Cranionycta (Cranionycta) formosana Kiss, 2023

Kiss, Ádám, 2025, Taxonomic study of the genus Cranionycta de Lattin, 1949 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Acronictinae) with description of a new subgenus and 21 new species, Zootaxa 5640 (1), pp. 1-71 : 18-20

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5640.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A887E65-2B6E-4F61-A0C8-33F019F397E0
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DDA77A-FFC5-FFD6-FF0E-382AF6E31609
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cranionycta (Cranionycta) formosana Kiss, 2023
status

Treatment

( Figs 21–24 View FIGURES 21–30 , 65, 66 View FIGURES 61–66 , 83 View FIGURES 73–83 , 94, 95 View FIGURES 90–95 , 118 View FIGURES 114–121 , 134 View FIGURES 130–139 )

Cranionycta formosana Kiss, 2023 in Ronkay, Ronkay & Landry, The Plante Noctuidae Collection. Part 2. Amphipyrinae , Psaphidinae, Cuculliinae , Oncocnemidinae , Acontiinae , Pantheinae , Dyopsinae , Raphiinae , Acronictinae , Bryophilinae , Heliothinae , Condicinae and Xyleninae. New taxa: 55, pl. 19, figs 1, 2, gen. figs 106, 107. Type-locality: Taiwan, Nantou County, Hueisun Forest, Alt. 600 m. Holotype: male, in coll. MHNG.

Material examined. Taiwan. Nantou County. Holotype, male, Hueisun Forest, Alt. 600 m, 22.vi.1993, leg. F. Aulombard & J. Plante, MHNG ENTO 60282, ex. coll. J. Plante, slide No.: KA 2620m ( MHNG) . Paratypes, 1 male, 2 females, Hueisun Forest, Alt. 600m, 22.vi.1993, leg. F. Aulombard & J. Plante, MHNG ENTO 60280, 60281, 60283, ex. coll. J. Plante ( MHNG) ; Paratypes, 7 males and 6 females, 15 km N of Puli, Hueisun Forest Area , 500 m, 12–13.iv.1997, leg. Csorba & Ronkay, slide Nos: KA043f, KA045m, KA 2492m, KA2493f ( HNHM; GR and PG) , 23.iv.1997, leg. S.T. Kovács ( S. T. Kovács, SMNS), 7–8.vi.1997, leg. B. Herczig & L. Ronkay, slide No.: KA 2491m ( GR) , 29–30.vi.1997, leg. S.T. Kovács ( S.T. Kovács, SMNS) ; Paratype, 1 female, 3 km S of Hoshe, Yu-Shan Nat. Park , 1400 m, 16.x.1996, leg. Gy. Fábián & F. Nemes ( GF) ; Paratype, 1 male and 3 females, 15 km N of Puli , 500 m, 4.III.1996, 15.iii.1996, leg. Gy. Fábián & L. Németh, slide No.: B80 ( PG) , 14–15.x.1996, leg. Gy. Fábián & F. Nemes ( GF) ; Paratype, 1 male, 16 km E of Kuohsing , 2100 m, 20.x.1995, leg. T. Csővári & L. Mikus, slide No.: Nr. 2725 ( HTh) ; Paratype, 1 female, 16 km E of Kuohsing, Ursun Forest , 560 m, 24°05'N, 121°00'E, 20–21.viii.1996, leg. T. Csővári & L. Mikus ( TC) GoogleMaps ; Paratype, 1 male, 17 km E of Kuohsing, Ursun Forest Camping 24°05'N, 121°00'E, 560 m, 6–7.vi.1997, leg. Cs. Szabóky ( HNHM) GoogleMaps . Taichung County . Paratypes, 4 males and 2 females, An-ma-Shan, Hooping , 2000 m, 1–2.vii.1997, leg. S.T. Kovács, slide Nos: KA 167m, KA168f, KA 169m, KA 170m, KA 171m ( HNHM and S. T. Kovács, SMNS) . Taipei County . Paratype, 1 male, Wulai , 600 m, 13–15.vi.1993, leg. F. Aulombard & J. Plante, MHNG ENTO 60279, ex. coll. J. Plante, slide No.: KA 2619m ( MHNG) . Taoyuan County. Paratypes, 2 males and 1 female, Meishan , Kaohsiung City, 1300 m, 28.viii.2017, 20.ix.2017, leg. Ch. -M. Fu & W.H. Cheng ( CMF) .

Diagnosis. Cranionycta (Cranionycta) formosana ( Figs 21–24 View FIGURES 21–30 ) can be distinguished from the species of the oda species-group ( Figs 1–20 View FIGURES 1–10 View FIGURES 11–20 ) by the more irregularly shaped basal streak; the reversed (widest at the postmedial line) subtriangular tornal streak; the more contrasting, conspicuously whitish-filled antemedial line; the more reduced orbicular stigma with a minute, indistinct, blackish line inwardly, or only a whitish spot, or occasionally completely absent; the more reduced reniform stigma with tiny, variable number of blackish dots on veins at the outer edge. Wingspan 28–36 mm.

In the male genitalia of C. (C.) formosana ( Figs 65, 66 View FIGURES 61–66 ), the shape of the clasping apparatus is similar to those of the species in the oda (subgenus Cranionycta ) ( Figs 55–59, 60–64 View FIGURES 55–60 View FIGURES 61–66 ) and atrazonaria (subgenus Nefrendinycta ) ( Figs 74–76 View FIGURES 73–83 ) species-groups. However, the entire apparatus is smaller in size compared to those of the oda species-group; the valvae are uniformly narrow, medially rather parallel, somewhat straighter; the sacculus is gently curved or somewhat angled; the medial sclerite is slightly concave, and slightly sclerotized in the basal half; the mid-lateral surface of the vesica is armed by several, more or less equal sized, tiny, sclerotized, partly scattered or lined up tooth-like cornuti ( Fig. 83 View FIGURES 73–83 ).

The female genitalia ( Figs 94, 95 View FIGURES 90–95 ), compared to those of the species of the oda -group ( Figs 84–93 View FIGURES 84–89 View FIGURES 90–95 ), have the widest at base, distally slightly lobe-like anterior apophysis; a longer, more proximally positioned corpus bursae relative to the appendix bursae; the shortest appendix bursae.

In the male 8 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 118 View FIGURES 114–121 ), compared to those of the species of the oda -group ( Figs 114– 117 View FIGURES 114–121 ), Cranionycta (Cranionycta) formosana has somewhat more trapezoidal shaped sternite with the narrowest and laterally extended window, and weaker sclerotized stripe in the window; the more irregularly shaped distal end of the lateral sides, and an elongate, spade-shaped window.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 134 View FIGURES 130–139 ), the sternite has a slightly more convex lateral side with a more or less pointed distal corner; and a shallower, fainter semi-circular distal band compared to the species of the oda - group ( Figs 128–133 View FIGURES 122–129 View FIGURES 130–139 ).

Distribution. This species is endemic to Taiwan.

Subgenus Nefrendinycta subgen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FA4C9993-CEC1-4499-A325-9664147CF312

( Figs 25–54 View FIGURES 21–30 View FIGURES 31–40 View FIGURES 41–50 View FIGURES 51–54 , 67–77 View FIGURES 67–72 View FIGURES 73–83 , 96–113 View FIGURES 96–106 View FIGURES 107–113 , 119–127 View FIGURES 114–121 View FIGURES 122–129 , 135–146 View FIGURES 130–139 View FIGURES 140–146 )

Type-species: Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) versicolor sp. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis. This new subgenus includes six species groups with a total of 21 species in which the external appearance of the species is diverse. Interestingly, the species have generally slightly more asymmetrical wing patterns elements than the species of the nominotypical subgenus, especially in the shape of the medial fascia and postmedial line. The main distinctive characters of the subgenus are found in the genitalia: in males, the tooth-like cornuti field is absent from the mid-lateral surface of the vesica; and in females, the terminal twist of the appendix bursae is relatively short and simpler.

In the male 8 th abdominal segments, compared to the nominotypical subgenus, the sternite is generally trapezoidal or quadrangular with more or less parallel lateral sides, and a quadrangular or more or less oval window. The tergite has a narrow or wide proximal base widest in the middle or at the distal edge; a relatively wider, spur-like distal end of lateral sides; and a more or less spade-shaped window.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments, the sternite has a generally more quadrangular shape and more or less as long as wide or slightly longer than wider compared to the nominotypical subgenus.

Distribution. Sino-Himalayan. From Himalaya to the Indochinese Peninsula.

Etymology. The name of the new subgenus refers to the lack of the tooth-like cornuti field on the mid-lateral surface of the vesica; “ nefrens ” meaning toothless.

The lobophorus species-group

The lobophorus species-group comprises four externally rather well-distinguishable species. The ground colour of the forewing varies from light greyish to brownish, and from a more or less uniform to variegated. The orbicular stigma is absent or represented by a tiny, blackish spot. The reniform stigma is reduced, C-shaped composed by tiny black dots or absent. The postmedial line is strongly crenulate. Wingspan 28–33 mm.

In the male genitalia, the valvae are slightly curved both ventrodorsally, apically slightly widening, widest and gently curved at the apical quarter with finely rounded top; the medial sclerite is slightly sclerotized, slightly wavy or rather straight with a somasewhat more sclerotized, tiny, basal protrusion.

The female genitalia can be distinguished from the other species groups by the widest at base, distally strongly lobe-like anterior apophysis; the relatively simpler, shorter sclerotized, ribbed part of the appendix bursae with a wider junction with the corpus bursae; the rather uniformly wide, more or less straight or slightly curved terminal twist of the appendix bursae.

The male 8 th sternite is proximally narrower, distally wider; the lateral sides distally widening; the distal edge wide, uniformly slightly sclerotized; the window is more or less quadrangular with rounded proximal margin and angled distal margin, and with a constricted sclerotized stripe. The 8 th tergite is proximally narrow; the proximal half is somewhat more sclerotized than the distal half; the lateral sides are narrowing with rather indistinct, spur-like distal end; the window is more or less spade-shaped with an indistinct distal margin.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments there are no mentionable differences.

Distribution. Himalayan.