Research Article |
Corresponding author: Wa Da ( tsea2@163.com ) Corresponding author: Liusheng Chen ( lshchen2008@163.com ) Academic editor: Erik J. van Nieukerken
© 2021 Siyao Huang, Yongxiang Hou, Lijuan Zhu, Yongqiang Xu, Min Wang, Xiaoling Fan, Yang Long, Wa Da, Liusheng Chen.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Huang S, Hou Y, Zhu L, Xu Y, Wang M, Fan X, Long Y, Da W, Chen L (2021) Description of a new species of the genus Neopseustis Meyrick, 1909 from China, with a new classification of the genus (Lepidoptera, Neopseustoidea, Neopseustidae). ZooKeys 1078: 35-48. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1078.75461
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A new species of the genus Neopseustis Meyrick, 1909, Neopseustis chentangensis S.Y. Huang & Chen sp. nov., which was confirmed by both morphological and molecular methods, is described from Xizang, China. This is currently the westernmost species in Asia of the primitive lepidopteran family Neopseustidae. The new species is externally reminiscent of N. moxiensis Chen & Owada, 2009; however, it can be easily distinguished from the latter by comparison of the male genitalia and is further distinguished by the large genetic distance in DNA barcodes (COI). The adult and genitalia of the new and similar species have been illustrated. Utilizing our new data, a new classification of the genus is provided, with its members subdivided into four species groups: the meyricki-group, the moxiensis-group, the bicornuta-group, and the chentangensis-group, which are supported by both molecular and morphological evidence. A checklist of the genus and a key to the species groups are also provided.
Classification, Himalaya, India, Neopseustina, new species, Sichuan, Xizang
The family Neopseustidae is a small and archaic lepidopteran family known only by four genera and 14 species and with a peculiar disjunct distribution. Ten of these species are found in Southeast Asia, and the rest are found in South America (
To date, two genera and seven species have been recorded from mainland China, which are distributed in Henan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces (
Specimens examined were collected during daytime, using an insect net, or with a light trap at night and subsequently deposited in the collection of the South China Agricultural University (
Our molecular analysis comprised 19 samples, six of which are newly obtained COI sequences for DNA barcoding. Detailed information on these samples is provided in Table
Voucher information and GenBank accession numbers for COI sequences of the Neopseustidae specimens and outgroup in this study. Newly obtained sequences are indicated by an asterisk (*).
Taxon | Locality | Date | Voucher Number | Accession Number |
---|---|---|---|---|
Neopseustis chentangensis S.Y. Huang & Chen sp. nov. | Xizang, China | V.2021 | CT1 | OK148463* |
Neopseustis rectagnatha
Liao, Chen & Huang, 2021 |
Hunan, China | VIII.2020 | HAUHL039474 | MW804623 |
Neopseustis rectagnatha Liao, Chen & Huang, 2021 |
Hunan, China | VIII.2020 | HAUHL039473 | MW804622 |
Neopseustis rectagnatha Liao, Chen & Huang, 2021 |
Hunan, China | VI. 2020 | HAUHL040282 | MW804609 |
Neopseustis archiphenax Meyrick, 1928 | Henan, China | VII. 2002 | LNAUT030–14 | N/A |
Neopseustis archiphenax Meyrick, 1928 | Henan, China | VII. 2002 | LNAUT031–14 | N/A |
Neopseustis sinensis Davis, 1975 | Sichuan, China | VII. 2009 | BX1 | OK148464* |
Neopseustis sinensis Davis, 1975 | Sichuan, China | VII. 2009 | YJ1 | OK148465* |
Neopseustis meyricki Hering, 1925 | Taiwan, China | N/A | LS-06–0068 | GU828566 |
Neopseustis moxiensis Chen & Owada, 2009 | Sichuan, China | VIII. 2004 | MX1 | OK148466* |
Neopseustis fanjingshana Yang, 1988 | Hunan, China | VIII. 2019 | HAUHL041880 | MW804624 |
Neopseustis fanjingshana Yang, 1988 | Hunan, China | VIII. 2008 | SZ1 | OK148467* |
Neopseustis bicornuta Davis, 1975 | Sichuan, China | VII. 2009 | YJ2 | OK148468* |
Apoplania valdiviana Davis & Nielsen, 1985 | Cautin, Chile | XII. 1982 | LNAUT029–14 | N/A |
Apoplania penai Davis & Nielsen, 1980 | Chiloe Island, Chile | XII. 1981 | LNAUT022–14 | N/A |
Apoplania chilensis Davis, 1975 | Curico Las Tablas, Chile | II. 1985 | LNAUT019–14 | N/A |
Synempora andesae Davis & Nielsen, 1980 | Sagrario Puerto, Argentina | II. 1979 | LNAUT041–14 | N/A |
Synempora andesae Davis & Nielsen, 1980 | Aguas Calientes, Argentina | II. 1979 | LNAUT042–14 | N/A |
Endoclita davidi (Poujade, 1886) | Hunan, China | XI. 2015 | HN20170409020 | KY928030 |
Neopseustis Meyrick, 1909: 436.
Neopseustis calliglauca Meyrick, 1909, by monotypy. [Type locality: Khasi Hills, Assam, India].
Holotype
: male, altitude 2600 m, 23.V.2021, Chentang Town, Dingjie County, Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Prefecture, P.R. China, leg. Siyao Huang, voucher number and dissection number CT1 (
Externally, N. chentangensis resembles N. moxiensis Chen & Owada, 2009 (Fig.
Adult: length of forewing 8.7 mm. Antennae brownish dorsally. Head, thorax, and abdomen uniformly brownish. Forewing nearly oval, apex slightly pointed. Forewing ground color pale yellowish fuscous, with four fuscous patches along costa to apex. Several irregular black or brownish transverse lines present in the median and submarginal zones. A row of brownish spots extending from apex to anal angle along termen. Fringe fuscous from apex to anal angle, slightly checkered with creamy white in dorsum. Hindwing oval, ground color uniformly light fuscous. Hindwing apex with light yellowish spot at the marginal zone. Fringe generally fuscous from apex to anal angle and slightly checkered with creamy white around anal angle.
Male genitalia of Neopseustis spp. 3–10 Neopseustis chentangensis sp. nov., holotype, dissection number CT1 3 genitalia capsule in natural shape with anellus-juxta-parameres removed, dorsal view 4 same, in ventral view 5 genitalia capsule flattened with anellus-juxta-parameres removed 6 genitalia capsule in natural shape with anellus-juxta-parameres removed, in lateral view 7 anellus-juxta-parameres in natural shape, in dorsal view 8 same, in ventral view 9 same, in lateral view 10 anellus-juxta-parameres flattened, in ventral view 11, 12 Neopseustis moxiensis, holotype, dissection number MX1 11 anellus-juxta-parameres flattened, in ventral view 12 genitalia capsule flattened with anellus-juxta-parameres removed. J = Juxta; LPA = lateroposterior process of anellus; PE = parameres; TB = transverse bar. Scale bar: 1 mm (Figures 3–10).
Male genitalia: Uncus fused with tegumen, bifurcate basally and forming two short and distally rounded lobes. Gnathos strongly sclerotized thoroughly, consisting of a medially curved, short, and robust distal process and a large and thick base. Socii rounded, densely setose. Tegumenal lobe slightly curved outwards beyond the base and gradually narrowing towards its tip. Valvae totally fused with vinculum, broad and nearly trapezoid in natural shape. Vinculum broad posteriorly, abruptly narrowing anteriorly and forming long and slender arms. Lateroposterior process of anellus generally L-shaped, thick, and robust, with the tip deeply bifurcate and forming two sharp processes bending anteriorly. Two denticles present at the upper margin of dorsal process. Paired processes of anellus absent. Transverse bar in lateral view obtuse-triangular and slightly bending upwards near tip, while in dorsal and ventral views generally triangular with the lower angles shallowly bifurcate. Juxta in lateral view slightly curved outwards and nearly broad Y-shaped in dorsal and ventral views. Parameres short and setose-like, weakly sclerotized, situated between the two lateroposterior processes of anellus.
Female. Unknown at present.
The holotype of N. chentangensis was spotted weakly flying above bushes during the daytime at an altitude about 2600 m. The collecting site (Fig.
Currently only known from the type locality, Chentang Town (Fig.
The specific epithet chentangensis is derived from the type locality, Chentang Town.
The Kimura-2-parameter distance of the genus Neopseustis, based on COI barcoding, is given in Table S1. The maximum interspecific divergence occurred between N. chentangensis and N. moxiensis, which was 11.7%, and the minimum interspecific divergence occurred between N. fanjingshana and N. bicornuta, which was 1.5%. According to the table, N. chentangensis is genetically distinct from its congeners, with the genetic divergence varying from 7.6 to 11.5%. Based on the ML tree (Fig.
Although
It is rather intriguing that although N. chentangensis is similar externally only to N. moxiensis in Neopseustis, among the whole genus, they have the greatest genetic divergence. Their male genitalia structures are also considerably different from each other, suggesting that the relationship between them is distant. We believe that their external similarity may probably due to their parallel evolution under similar environments. Unlike their relatively whitish congeners inhabiting the mid- and lower-elevation mountainous areas in India, mainland China, and Taiwan, these two species all inhabit high mountainous areas above 2500 m, and the similar cool climate in high elevation areas in western Sichuan and southern Xizang. This probably may have led to the evolution of their dark wing coloration which can help them absorb heat faster. This assumption is also supported by the studies of
The former westernmost record of the genus Neopseustis is the type species N. calliglauca, which is found in the Khasi Hills in India. The current record of this new species is situated about 520 km northwest of Khasi Hill, and thus is currently the westernmost record of the genus. The discovery of N. chentangensis in Chentang, on the southern slope of the Himalayas in Xizang, suggests that the investigation of the microlepidopteran fauna is still inadequate in remote areas along the Himalaya. The collection site of the new species is very close to the border of China and Nepal, and Neopseustidae are unknown in Nepal. It can be expected that this species or other new species will someday be discovered in Nepal or Bhutan. Moreover, Neopseustidae are also expected in the southeastern part of Xizang, where no species are currently found. It is possible that the absence of this family there is only due to a lack of surveys, as poor transportation conditions in past decades makes this paradise of moths difficult to access.
meyricki -group
N. archiphenax Meyrick, 1928
Distribution. Myanmar, China (Sichuan, Henan)
N. meyricki Hering, 1925
Distribution. China (Taiwan)
N. rectagnatha Liao, Chen & G.H. Huang, 2021
Distribution. China (Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong)
N. sinensis Davis, 1975
Distribution. China (Hunan, Sichuan)
moxiensis -group
N. moxiensis Chen & Owada, 2009
Distribution. China (Sichuan)
bicornuta -group
N. bicornuta Davis, 1975
Distribution. China (Sichuan)
N. calliglauca Meyrick, 1909
Distribution. India (Khasi Hills, Meghalaya)
N. fanjingshana Yang, 1988
Distribution. China (Guizhou, Hunan)
chentangensis -group
N. chentangensis S.Y. Huang & Chen, sp. nov.
Distribution. China (Xizang)
1 | Parameres well developed and narrow; lateroposterior process of anellus short, and forked | Neopseustis meyricki -group |
– | Parameres poorly developed | 2 |
2 | Latero-posterior process of anellus long, L-shaped with apex deeply bifurcate, bending anteriorly | Neopseustis chentangensis -group |
– | Latero-posterior process of anellus apex not bifurcate and pointed posteriorly | 3 |
3 | Latero-posterior process of the anellus covered by dense spinules from middle to distal end; valvae with an uncinate process apically and a long and thick process ventrally | Neopseustis moxiensis -group |
– | Latero-posterior process of the anellus smooth from middle to distal end; valvae without a ventral process | Neopseustis bicornuta-group |
We express our sincere thanks to Dr Shipher Wu for literature assistance and instruction on citing the Dearlep website. We are also grateful to Dr Weixin Liu and Mr Xinyang Jia for assistance with taking photos of genitalia.
Table S1. The Kimura-2-parameter distance on COI sequences between different taxon of the genus Neopseustis sampled for the current study
Data type: molecular data