Parabitecta Hering, 1926

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2024, Two new species of the genus Parabitecta Hering in Draeseke from Southwestern China (Lepidoptera: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 77, pp. 192-199 : 193

Genus Parabitecta Hering in Draeseke, 1926

Parabitecta Hering in Draeseke, 1926, Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 40: 50 (Type species: Parabitecta flava Draeseke, 1926 , by monotypy).

Diagnosis. Parabitecta is closely related to the recently described Tortrilema Volynkin, 2021 and Tortribitecta Volynkin, 2024 (illustrated by Volynkin 2024b) but can be externally distinguished from them by the presence of a subbasal elongate patch of androconial scales on the male forewing ( Figs 1– 8 ). Additionally, unlike Tortrilema , adults of Parabitecta are characterised by the limited sexual dimorphism.

In the male genitalia, Parabitecta ( Figs 9–12 ) is most similar to Tortribitecta (illustrated by Volynkin 2024b), from which it differs in the following features. (1) The uncus is slender, medially downcurved and distally slightly dilated whereas in Tortribitecta it is strongly dilated postmedially and tapered distally. (2) The apex of the valva is moderately sclerotised and extended into a short protrusion or a process. (3) The lamella centralis is present. (4) The sacculus is evenly narrow whereas in Tortribitecta , it is medially constricted forming a flexible region, across which the valva gets curved inwards while the intravalval muscle is contracted. (5) The dorsal section of the juxta is well-sclerotised and dorsally elongate into a conical protrusion. The phalluses and vesicae of the two genera display no fundamental differences. Compared to Tortrilema , the male genitalia of Parabitecta are characterised by: (1) the vinculum having its arms ventrally connected by the membranous commissure (whereas the vinculum of Tortrilema is solid); (2) the presence of a broad, sack-like intravincular corema and a pair of thin, ribbon-like caselli (similar to Tortribitecta as well as certain groups of Teulisna as well as Manulea and Collita ); (3) the short tendons separated from each other by the diaphragmal membrane (whereas in Tortrilema , the tendons are thin ribbon-like and fused with each other); (4) the presence of a lamella centralis; (5) the lack of the basal protrusion of the distal saccular process; (6) the markedly thinner phallus; and (7) the considerably shorter and narrower vesica lacking scobination.

The female genitalia of the genus ( Figs 13, 14 ) are characterised by the combination of the following features. (1) The antevaginal plate is pocket-like whereas it is absent in Tortrilema and Tortribitecta (illustrated by Volynkin 2024b). (2) The ductus bursae is membranous whereas it is gelatinous with longitudinal sclerotised wrinkles in Tortribitecta and dorso-ventrally flattened and bearing large dorsal and ventral sclerotised plates in Tortrilema . (3) The posterior section of the corpus bursae has a large gelatinous enlargement, which is similar to Tortrilema but absent in Tortribitecta . (4) The anterior section of the corpus bursae bears two weakly sclerotised and scobinate, ribbon-like longitudinal signa whereas Tortribitecta has a single and more heavily sclerotised ribbon-like signum, while that of Tortrilema is small and elliptical. (5) The appendix bursae is large, elongate sack-like, whereas it is reduced and conical in both Tortrilema and Tortribitecta .

Figures

Figures 1–8. Adults of Parabitecta ssp. Depositories of the specimens: 1–7 in MWM/ZSM (7: ex CKC); 8 in CKC.

Figures 9–12. Male genitalia of Parabitecta ssp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM (12: ex CKC).

Figures 13–14. Female genitalia of Parabitecta ssp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.