Stenoloba asymmetrica Han & Kononenko 2018, sp. n.
Creators: name: Han, H. L.
name: Kononenko, V. S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Stenoloba
Stenoloba asymmetrica

description: Stenoloba asymmetrica sp. n.
(Figs 11, 39)
Type material. Holotype: male, China, Prov. Yunnan, Longba, 26.vi.2013, H.L. Han & C. Zhao leg., slide HHL- 6184-1, coll. NEFU.
Diagnosis. The new species externally resembling S. albipicta Kononenko & Ronkay, having together with that species a unique appearance within the genus by the conspicuous white markings in the basal area and along the costal margin. However S. asymmetrica differs from S. albipicta by somewhat more rounded forewing shape, details of wing pattern: white elements of the wing pattern more developed compared with S. albipicta, orbicular encircled by black (as black dot in S. albipicta); reniform fully encircled by black (c-like, open to subterminal field in S. albipicta). In the male genitalia S. asymmetrica differs from all other Stenoloba species by asymmetric stricture of male genitalia, in which the right valva is significantly larger than left one, bearing large, comb-like extension in subapical part. The new species comprised own species-group.
Description. Adult (Fig. 11). Wingspan 29 mm. Head and thorax dark plumbeous grey, frons and collar marked with whitish. Forewing rather elongate, with evenly arcuate costa and slightly rounded apex. Ground colour of forewing dark, plumbeous-grey with light brownish shade; basal area, upper part of medial field and apical patch bright milky-white; crosslines blackish, sinuous; basal line marked by black in basal field; antemedial lines rather sharply defined, double with clear triangular plumbeous-grey mark in costal area; postmedial line traceable below cell, medial line blackish, fine, simple; orbicular encircled by black on white background; reniform fully encircled by black on grey background; subterminal line indistinct, whitish grey, defined by diffuse, pale arrowheads; terminal line a row of darker grey spots; cilia greyish with white. Hindwing whitish suffused with some greyish scales; veins and marginal area somewhat darker, discal spot traceable; cilia white.
Male genitalia (Fig. 39). The male genitalia differ from all other Stenoloba species by their asymmetry. Uncus reduced, short, thin, weak; tegumen and vinculum narrow, about equal in length; juxta leave-like, extended distally, wide basally. Valves asymmetrical; left valva elongate, broad basally, with parallel ventral and dorsal margins for half-length of valva, then constricted distally, slightly arched in middle, between sacculus and apex, ended by folk, formed by tip of valva and thin finger-like costal extension. Right valva substantially broader than left one, slightly curved, with large triangular comb-like extension in distal part; apex of valva folk-like, formed by tip of valva and thin finger-like costal extension. Aedeagus large, straight, extended apically, carina sclerotised, having large basal hook-like extension; vesica tubular, extended, bearing small plate-like sclerotised cornutus in mid part. Female unknown.
Etymology. The species is named by its characteristic specific feature – strong asymmetry in left and right valves in the male genitalia.
Distribution. Southwest China (Prov. Yunnan). The species is known only from its type-locality in Prov. Yunnan, Longba, where it occurs in mountains at elevation 1200–1500 m. Moths collected in June.
description: Published as part of Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2018, Twelve new species and four new records of Stenoloba Staudinger 1892 from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Bryophilinae), pp. 301-327 in Zootaxa 4388 (3) on pages 307-308, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4388.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1188557