Revision of the genus Xenophysa Boursin, 1969 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)
Author
Varga, Zoltán
text
Zootaxa
2011
3094
1
29
journal article
46028
10.5281/zenodo.279082
22ecfe46-49f1-49ab-8e98-463233f62e07
1175-5326
279082
Xenophysa argyrogramma
Varga, 1985
Xenophysa argyrogramma
Varga, 1985
,
Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Entomologen
37 (1–2): 28.
Type
material.
Holotype
: male,
Afghanistan
, Dasht-i-Nawar, NW of Ghazni,
3000 m
,
8.–10. VI. 1965
, leg. Kasy & Vartian (coll. Vartian,
NHMW
).
Paratypes
: 8 3 from the same locality and data (6 3 coll. Vartian,
NHMW
, 2 3 coll. Varga), 2 3
Afghanistan
, Dasht-i-Nawar pass,
6.IX.
1963
, 3150 m, coll. Vartian,
NHMW
; 1 Ƥ
Afghanistan
, Hazaradjat, Koh-i-Baba, Panjao env.,
3500 m
,
22.–26.VI. 1961
, leg. Ebert (coll.
ZSM
). Genital slides: 3 Va rga 1425, 2430, 2431, 2435, Ƥ Ronkay 1235.
Taxonomic notes.
X. argyrogramma
is a relatively small species, smaller in average than the sympatrically occurring
X. cacumena afghanorea
(expanse:
29–33 mm
, length of forewings 13–14.5 mm). Male antennae shortly pectinate and ciliate, but more strongly than in the closely related
X. cacumena afghanorea
; in female shortly ciliate. Colouration relatively simple, smoky greyish-brown, with whitish-grey collar and silvery whitish-grey maculation (name). Reniform and orbicular spots connected; orbicular and claviform macules usually silvery grey.
Hind
wings relatively unicolorous pale brownish-grey. The single female is similar to the darker and more unicolorous male specimens (Plate 3, Figs. 13–14).
Xenophysa argyrogramma
is externally mostly similar to
X. junctimacula
but essentially smaller, and the maculation is finer and more shiny, silvery whitish-grey. Males can also be easily distinguished from the sympatrically occurring
X. cacumena afghanorea
by the stronger pectinated antennae and also by the silvery whitish-grey maculation. The male genitalia is most similar to
X. junctimacula
but generally more graceful, costal extension of valva narrower with a simple spine, the apico-lateral pseudo-pollex reduced. Juxta with smaller dorsal extension. Aedeagus shorter and less arcuate (Plate 7, Figs 35a, b). Female genitalia with rounder papillae anales, with a deep and narrow V-shaped incision and shorter and more symmetrical lateral arms of the antrum than in
X. junctimacula
(Plate 11, Fig. 52).
Biological notes.
The habitat of this species is a typical high mountain semi-desert with thorny cushion vegetation (verbal comm. of Ms. Eva Vartian). It is quite curious that two male
paratypes
were also captured in early September which is an unusual flying period for a
Xenophysa
species.