, Lasiochira camaropa Meyrick, 1931, was diagnosed based on two male syntype specimens from Kwanhsien, China. Clarke (1963) designated a lectotype from Meyrick’s original material and transferred a second species, L. xanthacma (Meyrick, 1938), from Allotalanta Meyrick, 1913. No further taxonomic work was published on the genus until Wang (2006) treated the Oecophoridae of China, including the two known species. Yin et al. (2014) described six new species, but the entire fauna is known only from China, Korea, and Vietnam.

The genus Lasiochira is mainly characterized by having a pale, N-shaped pattern consisting of three joined stripes and several small tufts of erect scales on the forewing (Figs 1–3); the gnathos is often pointed and hooked terminally (Figs 4, 5, 8); the valva usually has dense fine hairs on the distal half (Figs 4, 5, 8); the cornuti are comprised of multiple short, stout spines or plates (Figs 4, 5, 8; arrows); the apophyses posteriores are longer than the apophyses anteriores (Figs 6, 7, 9); the ductus bursae is with sclerotization (Figs 6, 7, 9); and the signum is transverse, dentate, with a projecting semicircular lobe posteriorly (Figs 6a, 7a, 9) (Yin et al. 2014).

Recent collecting efforts in the Hainan and Hubei provinces produced a new species, described herein, and the first record of L. pallidiptera Yin, Wang & Park, 2014 in China. The objectives of this study are to describe the new species and update the distributions of the known species.

Material and methods

All specimens for this study were collected in 2018 from the Hainan and Hubei provinces of China. The descriptive terminology of the anatomical structures follows Wang (2006), Yin et al. (2014) and Kristensen (2003). Photographs of adults were taken using a Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera with an EF 100 mm f/2.8L MACRO IS USM lens assisted by the EOS Utility 3.10.20 software. Stacked images of the genitalia were captured using a Leica DM4 B upright microscope. Photomontage was performed with the Leica Application Suite X imaging software. Species distribution data were compiled within Microsoft Excel using both published records and specimen label data. The distribution map was produced with the aid of DIVA-GIS 7.5 (Hijmans et al. 2011).

All type specimens are deposited in the Morphological Laboratory, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.

Taxonomy

Lasiochira Meyrick, 1931: 71.

Type species

Lasiochira camaropa Meyrick, 1931, by monotypy.

Checklist of Lasiochira Meyrick species

1 Lasiochira camaropa Meyrick, 1931: 71

Distribution: China (Sichuan province).

2 Lasiochira flaviterminata Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 33

Distribution: China (Chongqing City).

3 Lasiochira jianfengensis Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 25

Distribution: China (Hainan province), Vietnam (North).

4 Lasiochira jiulongshana Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 27

Distribution: China (Zhejiang province).

5 Lasiochira pallidiptera Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 30

Distribution: China (Hubei province), Korea (Central).

6 Lasiochira rosataenia Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 32

Distribution: Vietnam (North).

7 Lasiochira taiwanensis Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 31

Distribution: China (Taiwan province).

8 Lasiochira wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov.

Distribution: China (Hainan province).

9 Lasiochira xanthacma (Meyrick, 1938: 10)

Distribution: China (Guangdong, Guizhou, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Yunnan provinces).

Lasiochira wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov.

Figs 1, 4, 6, 6a

Material examined

Holotype : ♂; China: Hainan province, Wuzhishan City, Wuzhishan National Nature Reserve; alt. 650 m; 18°54'36"N, 109°40'48"E; 10 May 2018; Zhengyong Wang leg.; YC00025. Paratypes: 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same locality as holotype; alt. 650 m; 18°54'36"N, 109°40'48"E; 10–15 May 2018; Zhengyong Wang leg.; YC00026 ♂, YC00022 ♀, YC00023 ♀, YAH19072 ♀.

Diagnosis

Lasiochira wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following two character states: forewing ocherous brown in ground color (Fig. 1); phallus with seven cornuti (Fig. 4, arrows).

Figures 1–3. 

Adults of Lasiochira species 1 L. wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov., paratype, female, gen. slide no. YAH19072 2 L. jianfengensis Yin, Wang and Park, female, gen. slide no. YC00028 3 L. pallidiptera Yin, Wang and Park, male, gen. slide no. YAH18154. Scale bars: 2.00 mm.

Description

Head: Vertex and front white, tinged with pale ocherous yellow on cervical area; labial palpi white, first segment with dark brown scales dorsally, second segment somewhat tinged with pale ocherous brown, denser ventrally, third segment with broad pale ocherous brown ring at distal 1/4; antenna with scape white, covered with pale ocherous yellow scales on dorsal surface, pecten pale yellow, flagellum pale ocherous yellow, ringed with white; proboscis white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum white, with three transverse pale ocherous brown bands; legs pale yellowish white, tibiae and tarsi pale ocherous brown on outer surface and pale ocherous brown and pale yellowish white on inner surface. Forewing (Fig. 1): length 5.5–7.0 mm (N = 5), about 3.3 × as long as wide, ocherous brown, slightly paler between CuP and dorsum; an N-shaped pinkish pattern running from basal 2/5 of costa diagonally outward to posterior angle of cell, obliquely to subapical part of costa, enlarged on costal margin, and diagonally narrowed to ventroapical part of termen; innermost stripe edged with two erect scale tufts, tufts black or ocherous brown on inner margin, angle between innermost and middle stripes diffused with blackish brown scales, and anteriorly with an erect pale yellowish white scale tuft, middle and outmost stripes both edged with erect scale tufts, tufts black or ocherous brown on outer margins; CuP with an erect scale tuft near distal 1/3; cilia with basal 3/5 pale ocherous brown, distal 2/5 pinkish white, edged with dark brown; ventral surface grayish brown. Hindwing (Fig. 1): dark gray; cilia yellowish gray.

Male genitalia (Fig. 4): Uncus broad at base, gradually narrowed to about 1/2, apical half parallel bilaterally, apex rounded; gnathos obtriangular, with minute granules on apical half; tegumen with nearly trapezoid posterior margins fused with uncus, anterior margin deeply emarginate; valva short and broad, sub-rectangular, heavily setose on triangular area apically; costa nearly straight; ventral margin triangularly concave inward beyond end of sacculus; sacculus narrow, slightly arched ventrally, distally with a triangular process directing downward; vinculum narrowly banded; saccus short, triangular, apex bluntly rounded; juxta obtrapezoidal, posterior margin straight, anterior margin concave mesially, lateral margins deeply emarginate at middle, forming two opposable triangular arms; phallus stout, distal 1/4 protuberant, extending to a sharp point; vesica with six irregularly-shaped, plate-like cornuti, and one small cornutus (Fig. 4, arrows).

Female genitalia (Fig. 6a): Papillae anales setose, broadly rounded posteriorly; apophyses posteriores about 2.5 times length of apophyses anteriores; eighth sternite with posterior margin straight, setose on posterior half, darkly pigmented mesolaterally, paler mesolongitudinally; antrum wide, membranous; ductus bursae narrow and sclerotized posteriorly, elongate, with undulating internal sclerotization anteriorly, bearing inception of ductus seminalis on anterior part; ductus bursae subspherical, with a spiculate inner wall; signum a transverse, dentate band, with a posteriorly projecting semicircular lobe.

Remarks

Lasiochira wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov. is very similar in wing pattern to L. jianfengensis Yin, Wang and Park (Figs 1, 2), but differs by having juxta with posterior margin straight (Fig. 4); phallus with seven cornuti (Fig. 4, arrows); and corpus bursae small, nearly spherical in shape (Fig. 6a). Lasiochira jianfengensis has juxta with posterior margin emarginate mesially (Fig. 5); phallus with six cornuti (Fig. 5, arrows); and corpus bursae ovate in shape and larger (Fig. 7a).

Figures 4–7. 

Male and female genitalia of Lasiochira species 4 L. wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov., holotype, male genital capsule and phallus, gen. slide no. YC00025 5 L. jianfengensis Yin, Wang and Park, male genital capsule and phallus, gen. slide no. YC00024 6 L. wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov., paratype, female genitalia, gen. slide no. YC00023 6a L. wuzhishanensis Yin, sp. nov., enlargement of corpus bursae, gen. slide no. YC00023 7 L. jianfengensis Yin, Wang and Park, female genitalia, gen. slide no. YC00028 7a L. jianfengensis Yin, Wang and Park, enlargement of corpus bursae, gen. slide no. YC00028. Scale bars: 0.40 mm.

Biology

Unknown. Adults were attracted to white light in May.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality (China: Hainan province).

Etymology

The species epithet is derived from the name of the type locality, Wuzhishan National Nature Reserve.

Lasiochira pallidiptera Yin, Wang & Park, 2014

Figs 3, 8, 9

Lasiochira pallidiptera Yin, Wang & Park, 2014: 30 (Lasiochira; type locality: Mt. Godae-san, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeongbuk province, Korea).

Material examined

3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; China, Hubei province, Huanggang City, Yingshan County, Taohuachong Forest Park; alt. 700 m; 30°59'04"N, 115°56'15"E; 5 Jun. 2018; Zhengyong Wang leg.; YAH18154 ♂, YAH18157 ♂, YAH18160 ♀, YAH19075 ♂.

Remarks

This species is recorded from China for the first time.

Biology

Unknown. Adults were attracted to white light in June.

Distribution

China (Hubei province), Korea (Central).

Figures 8, 9. 

Male and female genitalia of L. pallidiptera Yin, Wang and Park 8 male genital capsule and phallus, gen. slide no. YAH19075 9 female genitalia, gen. slide no. YAH18160. Scale bars: 0.40 mm.

Figure 10. 

Distribution map of Lasiochira species.

Acknowledgements

We want to thank the editors and the reviewers for reviewing this manuscript and giving a lot of constructive suggestions. This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31760630, No. 31760629) and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education Youth Science and Technology Talent Growth Project (黔教合KY字[2017]175, Guizhou Education KY word [2018]211).

References

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