A review of Palaearctic Metachrostis Hübner, [1820] 1816 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Eublemminae)
Author
V, Ато
text
Zootaxa
2009
2026
1
17
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.274739
0b3aaa7c-6369-48c7-8969-7b21ee8b10cf
1175-5326
274739
Eublemma melabela
Hampson, 1910
, comb. rev.
(
Figs. 22
,
34
,
44
)
Eublemma melabela
Hampson, 1910
,
Catalogue of the
Lepidoptera Phalaenae
in the British Museum
10: 94, Pl. 151: 6 (Type-locality:
Pakistan
, Belutschistan, Quetta [
Holotype
: BMNH, London]).
FIGURES 37–45.
Eublemminae
spp., female genitalia. 37.
Metachrostis dardouini
, prep. 0 0 59 Matov, Hungary, Gant (ZISP); 38.
M. velox
, prep. 0 0 64 Matov, France (ZISP); 39.
M. velocior
, prep. 0 0 43 Matov, Malta (ZISP); 40.
M. quinaria
, prep. 0 0 42 Matov, North India (ZISP); 41.
M. sinevi
, paratype, prep. Dubatolov, in glycerine, Russia, Khabarovsk terr.; 42.
Odice arcuinna
, prep. 0 0 63 Matov, Hungary (ZISP); 43.
Eublemma amoena
, prep. 4767 GB, Spain (ZFMK); 44.
Eublemma melabela
, prep. 0 0 52 Matov (ZISP); 45.
Rhypagia lacernaria
, prep. 0 0 61 Matov, Spain (ZISP).
Material examined.
2 ex.,
Tajikistan
, Pamir Mts., Khorog, botanical garden,
2340 m
,
21.vii.1960
, 7,
vii.1962
(M. Zaprjagaev), prep. 0 0 36 Matov; 2 ex., same locality and collector,
2200 m
,
15.v.–1.vi.1976
, prep. 0 0 52 Matov; 1 ex.,
Tajikistan
, Hissar mts., Kondara,
18.v.1965
(A. Tsvetaev, ex coll. A.V. Nekrasov) [coll.
ZISP
].
Diagnosis.
This species was referred by earlier authors (
Poole 1989
;
Hacker 1990
) to the genus
Metachrostis
. Our study of the genitalia of both sexes indicates it is a representative of the genus
Eublemma
, belonging to the
Eublemma polygramma
-species group. Externally,
Eublemma melabela
differs from all Palaearctic species of
Metachrostis
by the characteristic V-shaped medial line on the forewing, and from most other
Metachrostis
species (except
M. velox
and
M. velocior
) by its larger size.
Description.
Adult (
Fig. 22
). Wingspan:
24–27 mm
. Head, body and wings rufous-ochreous. In forewing pattern ante- and postmedial lines brown, dentate; medial line rufous, thin, V-shaped; submarginal line ochreous-grey with 3 large black dots near apex; reniform and orbicular stigmata brown. Tergite 8th of male quadrangular with two long extensions. In male genitalia (
Fig. 34
) uncus slightly curved; valva relatively narrow, with parallel margins to central part, constricted from central part apically; costa well expressed in basal half of valva; dorsal margin with wide triangular extension in mid of valva; harpe wide, triangular, curved dorsally; digitus slightly curved, narrow, 2 times longer than harpe; aedeagus relatively wide, coecum long, about 1/3 length of aedeagus; vesica with large and wide dorsal diverticulum and oval plate-like cornutus in distal part. In female genitalia (
Fig. 44
) ovipositor moderate, papillae anales wide, triangular; apophyses anteriores 2 times shorter than posterior ones; antrum not expressed; ductus bursae with colliculum, about half of the length of bursa, strongly curved before joining with bursae copulatrix; corpus bursae pear-like, with twisted neck, bearing 2 irregular shape signa.
Distribution.
Iran
(Beluchistan),
Tadjikistan
(Pamir),
Afghanistan
,
Pakistan
,
India
(Himalaya).