Psyra szetschwana Wehrli 1953, stat. nov.
Creators: name: Liu, Zulian
name: Xue, Dayong
name: Wang, Wenkai
name: Han, Hongxiang
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometridae
Psyra
Psyra szetschwana

description: Psyra szetschwana Wehrli, 1953 stat. nov.
Figs 9–11, 29–30, 43, 57, 67
Psyra cuneata szetschwana Wehrli, 1953, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde, 4 (Suppl.): 670. Syntype (s), China: Szetschwan, Tachien-lu (ZFMK).
Psyra cuneata lidjangica Wehrli, 1953, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde, 4 (Suppl.): 671. Syntype (s), China: Yunnan: Likiang (ZFMK). syn. nov.
Material examined. CHINA: Sichuan (ZFMK): 13 (syntype), Chasseurs Indigènes des Missionnaires de Ta-tsien- Loû, 1906 (Wehrli slide no. 5306). Shaanxi (BMNH): 1Ƥ, Tapaishan im Tsinling, Sued-Shensi (China), 19.VI.1935, H. Höne BMNH (E) #1008381. Yunnan (ZFMK): 13 (syntype of lidjangica), Li-kiang, (China), Provinz Nord-Yuennan, 26.VII.1935, H. Höne; (BMNH): 13 (syntype of lidjangica), Li-kiang, China, Provinz Nord-Yuennan, 1.VII.1935, H. Höne, Brit. Mus. 1964-454, BMNH (E) #1008380; (IZCAS): 132Ƥ, Lijiang, Yulong Shan, 27–28.VI.1962, coll. Song Shimei (slide no. Geom-2021); 1Ƥ, Lijiang, Yulong Shan, 2800 m, 15.VII.1984, coll. Liu Dajun; 16313Ƥ, Lijiang, Gaoshan, Zhiwuyuan, 3260 m, 15–20.VI.2009, coll. Xue Dayong, Han Hongxiang, Yang Chao & Qi Feng (slide no. Geom-2020, 2061, 2064); 738Ƥ, Lijiang, Ganheba, 3296 m, 23.VI.2009, coll. Han Hongxiang, Yang Chao & Qi Feng (slide no. Geom-2054); 73, Lijiang, Wenhai, 3097 m, 19.VI.2009, coll. Han Hongxiang & Qi Feng (slide no. Geom-2056); 1Ƥ, Lijiang, Yushuizai, 2680 m, 21.VI.2009, coll. Xue Dayong.
Diagnosis. The wing pattern of P. szetschwana is similar to that of P. cuneata, except for the elongate antemedial patch on the forewing inner margin, the indistinct terminal band on the hindwing and the less falcate forewing apex. The slender valva is similar to that of P. angulifera, but more curved; the tip of the costal basal lobe is swollen rather than tapering as in P. angulifera, and the saccus is more protruding than that of P. angulifera; the aedeagus has two bundles of spines and one pointed cornutus as in P. dsagara, P. similaria, P. angulifera. The female genitalia have a comparatively broader ductus bursae and a smaller corpus bursae.
Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan).
Remarks. The male genitalia of the only dissected syntype of P. cuneata szetschwana are totally different from those of P. cuneata (specimens from N. India, Nepal and Tibet, which are quite close to its type locality—North India), and we therefore upgrade szetschwana to specific level. Several male dissections of P. cuneata lidjangica from the type locality, Lijiang, Yunnan, show that the genitalia of lidjangica are identical with those of szetschwana. Although two examined syntypes of lidjangica only have a single clear hindwing medial band, as opposed to two in szetschwana, examination of a long series of specimens from Lijiang shows that the single medial band is not a stable character, and that many specimens have the same bands as szetschwana. We therefore treat lidjangica as a junior synonym of szetschwana.
description: Published as part of Liu, Zulian, Xue, Dayong, Wang, Wenkai & Han, Hongxiang, 2013, A review of Psyra Walker, 1860 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China, with description of one new species, pp. 459-474 in Zootaxa 3682 (3) on page 465, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3682.3.7, http://zenodo.org/record/218673