The genus Andraca (Lepidoptera, Endromidae) in China with descriptions of a new species

Abstract The six species of the genus Andraca Walker hitherto known from China are reviewed, and a new species, Andraca gongshanensis, sp. n., described from Yunnan Province, China. Adults and male genitalia of all examined species are illustrated, together with a distributional map. A key to all seven Chinese Andraca species is provided. The types of the new species are deposited in SCAU (South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China) and HUNAU (Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China).


introduction
The genus Andraca was established by Walker (1865) with Andraca bipunctata Walker 1865 as its type-species, a species well known as one of the most serious pests of tea plants (Chu and Wang 1996). It was placed in family Bombycidae for over 150 years, but was recently transferred to family Endromidae based on the molecular study of Zwick et al. (2011). Kishida (1993) reported A. theae and A. olivacea from Taiwan. Chu and Wang (1993) recorded three Andraca species from China: A. bipunctata is widely distributed in central and southern China, A. henosa Chu & Wang, 1993 was listed from Yunnan, and A. hedra Chu & Wang, 1993 from Hainan and Fujian; in this paper, they also included Andraca gracilis Butler 1885, which is currently placed in the genus Pseudandraca Miyata, 1970. Yang (1995 added one species, A. flavamaculata Yang, 1995, to the Chinese Andraca fauna. Owada et al. (2002) reviewed three species of Andraca from Vietnam and provided a world checklist. Zolotuhin and Witt (2009) recorded five Andraca species from Vietnam, describing two new species, A. stueningi Zolotuhin &Witt, 2009 andA. melli Zolotuhin &Witt, 2009, and newly treating two taxa, A. trilochoides roepkei Bryk, 1944 andA. olivacea olivacens Mell, 1958, as subspecies of A. trilochoides Moore, 1865 andA. olivacea Matsumura, 1927 respectively. At present, the genus Andraca consists of eight species ranging from the Himalayas to Southeast Asia.
In the present paper, seven Chinese Andraca species are reviewed, including the description of one new species A. gongshanensis, sp. n. The early stages of Andraca theae (Matsumura 1909) are described in detail. A key to the seven Chinese Andraca species is provided.
Remarks. This widely distributed species is rather variable in coloration and size. Moore (1865) described A. trilochoides from a brighter and grayish individual. This taxon was later synonymized with A. bipunctata by Hampson, ([1893]), an action that was followed by Strand (1924).
Andraca bipunctata is closely related to A. angulata Kishida, 1993 (Nepal and India: Sikkim), A. theae (Taiwan) and A. stueningi (Vietnam). These four species form the bipunctata group, and share the following characteristics: 1) male hindtibia with one pair of spurs; 2) two dorsally-directed projections present on subapical part of valva; 3) external surface of aedeagus partially covered with hair-like spines; 4) a cluster of strong spinose cornuti on vesica.
Description. Male: wingspan 36-38 mm, length of forewing 16-20 mm, antenna length 5-7 mm ( Fig. 1-B). Hindtibia with two pairs of spurs; hindwings with Rs and M1 connate. Male genitalia (Fig. 2 (2009) treated it as a subspecies thereof. We do not comment further on which of these two alternatives may be the most appropriate status for this taxon because we have not seen the types of A. olivacens. Description. Male: wingspan 40-44 mm, length of forewing 20-22 mm, antenna length 6-7 mm ( Fig. 1-D). Body stout. Forewing apex falcate; outer edge smooth and straight; tornus almost rectangular. Male genitalia (Fig. 2-D): uncus long with apex finger-shaped; tegumen broad with numerous long setae; valvae basally broad, strongly sclerotized, apex of valva boot-shaped; sacculus broad, with a strong dorsal spike; saccus short and narrow; aedeagus short but strong and straight, distally with a large number of spines. Remarks. Yang (1995) described the species from Zhejiang, China. The species is similar to Andraca olivacea but can be distinguished by the following characters: aedeagus straight; gnathos not prominent. Zolotuhin and Witt (2009) synonymized A. nabesan Kishida & Owada, 2002 with A. flavamaculata, which they also transferred to Pseudandraca species based on features of the genitalia. We accept the synonymy but do not agree with the generic transfer, because we do not consider that the diagnostic feature of Pseudandraca given by Miyata (1970), a valva with a "long distinct projection" is present in A. flavamaculata. We therefore transfer A. flavamaculata comb. rev. back to Andraca. Andraca gongshanensis sp. n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E5DD5FB7-554B-48A6-9EF3-65F1699E9897 http://species-id.net/wiki/Andraca_gongshanensis Figs 1-E, 2-E Description. Male: wingspan 46-48 mm, length of forewing 22-24 mm, antenna length 5-8 mm ( Fig. 1-E). Antenna bipectinate except apex. Wings ground color dark brow with dark brow fasciae and reddish-yellow patterns, which is consisting of antemedian, discocellar, postmedian fascia, and reddish-yellow patterns nearly placed on the wholly wings but termen. Forewing apex falcate; outer edge smooth and straight; tornus almost rectangular. Hindwing with anal margin straight; outer margin angled at vein M 3 , straight above and below this.
Remarks. This new species is very similar to A. flavamaculata, but can be distinguished by the following characters of the male genitalia: A. gongshanensis, sp. n. with uncus apex wedge-shaped, apex of valva constricted and truncate, sacculus without a strong dorsal spike. And A. flavamaculata with uncus apex finger-shaped, apex of valva boot-shaped; sacculus broad, with a strong dorsal spike.

Andraca melli
Host. Camellia sinensis (Theaceae). Biology. This species is widely distributed in Taiwan and Southern China. The larvae were found on Camellia sinensis in Hunan Province; photographs of the early stages were taken in June to August, 2010 (Figs 3-A to 3-H).
Distribution. China (Taiwan, Guangdong, Hunan, Anhui). Remarks. The species is easily separated from its congeners by the apically bifurcate valvae.