Contribution to the knowledge on the Palaearctic and Oriental taxa of the Meganola s. l. (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Nolidae, Nolinae) generic complex with descriptions of 4 new genera and 11 new species
Author
László, Gyula M.
Author
Ronkay, Gábor
Author
Ronkay, László
text
Zootaxa
2015
4052
2
251
296
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4052.3.1
6293cc47-d833-487e-a6ab-c9853b48b1a4
1175-5326
240598
775796D2-BEDF-459B-B937-FAC0EC457B92
Wittonola
gen. n.
(Plate
4
,
Figs
3–6
; gen. figs
25, 26
)
Type-species:
Wittonola latifasciata
sp. n.
Diagnosis
. The external appearance of the type-species of the new genus is rather unique, resembling somewhat
Ctenane labuana
(Swinhoe,
1904
)
(Plate
4
,
Figs
7, 8
; gen. figs
27, 28
) due to the presence of the similar, oblique dark forewing medial stripe and the postmedial line which is replaced by a wavy row of blackish dots. This similarity is only superficial, the genitalia of both sexes show the closer relationship of
Wittonola
not with
Ctenane
but with the
Meganola
lineage, according to the robust, long, evenly tapering, apically pointed uncus, the simple, relatively narrow, slightly arcuate valva with parallel margins and the harpe arising rather medially on the basal part of valva, however the very short, button-like harpe is unknown in
Meganola
. The generic level separation of
Wittonola
from
Ctenane
is supported also by the hindwing venation as in
Wittonola
the vein M
3
+CuA
1
is entirely fused while in
Ctenane
they are variably long stalked.
The configuration of the female genitalia displays further distinctive characters between
Wittonola
and
Meganola
.
Wittonola
has narrow, elongate papillae anales (this phenomenon is also known in certain speciesgroups of
Nola
) with extraordinarily long apophyses; these characters are unknown in
Meganola
. The single, thorn-like signum of
Wittonola
resembles rather to a signum of the
Manoba
species than to any other
Meganola
taxa.
The genus
Wittonola
shares certain genitalia characters with
Meganola
and
Manoba
(Plate
5
, figs
1–2
and gen. figs
29–30
) but, due to the above combination of the external and genital characters, it cannot be unified with any of them. Thus, this lineage is considered here as a distinct genus.
Description
. The only known species of the genus is rather small in size with the wingspan
11–15 mm
, length of forewing
5–7 mm
. Head and eyes relatively small; antennae bipectinate in male, filiform in female; frons, vertex, tegulae and thorax covered with pale brown scales, collar dark brown. Forewing elongate, apically rounded; ground colour pale brown with reddish sheen; costal margin dark brown from the base to the middle; median area with conspicuous, thick, oblique dark brown stripe; postmedial and terminal areas dark brown; all but one crosslines deleted, postmedial line present but replaced by a row of small dark brown dots. Hindwing pale brown, without discal spot and transverse lines.
Male genitalia. Uncus rather long, robust, evenly tapering, apically pointed, tegumen short, relatively broad, valva simple, relatively narrow, slightly arcuate, margins parallel, costal sclerotization rather narrow and weak. Harpe very short, button-like, arising in the middle of basal part of valva, vinculum well developed, pointed, Vshaped. Aedeagus simple, tubular, relatively short and thin, without apical carinal process; vesica with small, finger-shaped, finely scobinated section.
Female genitalia. Ovipositor relatively long, very narrow, apically expanded, papillae anales very long, thin, eighth tergite rather short, ostium bursae relatively broad, cup-shaped, ductus bursae medium-long, distal half strongly sclerotized, proximal half membraneous, corpus bursae elongate, distal half gradually broadening, proximal one ovoidal; signum bursae single, relatively large, acute, thorn-like.