Viridiflavoritia koxiae Huang & Horie & Zhang & Zhang & Espeland 2024, sp. n.
Creators: name: Huang, Si-Yao
name: Horie, Kiyoshi
name: Zhang, Chao
name: Zhang, Xin-Yu
name: Espeland, Marianne
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Zygaenidae
Viridiflavoritia
Viridiflavoritia koxiae

description: Viridiflavoritia koxiae Huang & Horie sp. n.
Figs 1–4, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23
Type material. Holotype (Figs 1, 9, 13): ♂, 23.VII.2020, Mt. Simian, Jiangjin District, Chongqing, leg. Zheng-bang Xu, genitalia preparation No. ZSY178 (ZFMK).
Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as holotype, but 8.VII.2015, leg. Si-yao Huang, genitalia preparation No. ZSYKH02 (CHSY). 1 ♀, same data as holotype, but 6.VII.2015, genitalia preparation No. ZSY179 (CHSY). 1 ♀, 26. VI.1982, Mt. Tianping, Longsheng County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture, leg. Ji-kun Yang (CCAU).
Diagnosis. The new species is only reminiscent of “ Soritia ” bicolor (Figs 5, 6, 11, 15, 18, 21) and it can be distinguished by i) the presence of prominent green scales on vertex, patagia and veins of forewing (Figs 1–6; in S. bicolor green scales much dimmer and only restricted on veins on forewing), ii) the narrow U-shaped sternite with large triangular inner process (sternite long trapezoid-shaped with rounded posterior protrusions in S. bicolor) (Figs 13–15), iii) the uncus-tegumen complex with the posterior section much broader and strongly sclerotized (much narrower and less sclerotized in S. bicolor), iv) the presence of membranous cucullus (absent in S. bicolor), and v) the narrower phallus (Figs 9–11) (in S. bicolor, phallus stouter and straighter) (Figs. 17–18).
Description. Forewing length 13–15.5 mm in males (Figs 1–2) and 15.8– 18 mm in females (Figs 3–4).Antennae bipectinate in both sexes. Head, patagia, thorax and tegula green, abdomen brown. Forewing ground color black, with all veins strongly suffused with metallic green scales. An oblique yellow band present in postdiscal area with similar length and width in both sexes, sometimes somewhat broader in male. Cilia black. Hindwing ground color black. A large and prominent yellow patch present in postdiscal area with its outer margin gently concave. Cilia black. Eighth abdominal segment (Figs 13–14) in male strongly sclerotized, eighth tergite with its anterior section nearly pentagonal and posterior section trifid; eighth sternite broad U-shaped, gradually broadening towards its distal end with triangular inner process on both sides. Male genitalia (Figs 9–10). Uncus-tegumen complex nearly trapezoid with a small triangular tip, varied in width. Anterior tegumenal apodemes nearly trapezoid in lateral view, connected by a posterior transverse sclerite. Vinculum slender and gradually broadened towards saccus. Saccus slightly broader than posterior transverse sclerite, abruptly narrowed at around distal one third with distal end arrowshaped. Juxta absent. Valva with the base of sacculus tightly conjoined. Sacculus strongly sclerotized, broad at base and gradually narrowed towards its tip, thorn-like; its dorsal process digitate. Cucullus membranous and semioval. Phallus slender (nearly same width of uncus-tegumen complex), W-like with its distal end spiniform, strongly sclerotized and pointed upwards. Female genitalia (Figs 17–20). Ovipositor moderately long (ca. 0.8×length of apophyses anteriores). Apophyses posteriores slightly longer than apophyses anteriores, both strongly sclerotized. Ostial plate present, band-like, strongly sclerotized and shallowly concave at middle of its posterior margin. Ostium bursae rounded. Antrum rectangular, fused with ostial plate. Ductus bursae membranous. Corpus bursae pyriform, membranous. Signa paired, weakly sclerotized and band-like, scattered with ridges and granulation.
Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Ms. Kanzaki S. Koxia who encouraged the first author to continue his PhD study overseas. The species epithet is a noun in the genitive case.
Biology. Based on our observation, adults prefer humid and relatively dim environment. They are active during daytime and can be found flying slowly or resting on the leaves under the shade of the forest along the road (Fig. 24).
description: Published as part of Huang, Si-Yao, Horie, Kiyoshi, Zhang, Chao, Zhang, Xin-Yu & Espeland, Marianne, 2024, Viridiflavoritia koxiae (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Chalcosiinae), a new genus and a new species from China, pp. 441-449 in Zootaxa 5446 (3) on pages 442-448, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.3.8, http://zenodo.org/record/11102007