Bembecia altyntaghica Gorbunov, Krupitsky & Marusov, 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Gorbunov, Oleg G.
name: Krupitsky, Anatoly V.
name: Marusov, Anatoly A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Sesiidae
Bembecia
Bembecia altyntaghica

description: Bembecia (s. str.) altyntaghica sp. nov. Figs 1–30
Holotype. ♂ (Figs 1, 2), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3800– 4100 m, 14–16.VII.2016, / A.V. Krupitsky leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0375-0376–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ HOLOTYPUS ♂ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM).
Paratypes. (5 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀), 1 ♂ (Figs 3, 4, 29), same locality and date as holotype, A.V. Krupitsky leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0377-0378–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♂ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♂ (Figs 5, 6), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0487-0488–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♂ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♂ (Figs 7, 8), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0485-0486–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ Genitalia examined / by O. Gorbunov / Preparation Ñ / OG–004-2016”, “ PARATYPUS ♂ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♂ (Figs 9, 10), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0483-0484–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♂ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♂, “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0489-0490–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♂ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, (Figs 11, 12), same locality and date as holotype, A.V. Krupitsky leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0367-0368– 2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, (Figs 13, 14), same locality and date as holotype, A.V. Krupitsky leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0371-0372–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, (Figs 15, 16), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0473-0474–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, (Figs 17, 18), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0481-0482–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, (Figs 19, 20), “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0475-0476–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀ (Fig. 29), same locality and date as holotype, A.V. Krupitsky leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0 373-0374–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, same locality and date as holotype, A.V. Krupitsky leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0369-0370–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (CAKM); 1 ♀, “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0477-0478–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, “ China, Gansu, Altyn- Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ SESIIDAE / Pictures ÑÑ / 0478-0480–2016 / Photo by O. Gorbunov ”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 6 ♀ ♀, “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM, CAMM); 1 ♀, “ China, Gansu, Altyn-Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ Genitalia examined / by O. Gorbunov / Preparation Ñ / OG–002-2016”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM); 1 ♀, “ China, Gansu, Altyn- Tagh, / Dangjin Pass, S slope, / 39˚20΄03΄΄N, 094˚15΄33΄΄E, / 3700–4000 m, 14.VII.2016, / A.A. Marusov leg.”, “ Genitalia examined / by O. Gorbunov / Preparation Ñ / OG–003-2016”, “ PARATYPUS ♀ / Bembecia altyntaghica / O. Gorbunov et al., 2017 / O. Gorbunov des., 2016” (COGM).
Description. Male (holotype) (Figs 1, 2). Alar expanse 25.2 mm; body length 14.1 mm; forewing 11.0 mm; antenna 7.0 mm.
Head with antenna entirely black with dark blue-green sheen; frons black with greenish-violet sheen, with a few dark orange scales medially; vertex covered with pale orange hair with an admixture of a few black long thin hair; labial palpus ventrally covered with very long and thin hair, black with a few pale orange scales on apical joint; occipital fringe pale orange laterally and black dorsally.
Thorax with patagia black with greenish-bronze sheen, tegula, meso- and metathorax black with dark greenishblue sheen densely covered with pale orange hair; thorax laterally black with greenish-blue sheen; posteriorly both metepimeron and metameron black densely covered with long black hair. Legs with neck plate, fore coxa and fore femur dark brown to black with greenish-bronze sheen, densely covered with black hair; fore tibia ventrally pale yellow to pale orange with golden sheen, dorsally black with greenish sheen; fore tarsus ventrally pale yellow to pale orange with golden sheen, dorsally orange with an admixture of black scales with greenish sheen; mid coxa, mid femur and mid tibia dark brown to black with greenish-bronze sheen, densely covered with black hair; spurs pale orange with golden sheen; mid tarsus ventrally pale yellow to pale orange with golden sheen, with black thorns, dorsally orange mixed with black scales with violet sheen; hind coxa and hind femur dark brown to black with greenish-bronze sheen, densely covered with black hair; hind tibia dark brown to black with greenish-blue sheen, densely covered with black and pale orange hair; internally in distal half pale orange with golden sheen, externally with a small orange spot at base of both pairs of spurs; spurs pale orange with golden sheen; hind tarsus pale-orange to orange with golden sheen, with an admixture of black scales with greenish-blue sheen externally dorsally on basal tarsomere. Forewing with basal part black with greenish-blue sheen; costal margin dark brown to black with dark greenish sheen, with a few orange scales basally; anal margin orange with an admixture of individual dark brown scales with dark bronze sheen; CuA-stem, proximal part of discal spot and surface between veins R3 and R4 dark brown to black with dark violet sheen; distal part of discal spot orange; veins within external transparent area dark brown with dark bronze sheen, with an admixture of orange scales; apical area dark brown with bronze sheen distally and orange in proximal third; transparent areas poorly-developed, posterior transparent area undeveloped, anterior transparent area very small, densely covered with dark brown and semitransparent scales with light golden-greenish hue; external transparent area small, covered with translucent scales with light golden-greenish hue, divided into four cells between veins R4+5 and CuA1, level to vein M2 about as broad as discal spot and about 1.6 times narrower than apical area; ventrally costal margin pale yellow to pale orange; anal margin and CuA-stem pale orange to orange; anterior margin of anterior transparent area and proximal half of discal spot dark brown with dark violet sheen; distal half of discal spot and veins M1 and M2 within external transparent area orange; apical area dark brown with bronze sheen, with an admixture of orange scales both proximally and anteriorly; cilia dark brown with bronze sheen. Hindwing transparent, but covered with orange and translucent scales with light golden-greenish hue; dorsally veins M3–CuA1 and CuA2 dark brown with bronze sheen, other veins orange with an admixture of dark brown scales distally; discal spot narrow, cuneiform, reaching to base of vein M3–CuA1; outer margin dark brown with bronze sheen, about twice narrower than cilia; ventrally veins with more number of orange scales; cilia dark brown with bronze sheen, anally pale orange.
Abdomen dorsally black dark with greenish-blue sheen, densely covered with pale orange hair; tergite 4 with a small orange spot laterally; tergites 6 and 7 each with a broad orange stripe distally; ventrally dark brown to black with blue-greenish sheen; sternite 4 with a few orange scales proximally, sternites 6 and 7 each densely mixed with orange scales; anal tuft dorsally black with dark greenish-blue sheen, with a few pale orange scales medially; ventrally black with dark greenish-blue sheen.
Male genitalia (paratype) (Genital preparation Ñ OG–004-2016) (Figs 22–25). Tegumen-uncus complex relatively broad; scopula androconialis well-developed, about twice as short as tegumen-uncus complex (Fig. 22); crista gnathi medialis long and broad; crista gnati lateralis subcardiform, about twice as short and narrower than crista gnathi medialis (Fig. 22); valva (Fig. 23) trapeziform-ovoid, crista sacculi straight, broad, covered with apically pointed setae cranially and flat-topped ones caudally; caudal part of setae bent towards ventral margin; saccus (Fig. 24) broad, rounded basally, long, about twice longer than vinculum; aedeagus (Fig. 24) thin, straight, slightly shorter than valva; vesica with numerous small cornuti.
Female (paratype) (Figs 11, 12). Alar expanse 27.0 mm; body length 15.1 mm; forewing 12.2 mm; antenna 6.5 mm.
Head with antenna entirely black with dark blue-green sheen; frons black with greenish-violet sheen, with a few dark orange scales medially; vertex covered with pale orange with an admixture of a few black long thin hair; labial palpus ventrally covered with very long and thin hair, black with an admixture of pale orange to orange scales on distal half; occipital fringe pale orange laterally and black dorsally.
Thorax with patagia black with greenish-bronze sheen, tegula black with dark greenish-blue sheen with an admixture of orange scales; meso- and metathorax black with dark greenish-blue sheen covered with pale orange hair; thorax laterally black with greenish-blue sheen, with a small pale orange spot at base of forewing; posteriorly both metepimeron and metameron black densely covered with long black hair. Legs with neck plate, fore coxa and fore femur dark brown to black with greenish sheen, densely covered with black hair; fore tibia ventrally pale yellow to pale orange with golden sheen, dorsally black with greenish sheen; fore tarsus ventrally pale yellow to pale orange with golden sheen, dorsally orange with an admixture of black scales with greenish sheen; mid coxa, mid femur black with greenish sheen, densely covered with black hair; mid tibia black with greenish sheen, densely covered with black and orange to dark orange hair; spurs pale orange to orange with golden sheen; mid tarsus ventrally pale yellow to pale orange with golden sheen, with black thorns, dorsally orange mixed with black scales with greenish sheen on basal tarsomere; hind coxa and hind femur dark brown to black with greenish sheen, densely covered with black hair; hind tibia orange with an admixture of black scales with greenish sheen both basally and distally; spurs pale orange with golden sheen; hind tarsus pale-orange to orange with golden sheen. Forewing with basal part black with greenish-blue sheen; costal margin dark brown to black with dark greenish sheen, with a few orange scales basally; anal margin orange with an admixture of individual dark brown scales with dark bronze sheen; CuA-stem, proximal part of discal spot and surface between veins CuA1 and CuA2 dark brown to black with dark bronze sheen; distal part of discal spot, veins M1 and M2 within external transparent area, and proximal half of apical area orange; veins within apical area and distal half of apical area dark brown with bronze sheen; transparent areas poorly-developed, posterior transparent area undeveloped, anterior transparent area extremely small, densely covered with dark brown and a few semitransparent scales with light golden-greenish hue; external transparent area small, covered with translucent scales with light golden-greenish hue, divided into three cells between veins R4+5 and M3, level to vein M2 about as broad as discal spot and apical area; ventrally costal margin pale yellow to pale orange; anterior margin of anterior transparent area and posterior third of discal spot black with dark violet sheen; veins R2–R5, vein distally of external transparent area and distal third of apical area dark brown with bronze-violet sheen; cilia dark brown with bronze sheen. Hindwing densely covered with orange scales; cells between veins M1–M3 and CuA2 and 1A covered with orange and translucent scales with light goldengreenish hue; veins M3, CuA1 and CuA2 dark brown with bronze sheen, other veins orange; discal vein covered with more bright scales; outer margin dark brown with bronze sheen, about twice narrower than cilia; cilia dark brown with bronze sheen, anally pale orange.
Abdomen dorsally black dark with greenish-blue sheen; tergites 2, 4 and 6 each with a broad orange stripe in distal half, tergite 3 with an admixture of individual orange scales medially; ventrally dark brown to black with blue-greenish sheen with a few orange scales; sternite 4 with a broad orange stripe in distal half, sternite 6 laterally with extension of orange dorsal stripe; anal tuft black with dark greenish sheen, with a few orange scales medioventrally.
Female genitalia (paratype) (Genital preparation Ñ OG–003-2016) (Fig. 21). Papillae anales relatively broad, covered with short and long setae; 8th tergite broad with short setae at ventro-caudal margin, triangular with folded inside ventral margin; posterior apophysis slightly longer than anterior apophysis; both lamellae antevaginalis and postvaginalis undeveloped; ostium bursae tube-shaped, situated at ventro-anterior edge of 8th tergite; antrum relatively narrow, long, about twice shorted than posterior apophysis, well-sclerotized in posterior half; ductus bursae membranous, slightly broader than antrum, with numerous wrinkles medially; relatively long, about as long as antrum; corpus bursae gradually widening from base, without signum.
Individual variability. Males (Figs 1–10) virtually do not vary in colour pattern, but some specimens have more orange scales on the abdomen than in the holotype described above. Beside that, the transparent areas of the forewing are variable as well. Females (Figs 11–20) vary in the number of orange scales, especially on the abdomen and hindwing. The transparent areas of the forewing vary from those as described above to complete absence. Both males and females vary in individual size. Males: alar expanse 19.5–25.2 mm; body length 10.7– 14.1 mm; forewing 8.8–11.0 mm; antenna 5.2–7.0 mm. Females: alar expanse 17.4–39.2 mm; body length 8.9– 19.0 mm; forewing 8.1–18.0 mm; antenna 4.3–9.6 mm.
Differential diagnosis. Referring to the structure of both male and female genitalia the new species belongs to the high mountainous Central Asian B. senilis (Groum-Grshimailo, 1890) species-group of the nominotypical subgenus. It seems to be the closest to B. tancrei (Püngeler, 1905), which is known only from the type locality in Altyn Tagh Mts. The male of B. altyntaghica sp. nov. can be distinguished from B. tancrei by the colouration of frons, vertex and labial palpus (frons white, vertex white with individual black scales, labial palpus white dorsally in B. tancrei), abdomen (dorsally tergites 2, 4 and 6 each with yellow posterior margin in B. tancrei, see Figs 1–10 and fig. 194 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 438), forewing (anal margin pale yellow, discal spot narrowly orange-yellow distally, apical area covered with pale yellow and brownish scales in B. tancrei, see Figs 1–10 and fig. 194 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 438), and by the conformation of the transparent areas of the forewing (well-developed, external transparent area divided into six cells in B. tancrei). The female of B. altyntaghica sp. nov. differs from the female of B. tancrei by the colouration of the labial palpus (white in B. tancrei) and abdomen (tergites 2, 4 and 6 each with a broad yellow posterior margin in B. tancrei, see Figs 11–20 and fig. 195 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 438), and by the structure of the wings (transparent areas of the forewing well developed, hindwing transparent; transparent parts of wings yellow in B. tancrei, see Figs 11–20 and fig. 195 in Špatenka et al., 1999: 438). Beside that, the new species and B. tancrei can be separated from each other by the structure of the male and female genitalia: crista gnathi medialis narrower and shorter, crista sacculi narrower and aedeagus longer in the male genitalia of B. tancrei (see Figs 22–25 and text-fig. 129 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 491), 8th tergite quadrangular, ostium bursae tube-shaped, situated at ventro-posterior edge of 8th tergite; antrum shorter, about 3× shorted than posterior apophysis, well-sclerotized, corpus bursae ovoid in the female genitalia of B. tancrei (see Fig. 21 and text-fig. 379 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 530).
The new species differs from B. senilis by the colouration of different parts of the body (white, yellowish and yellow scales in B. senilis instead of pale orange or orange in B. altyntaghica sp. nov.), and by the poorly developed transparent area of the forewing (well-developed in B. senilis). In addition, these two species can be separated by the structure of both crista gnathi medialis (narrow and very short in B. senilis) and crista sacculi (low, oblique and slightly curved in B. senilis) in the male genitalia (see Figs 22 and 23 and text-fig. 128 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 491) and by the shape of the 8th tergite (quadrangular in B. senilis) in the female genitalia (see Fig. 21 and text-fig. 378 in Špatenka et al. 1999: 529).
From B. hedysari Wang et Yang, 1994 the new species easily differs by the poorly developed transparent areas of the forewing (well developed, posterior transparent area present, external transparent area large, divided into six cells between veins R3 and CuA 1 in B. hedysari). In addition, the male of the new species can be distinguished from the male of B. hedysari by the shape of crista gnathi medialis (low and short in B. hedysari, see Fig. 22 and figs B and C in Wang & Yang 1994: 22), by the form of the valva (broad and ovoid in B. hedysari, see Fig. 23 and fig. B in Wang & Yang 1994: 22) and by the conformation of crista sacculi (low, flat-topped setae distinctly separated from pointed ones in B. hedysari, see Fig. 23 and fig. B in Wang & Yang 1994: 22). The female of B. altyntaghica sp. nov. differs from the female of B. hedysari by structural details in female genitalia (quadrangular 8th tergite, long and completely well-sclerotized antrum and corpus bursae gradually narrowing cranially B. hedysari, see Fig. 21 and fig. D in Wang & Yang 1994: 22).
From all other Chinese congeners (see below) B. altyntaghica sp. nov. is easily separable by the orange colouration of different parts of the body and wings and by the presence of the orange scales on the hindwing. From some central Asian species of the genus, such as B. alaica (Püngeler, 1912), B. auricaudata (Bartel, 1912), B. bohatschi (Püngeler, 1905), B. irina Špatenka, Petersen et Kallies, 1997, and B. kaabaki Gorbunov 2001, the new species can be clearly distinguished by the orange colour of the scales on the wings and strips on the abdomen instead of yellow or white ones in the above mentioned central Asiatic species.
Habitat and bionomics. Adults of the new species were collected at 3900–4100 m flying low above a dry, stony, southward exposed slope (Fig. 26) close to the mountain ridge (Fig. 27). Pupal exuviae found in the roots of Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae) (Fig. 28) indicate that it is a host plant of the new species. Moreover, two specimens (Fig. 29) were collected during copulation on the same species of Astragalus.
The flight period is rather short and continues for about a week in mid July, probably depending on weather conditions. Males are active from late morning; females were captured in early afternoon flying near the host plant or resting on it (Fig. 30).
Distribution. The new species is known only from the type locality. It was collected in the central part of the Altyn Tagh Mts., a mountain range in northwestern China separating the eastern part of the Tarim Basin from the Tibetan Plateau.
Etymology. This new species is named after the mountain range Altyn Tagh, Northwest China, the locality of occurrence.
description: Published as part of Gorbunov, Oleg G., Krupitsky, Anatoly V. & Marusov, Anatoly A., 2017, A new species of Bembecia from China, with a catalogue of Chinese species of the genus (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), pp. 559-575 in Zootaxa 4273 (4) on pages 561-567, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4273.4.6, http://zenodo.org/record/803794