New discoveries of the family Epicopeiidae from China, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera, Epicopeiidae)

Abstract

Some new discoveries of the family Epicopeiidae Swinhoe, 1892 from China are reported. A new species, Mimaporiaowadai Huang & Wang, sp. n. is described from W. Sichuan. Burmeia Minet, 2003 and Psychostrophiaendoi Inoue, 1992 are reported as new to China, with the female genitalia of the former described for the first time. The females of Psychostrophiaendoi Inoue, 1992 and Deuveiabanghaasi Hering, 1932 are reported for the first time. Adults and genitalia of all species aforementioned are illustrated.

Notes on the genus Psychostrophia Butler, 1877 (Lepidoptera, Epicopeiidae), with description of a new species

“…China (Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) ( Fig. 25 Huang et al (2019) stated that the difference in male genitalia between P. endoi and P. picaria lies in the shape of the valva, which protrudes more at the apex in P. endoi. However, the more protruding valva apex is actually found in P. picaria.…”

“…Until now only four species are known in this genus, viz. P. melanargia Butler, 1877, P. nymphidiaria (Oberthür, 1893, P. picaria Leech, 1897, and P. endoi Inoue, 1992, all of which have been previously recorded from China (Zhu et al 2004;Huang et al 2019).…”

“…2) uncus long, thin, and tubular for most of its length; and 3) aedeagus with a cluster of slender cornuti, and coecum well developed and long (Minet 2003;Huang et al 2019). Adults are diurnal, delicate moths, usually found flying along the forest edge or near water, visiting flowers or sucking nutrients from the damp ground.…”

“…Thus far, this genus has only been represented by P. endoi in Deqin County in Yunnan Province (Huang et al 2019). The first observation of another member was of a worn-out male of a Psychostrophia species with a P. nymphidiaria-like appearance, flying together with another epicopeiid, Burmeia leesi Minet, 2003, at the edge of an evergreen broad-leaved forest near water at an altitude around 2550 m. This unexpected recording by the authors took place during a field survey conducted in Yaojiaping, Lushui County, on the western slope of the Gaoligong Mountains in western Yunnan province in the summer of 2018.…”