Cranionycta (Cranionycta) aurata Kiss & Matov, 2025

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 : 10-12

Cranionycta (Cranionycta) aurata Kiss & Matov sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CDADF357-436E-4868-A224-153AFF6106F3

( Figs 2–5 , 55, 56 , 78 , 85, 86 , 114 , 129 )

Holotype. Male, China, Prov. Sichuan, near Jiuzhaigou , 2100 m, 33°18.955'N, 103°55.531'E, 24.vii.2011, leg. Floriani & Saldaitis, slide No.: GYP2886 ( PG).

Paratypes. China. 1 female, [unknown location], slide No.: Matov 0372 ( ZISP) . Prov. Shaanxi. 3 females, Qinling Mts , 1500 m, vi.2000, leg. Collector, slide Nos: KA1882f, KA1883f, KA1885f ( HS) ; 1 female, Qinling Mts, Foping , ca. 1400 m, 33°35'N, 108°01'E, viii.2006, leg. Team of V. Siniaev, slide No.: OP2715f ( OP) ; 1 male, Qinling Mts, N. Ningshan town , 1500 m, vi.2000, leg. Collector, slide No.: KA 1884m ( HS) ; 1 male, 1 female, Qinling Mts, Taibai-shan , 1500–1800 m, 33°53'N, 107°49'E, June, leg. Siniaev & Plutenko, slide Nos: Matov 0371, Matov 0373 ( ZISP) ; 2 males, 2 females, Qinling Mts, South Taibai-shan, Houzhenzi , 1600 m, 33°53'N, 107°49'E, 15.vi.–15.x.1999, leg. local collector ( GR) , vi.1999, leg. local collector, ex coll. Museum Witt ( GR) , 1900 m, 33°53'N, 107°49'E, vi–x.1999, leg. local collector ( GR) .

Diagnosis. Cranionycta (Cranionycta) aurata ( Figs 2–5 ) is externally quite similar to C. (C.) moganshanica ( Fig. 1 ) and to a lesser degree C. (C.) inquieta ( Figs 6–10 ) and C. (C.) muscosa ( Figs 11–13 ), but it can be easily recognised by the lighter, more mottled forewing with a somewhat more contrasting pattern and gold patches; the more conspicuous, vivid white outer part of the medial field; the more prominent, whitish subterminal line; the orbicular stigma formed by a whitish or gold spot and an inwardly indistinct, blackish curved line or spot; the outwardly more contrasting, thickly outlined reniform stigma with a conspicuous outward whitish-gold patch; and from C. (C.) inquieta specifically by the narrower basal streak.

The male clasping apparatus of C. (C.) aurata ( Figs 55, 56 ) has a variously sclerotized medial sclerite; a slightly narrower, apically more elongate valvae than those of C. (C.) muscosa ( Fig. 59 ) with slightly more rounded apices; a slightly wider and shorter valvae than those of C. (C.) inquieta ( Figs 57, 58 ) and C. (C.) oda ( Figs 60–64 ) with slightly more abruptly curved ventral margin towards the apex. The sacculus of C. (C.) aurata is narrower than in C. (C.) inquieta and C. (C.) muscosa , and distally widened compared to C. (C.) oda . Cranionycta (Cranionycta) aurata ( Fig. 78 ) has 8–9 sclerotized, tooth-like cornuti gradually decreasing in size distally, surrounded by some tiny, sclerotized spinulose structures on the mid-lateral surface of the vesica.

The female genitalia of C. (C.) aurata ( Figs 85, 86 ) can be distinguished from the species of the oda group ( Figs 84, 87–93 ) by the shorter, wider and somewhat straighter terminal twist of the appendix bursae.

In the male abdomen of C. (C.) aurata ( Fig. 114 ), the male 8 th sternite bears a slightly more sclerotized, semi-circular distal band than in C. (C.) muscosa ( Fig. 115 ) and a slightly more rounded window with a narrower sclerotized stripe proximally. The slightly more regular and triangular 8 th tergite has a more irregularly rhomboidal window with handle-like distal extension.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments of C. (C.) aurata ( Fig. 129 ), the sternite has straight or slightly convex lateral sides distally with a gently curved end and a slightly more sclerotized, semi-circular, distal band compared to C. (C.) moganshanica ( Fig. 128 ), C. (C.) inquieta ( Fig. 130 ) and C. (C.) muscosa ( Fig. 131 ).

Description. Imago ( Figs 2–5 ). Wingspan 28–34 mm. Head. Relatively large; 2 nd segment of palpus longer than the 3 rd in both sexes; antennae of both sexes filiform. Thorax. Moderately wide, greyish-white suffused with blackish and gold scales, and with large oval, black anterior spot; patagia concolorous with thorax, outlined in black; tegulae whitish with blackish scales and thin blackish outline. Abdomen. Greyish-brown with some blackish middorsal scale tufts. Wing. Forewing relatively narrow, apically elongate, obtuse, whitish-grey mottled with gold patches; basal spot blackish, tiny, more or less semi-circular; basal streak blackish, short, wedge-shaped; tornal streak blackish, long, between medial and postmedial lines fade, thin, between postmedial and terminal lines slightly wider; apical dash blackish, narrow, long, line-like, more or less indistinct; basal line blackish, double, filled with whitish and gold; antemedial line blackish, double, wavy, often indistinct, whitish-grey-filled with whitish patches; medial line blackish, thin, zigzag; medial fascia wide, blackish; postmedial line double, inner line greyish, indistinct, outer line blackish, more prominent, with narrow, blackish spots between veins R3 and M2, filled with whitish; subterminal line whitish, wavy; terminal line whitish, interrupted by black on veins; basal field generally whitish with some gold scales, occasionally fused with suprabasal patch, antemedial field and interior of basal line; subbasal patch whitish-grey; suprabasal patch whitish-grey with gold, line-like or spot; antemedial field whitish-grey with blackish patch in costal area; medial field inwardly whitish-grey with paler or whitish patch at inner margin, outwardly conspicuously whitish; subterminal field greyish-ochre with large, blackish-grey, squarish patches in costal area, obscure between veins M1 and M2 and around tornal streak; terminal field blackish, indistinct, interrupted, with or without conspicuous, small, irregularly shaped blackish spot apically; orbicular stigma marked with whitish or gold spot with inwardly indistinct, blackish line or spot; reniform stigma large, outlined with indistinct, interrupted, blackish line, outwardly thicker than inwardly, inwardly blackish, outwardly whitish and/or filled with gold scales; tornal patch blackish, small; fringe whitish with greyish patches. Hindwing rounded, apically slightly pointed, fully greyish-brown; marginal band slightly dark greyish-brown; postdiscal line indistinct, slightly dark greyish-brown; discal spot tiny, faint, slightly dark greyish-brown; tornal patch faint, greyish-brown or absent; fringe whitish with greyish patches.

Male genitalia ( Figs 55, 56 ). Uncus moderately short, sclerotized, medially somewhat widened, hairy; apex hooked. Scaphium moderately sclerotized, pliers-like; subscaphium weakly sclerotized. Tegumen long with lobe-like peniculus covered with dense long hairs. Saccus sclerotized, V-shaped. Juxta simple, moderately sclerotized, widest at base, shield-shaped. Manica double, moderately sclerotized lobe-like extension with spinulose structure supporting numerous small spinules. Transtilla short, rod-like, uniformly wide, sclerotized. Valvae elongate, narrow, narrowest in middle, moderately sclerotized; sacculus narrow, sclerotized; clavus slightly curved; valval androconial apparatus absent; medial sclerite long, straight, variously sclerotized; apex rounded with wide, dense corona. Phallus simple, tubular, moderately sclerotized; carina slightly more sclerotized, wide, short, wedge-shaped formation. Vesica as long as phallus, moderately wide, essentially tubular with three basal diverticula one of them bearing spinulose patch, distal diverticulum larger, elongate; with 8–9 sclerotized, tooth-like cornuti gradually decreasing in size distally and surrounded by some tiny, sclerotized spinulose structures on mid-lateral surface.

Female genitalia ( Figs 85, 86 ). Ovipositor rounded, slightly longer than wide, tapering posteriorly. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, oval, densely hairy. Anterior and posterior apophysis weakly sclerotized, rod-like; anterior apophysis with slightly lobe-like distal end shorter than posterior apophysis. Ostium longitudinally ribbed, moderately sclerotized. Antrum short, moderately sclerotized, more or less funnel-shaped. Ductus bursae short, moderately sclerotized, ribbed. Corpus bursae large, bulbous, weakly sclerotized with two opposing distal signa. Appendix bursae long, coiled, moderately sclerotized, ribbed except in distal third, terminal twist more or less straight and wide; junction with corpus bursae long and narrow.

Male 7 th and 8 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 114 ). 7 th sternite roughly trapezoidal, slightly wider than long, evenly sclerotized with narrow, slightly more sclerotized semi-circular distal band; proximal edges slightly wavy, laterally extended; lateral edges barely convex with contrasting margin; distal edge slightly concave. 7 th tergite quadrangular, wider than long; proximal half slightly sclerotized, distal half slightly more sclerotized, irregular semi-circular band with indistinct proximal margin, and in middle with narrow, indistinct window; proximal edge straight with two moderately long, curved, slightly more sclerotized rods; lateral edges convex, wavy with less contrasting margin; distal edge slightly concave. 8 th sternite sclerotized, more or less quadrangular with rounded corner, slightly longer than wide; window relatively large, oval with proximally more sclerotized, more or less semi-circular stripe; proximal edge arched; lateral edges slightly wavy, uniformly narrow distally strongly widened and fused; distal edge concave. 8 th tergite sclerotized, bell-shaped, 1.5× as long as wide, with various spade-shaped window; proximal edge short, somewhat rounded, with membranous lateral extensions; lateral edge convex, proximal half more homogenously sclerotized and fused, distal half bulbously widened; distal edge slightly concave. Anterolateral sclerites of 8 th segment relatively long, curved sclerotized rods with some membranous extension close to junction with 8 th sternite.

Female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 129 ). 7 th sternite quadrangular, slightly longer than wide, weakly sclerotized with slightly more sclerotized, relatively wide semi-circular distal band; proximal edge straight; lateral sides straight or slightly convex, somewhat wavy with gently curved end and somewhat contrasting margin; distal edge concave. 7 th tergite roughly trapezoidal, slightly longer than wide, with slightly sclerotized semi-circular distal band, and in middle with narrow, indistinct, wedge-shaped window; proximal edge more or less straight with two curved, somewhat sclerotized rods; lateral sides slightly wavy with slightly contrasting margin; distal edge straight.

Distribution. Central China (Prov. Sichuan, Prov. Shaanxi) on mid-elevation (1400–2100 m).

Etymology. The name “ aurata ” refers to the gold patches on the forewing.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Adults of Cranionycta spp. 1. C. (C.) moganshanica sp. nov., HT, female, China, Prov. Chekiang, Mogan Shan, slide No.: KA680f (coll. ZFMK); 2. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., HT, male, China, Prov. Sichuan, near Jiuzhaigou, slide No.: GYP2886 (coll. PG); 3. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, male, China, Qinling Mts, N. Ningshan town, slide No.: KA1884m (coll. HS); 4. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, female, China, Qinling Mts, slide No.: KA1883f (coll. HS); 5. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, female, China, Qinling Mts, slide No.: KA1885f (coll. HS); 6. C. (C.) inquieta, LT, female, China, Prov. Chekiang, West Tienmu-shan, slide No.: Heinicke1315/78 (photo and coll. ZFMK); 7. C. (C.) inquieta, PLT, male, China, Prov. Chekiang, West Tien-mu-shan (photo and coll. ZFMK); 8. C. (C.) inquieta, male, China, Prov. Jilin, Changbaishan, slide No.: HHL6187 (photo and coll. NEFU); 9. C. (C.) inquieta, female, China, Prov. Hubei, Dabie Shan, 20 km N of Fengshan, slide No.: KA2527f (coll. PG); 10. C. (C.) inquieta, female, China, Beijing, Xiaolongmen, slide No.: HHL6190 (photo and coll. NEFU).

FIGURES 55–60. Male genitalia of Cranionycta spp. 55. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., HT, China, Prov. Sichuan, near Jiuzhaigou, slide No.: GYP2886 (coll. PG); 56. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, China, Qinling Mts, N. Ningshan town, slide No.: KA1884m (coll. HS); 57. C. (C.) inquieta, PLT, China, Prov. Chekiang, West Tien-mu-shan (modified after Draudt 1950: pl. 10, fig. 4); 58. C. (C.) inquieta, China, Prov. Jilin, Changbaishan, slide No.: HHL6187 (photo and coll. NEFU); 59. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., HT, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA756m (photo and coll. ZISP); 60. C. (C.) oda oda, HT, Russia, Primorsky Krai, Suchansky Rudnik [Partizansk] (modified after de Lattin 1949: 111, fig. 3).

FIGURES 73–83. Male genitalia and magnified part of the vesica of Cranionycta spp. 73. C. (N.) fuscothoracica sp. nov., PT, Vietnam, Plato Tay, Nguyen, Mt. Ngok Linh, slide No.: KA2073m (photo L. Ronkay; coll. MfN); 74. C. (N.) boursini sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Thodung, slide No.: N956 (photo and coll. ZSM); 75. C. (N.) jubingica sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Jubing, slide No.: KA1222m (coll. ZSM); 76. C. (N.) albothoracica sp. nov., PT, Vietnam, Plato Tay, Nguyen, Mt. Ngok Linh, slide No.: KA2072m (photo L. Ronkay; coll. MfN); 77. C. (N.) falcata sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Syangja district, 14 km E of Syangja, slide No.: KA2429m (photo and coll. GR); 78. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., HT, China, Prov. Sichuan, near Jiuzhaigou, slide No.: GYP2886 (coll. PG); 79. C. (C.) inquieta, China, Prov. Jilin, Changbaishan, slide No.: HHL6187 (photo and coll. NEFU); 80. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., HT, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA756m (photo and coll. ZISP); 81. C. (C.) oda oda, Russia, Russian Far East, Barabash, slide No.: KA862m (coll. ZMUC); 82. C. (C.) oda transversa, Korea, slide No.: KA1107m (coll. MfN); 83. C. (C.) formosana, PT, Taiwan, Nantou County, Hueisun Forest Area, slide No.: KA2492m (photo and coll. GR).

FIGURES 84–89. Female genitalia of Cranionycta spp. 84. C. (C.) moganshanica sp. nov., HT, China, Prov. Chekiang, Mogan Shan, slide No.: KA680f (coll. ZFMK); 85. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, China, Qinling Mts, slide No.: KA1883f (coll. HS); 86. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, China, Prov. Shaanxi, Qinling Mts, Fopin, slide No.: OP2715f (coll. OP); 87. C. (C.) inquieta, LT, China, Prov. Chekiang, West Tien-mu-shan, slide No.: Heinicke1315 (photo and coll. ZFMK); 88. C. (C.) inquieta, China, Prov. Hubei, Dabie Shan, 20 km N of Fengshan, slide No.: KA2527f (coll. PG); 89. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., PT, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA755f (photo and coll. ZISP).

FIGURES 114–121. Male 7th and 8th abdominal segments of Cranionycta spp. 114. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, China, Qinling Mts, N. Ningshan town, slide No.: KA1884m (coll. HS); 115. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., HT, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA756m (photo and coll. ZISP); 116. C. (C.) oda oda, Russia, Russian Far East, Barabash, slide No.: KA862m (coll. ZMUC); 117. C. (C.) oda transversa, Korea, slide No.: KA1107m (coll. MfN); 118. C. (C.) formosana, HT, Taiwan, Nantou County, Hueisun Forest, MHNG ENTO 60282, slide No.: KA2620m (coll. MHNG); 119. C. (N.) versicolor sp. nov., PT, Nepal, Annapurna Himal, valley of Kali Gandaki, near Tatopani, slide No.: KA2427m (photo and coll. GR); 120. C. (N.) delattini sp. nov., PT, Nepal, Kathmandu valley, Godavari, slide No.: KA1223m (coll. ZSM); 121. C. (N.) warreni sp. nov., PT, Nepal, Kathmandu valley, Godavari, slide No.: KA969m (coll. ZSM). Left side sternite, right side tergite.

FIGURES 122–129. Male 7th and 8th and female 7th abdominal segments of Cranionycta spp. 122. C. (N.) senjelungma sp. nov., PT, Nepal, Kangchenjunga, Deorali Danda, Anpan, slide No.: KA963m (coll. PG); 123. C. (N.) gorkhalii sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Buri Gandaki, Machha Khola, slide No.: KA864m (coll. ZMUC); 124. C. (N.) fuscothoracica sp. nov., PT, Vietnam, Plato Tay, Nguyen, Mt. Ngok Linh, slide No.: KA2073m (photo L. Ronkay; coll. MfN); 125. C. (N.) jubingica sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Jubing, slide No.: KA1222m (coll. ZSM); 126. C. (N.) albothoracica sp. nov., PT, Vietnam, Plato Tay, Nguyen, Mt. Ngok Linh, slide No.: KA2072m (photo L. Ronkay; coll. MfN); 127. C. (N.) falcata sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Syangja district, 14 km E of Syangja, slide No.: KA2429m (photo and coll. GR); 128. C. (C.) moganshanica sp. nov., HT, China, Prov. Chekiang, Mogan Shan, slide No.: KA680f (coll. ZFMK); 129. C. (C.) aurata sp. nov., PT, China, Prov. Shaanxi, Qinling Mts, slide No.: KA1882f (coll. HS). Left side sternite, right side tergite in male abdomens. Left side tergite, right side sternite in females.

FIGURES 11–20.Adults of Cranionycta spp.11. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., HT, male, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA756m (photo and coll. ZISP); 12. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., PT, female, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA755f (photo and coll. ZISP); 13. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., PT, male, China, Beijing, Xiaolongmen, [abdomen missing] (photo and coll. NEFU); 14. C. (C.) oda oda, HT, male, Russia, Primorsky Krai, Suchansky Rudnik [Partizansk], (photo and coll. ZfBS); 15. C. (C.) oda oda, AT, female, Russia, Primorsky Krai, Suchansky Rudnik [Partizansk], (photo and coll. ZfBS); 16. C. (C.) oda oda, male, China, Prov. Liaoning, Fushun city, Douling, slide No.: HHL6193 (photo and coll. NEFU); 17. C. (C.) oda transversa, LT of Craniophora transversa, male, Korea, slide No.: Matov0629 (photo and coll. ZISP); 18. C. (C.) oda transversa, female, South Korea, Prov. Kangwon, Chuncheon-dam, slide No.: KA211f (coll. HNHM); 19. C. (C.) oda transversa, male, Korea, slide No.: KA1107m (coll. MfN); 20. C. (C.) oda transversa, female, South Korea, Prov. North Chungcheong, Mt. Sobaek, Danyang, slide No.: KA1227f (coll. HNHM).

FIGURES 130–139. Female 7th abdominal segments of Cranionycta spp. 130. C. (C.) inquieta, China, Prov. Hubei, Dabie Shan, 20 km N of Fengshan, slide No.: KA2527f (coll. PG); 131. C. (C.) muscosa sp. nov., PT, China, Taihang Mts, Beijing, Xiaolongmen Nat. Forest Park, slide No.: KA755f (photo and coll. ZISP); 132. C. (C.) oda oda, Russia, Primorsky Krai, Razdolnoye, slide No.: KA175f (coll. HNHM); 133. C. (C.) oda transversa, South Korea, Prov. North Chungcheong, Mt. Sobaek, Danyang, slide No.: KA1227f (coll. HNHM); 134. C. (C.) formosana, PT, Taiwan, Nantou County, Hueisun Forest Area, slide No.: KA2493f (photo and coll. GR); 135. C. (N.) lobophorus sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Milke Danda, Gursa, slide No.: KA172f (coll. HNHM); 136. C. (N.) versicolor sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Syangja district, Kahule village, slide No.: KA2428f (photo and coll. GR); 137. C. (N.) mailungana sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Ganesh Himal, Mailungkhala, slide No.: KA2529f (coll. PG); 138. C. (N.) delattini sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Kathmandu valley, Godavari, slide No.: KA1224f (coll. GB); 139. C. (N.) warreni sp. nov., HT, Nepal, Kathmandu valley, Godavari, slide No.: KA970f (coll. ZSM). Left side tergite, right side sternite.