Marcinistra leichina Benedek & Volynkin & Saldaitis & Tóth 2022, sp. n.
Creators: name: Benedek, Balázs
name: Volynkin, Anton V.
name: Saldaitis, Aidas
name: Tóth, Balázs
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Marcinistra
Marcinistra leichina

description: Marcinistra leichina sp. n.
(Figs 3, 4, 22, 31)
Type material. Holotype: male (Figs 3, 22), “ China NW-Yunnan | 20 km N Deqin mt. 3100 | N 28.28.850’E 98.51.400’ | 18 ottobre [October] 2011 | A. Floriani leg.”, gen. prep. No.: JB2529 (coll. AFM).
Paratypes: 2 males, 3 females, same data as the holotype, gen. prep. No.: JB2530 (female) (coll. AFM & BBT).
Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11–12 mm in males and 12–14 mm in females. The new species (Figs 3, 4) is externally similar to M. metallica (Figs 1, 2) but is distinguished by the smaller size, the more intense metallic green suffusion on the forewing, and the paler brown dash outward from the reniform stigma. Compared to M. metallica (Fig. 21), the male genital capsule of M. leichina sp. n. (Fig. 22) has a somewhat narrower juxta with a deeper medial depression and a larger swollen ventral process. The valva of the new species is basally broader than in M. metallica, more down curved distally, and has a broader apex and an extremely short ventral subapical protrusion. The harpe of the new species has a broader base than in the congener and is only slightly apically dilated whereas in M. metallica, it is arrowhead-like dilated subapically and bears a short triangular dorsal protrusion. The sacculus of M. leichina sp. n. has a slightly larger distal process and a prominent, lobe-like clavus whereas the clavus of M. metallica is very short but broad and only slightly protrudes from the sacculus surface. The phallus of the new species is somewhat shorter than in the congener (in proportion to the length of the tegumen-uncus complex), slightly more down curved, bears a somewhat larger lateral thorn-like carinal process and lacks a dorsal dentate carinal plate. The vesicae of the two species are similar but that of M. leichina sp. n. is somewhat basally broader than in the congener and has a smaller distal diverticulum. In the female genitalia of the new species (Fig. 31), the apophyses are apically narrower than in M. metallica (Fig. 30), and the apophysis posterioris is somewhat longer (in proportion to the length of the apophysis anterioris). The antrum of the new species is narrower than in M. metallica, has markedly longer and broader ventral postero-lateral subostial lobes and a rugose ventral surface between them (whereas it is smooth in the congener). The ductus bursae of M. leichina sp. n. is somewhat longer than in M. metallica and has a broader and anteriorly straight lateral sclerotised plate whereas it is anteriorly curved and reaching the base of the appendix bursae in M. metallica. The corpus bursae of M. leichina sp. n. is conspicuously shorter and broader than in M. metallica and bears only one small signum whereas that of the congener bears four larger signa. Additionally, the appendix bursae of the new species is somewhat narrower than in M. metallica and has a more constricted basal section.
Distribution. The new species is known only from its type locality in north-western Yunnan Province of China.
Etymology. ‘Leichina’ is a Latin transliteration of the Greek word ‘λειχήνα’ meaning ‘lichen’. The specific epithet refers to the diffuse shiny green spots and suffusion on the forewing reminiscent of certain groups of lichens. The gender is feminine.
description: Published as part of Benedek, Balázs, Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas & Tóth, Balázs, 2022, On the taxonomy of the Conistra generic complex with descriptions of three new genera and a new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), pp. 442-458 in Zootaxa 5141 (5) on page 447, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5141.5.2, http://zenodo.org/record/6593180