Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) dieteri, Kiss, 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 : 61-62

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5640.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A887E65-2B6E-4F61-A0C8-33F019F397E0
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15563253
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DDA77A-FFE8-FFF8-FF0E-3E18F6E51104
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) dieteri
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) dieteri sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BBEAD8C9-156A-4F27-8897-9D0126A2CB31

( Figs 51 View FIGURES 51–54 , 112 View FIGURES 107–113 , 145 View FIGURES 140–146 )

Holotype. Female, China, Prov. Kuangtung [Guangdong], Linping , 18.vii.1924, leg. H. Höne, ex. coll. H. Höne, slide No.: KA679f ( ZFMK).

Note. The male is unknown.

Diagnosis. Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) dieteri ( Fig. 51 View FIGURES 51–54 ) differs externally from its sister species C. (N.) atrazonaria ( Figs 52, 53 View FIGURES 51–54 ) by its smaller size (wingspan 28 mm vs. 33 mm, respectively); the lighter, more uniformly greyish forewing; the lighter antemedial field; the narrower inner part of the medial field; the more regular, gently curved medial line; the narrower medial field; the less crenulate, more conspicuous whitish postmedial line; and the more lightly coloured orbicular and reniform stigmata; the thinner, more line-like tornal streak.

The female genitalia ( Fig. 112 View FIGURES 107–113 ), compared to those of C. (N.) atrazonaria ( Fig. 113 View FIGURES 107–113 ) and C. (N.) albothoracica ( Fig. 111 View FIGURES 107–113 ), have the narrowest, longest ductus bursae; and the longest appendix bursae with a somewhat larger, more angled distal part and a more narrowing terminal twist.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 145 View FIGURES 140–146 ), the sternite has overall straighter and wavier lateral sides, and more regularly shaped semi-circular distal band than C. (N.) albothoracica ( Fig. 144 View FIGURES 140–146 ), has wavier lateral sides with less pointed distal corner, and a uniformly narrow, slightly more sclerotized semi-circular distal band.

Description. Imago ( Fig. 51 View FIGURES 51–54 ). Wingspan 28 mm. Head. Relatively large; 2 nd segment of palpus longer than 3 rd; antennae filiform. Thorax. Moderately wide, whitish-grey suffused with blackish scales; patagia whitish-grey with wide blackish outline; tegulae whitish-grey suffused with blackish scales. Abdomen. Whitish-grey with some darker middorsal scale tufts. Wing. Forewing narrow, apically slightly elongate and obtuse, light whitish-grey; basal spot blackish, tiny; basal streak indistinct, blackish-grey, wide, short, wedge-shaped; tornal streak blackish, thin, long, wide between medial and postmedial lines, narrow between postmedial and terminal lines; apical dash absent; basal line blackish, double, outer line conspicuously wider than inner line, inner line very short, dot-like, filled with whitish-grey; antemedial line double, reduced, thin, more or less continuous line with three indistinct blackish spots at costal area, and tiny blackish spot at outward edge of inner margin, filled with whitish-grey scales; medial line thin, blackish, gently curved, fused with wide blackish outwardly fading medial fascia; postmedial line double, crenulate, greyish-black, filled with whitish and suffused with blackish at tornal streak; subterminal line narrow, zigzag, indistinct, whitish; terminal line whitish, interrupted by tiny, black on veins; basal field whitish-grey, narrow, joined to interior of basal line, subbasal and suprabasal patches; subbasal patch whitish-grey, narrow and long; suprabasal patch reduced, greyish, more or less oval; antemedial field whitish-grey with indistinct greyish-black patch at costa and entirely suffused with blackish scales; medial field inwardly light whitish-grey suffused with ochreous and blackish, outwardly somewhat darker whitish-grey, both inner and outer parts narrow; subterminal field greyish suffused with whitish, with large, greyish, squarish patches in costal area, obscure between veins M1 and M2 and around tornal streak; terminal field narrow, whitish-grey; orbicular stigma reduced, lighter whitish-grey with short, indistinct, blackish curved line inwardly; reniform stigma moderately large, reduced, inwardly brownish-black, outwardly whitish, and with blackish stripe in middle, outlined with series of tiny blackish spots; four more or less quadrangular whitish spots at costa between medial fascia and terminal line, gradually decreasing in size towards apex; tornal patch blackish, small; fringe whitish with greyish patches. Hindwing rounded, slightly pointed apically; fully light greyish-brown; marginal band, postdiscal line and discal spot slightly darker greyish-brown; tornal patch slightly darker greyish-brown; fringe whitish with greyish patches.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 112 View FIGURES 107–113 ). Ovipositor rounded, slightly longer than wide, tapering posteriorly. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, oval, densely hairy. Anterior and posterior apophysis equal in length, weakly sclerotized, rod-like; posterior apophysis with slightly extended distal end. 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 shorter than corpus bursae, coiled, moderately sclerotized, ribbed except in distal third; terminal twist short, widest at base then narrowing; junction with corpus bursae long and narrow.

Female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 145 View FIGURES 140–146 ). 7 th sternite quadrangular, slightly longer than wide, weakly sclerotized with uniformly narrow, slightly more sclerotized semi-circular distal band; proximal edge straight; lateral sides slightly concave and wavy with slightly pointed distal corner and somewhat contrasting margins; distal edge concave. 7 th tergite roughly trapezoidal, as long as wide, weakly sclerotized with slightly more sclerotized semi-circular distal band, and narrow, indistinct window in middle; proximal edge more or less straight with two curved, somewhat sclerotized rods; lateral sides slightly concave and wavy with slightly contrasting margins; distal edge straight.

Distribution. The new species is known only from its type locality, relatively close to the type locality of C. (N.) atrazonaria (Prov. Guangxi, Jinxiu).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Dieter Stüning, former head of the Lepidoptera Collection, ZFMK, and an expert of Geometridae .