﻿Five new species of the genus Hermonassa Walker, 1865 from Xizang Autonomous Region, China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae)

﻿Abstract Five new species of the genus Hermonassa Walker, 1865 (H.nigricanssp. nov., H.conusasp. nov., H.brunneocuprinasp. nov., H.albimaculasp. nov., and H.linzhiensis, sp. nov. are described from Autonomic Region Xizang, China (Tibet). Hermonassanigricanssp. nov. is distributed in Nepal and China, and the Himalayan species H.kalamantra Kovács, G. Ronkay & L. Ronkay, 2018 is reсorded for China for the first time. The occurrences of H.anthracina Boursin, 1967 in Nepal is questionable taking in the account the presence of two externally hardly distinguishable species, H.kalamantra and H.nigricanssp. nov. New collecting data for H.yixincheni Han & Li, 2007 and H.oleographa Hampson, 1911 in China are presented. Five species groups are reviewed, and three species groups are designated.


Introduction
The genus Hermonassa Walker, 1865 (type species H. consignata Walker, 1865, type locality Darjeeling, India) is an exclusively East Asian group of the subfamily Noctuinae with its highest species diversity in the mountains of the Sino-Himalayan subregion in the border between Palaearctic and the Oriental regions.Most species occurs in mountain systems at an altitude higher than 2000 m in Pakistan, India, Nepal and China.Only two northernmost species, H. arenosa Butler, 1878 andH. cecilia Butler, 1878 occur in the hillsides and low mountains in the south of the Russian Far East, China, Korea, and Japan.To date, more than 90 species of Hermonassa are known; among them, 57 of these are recorded in China (Chen, 1999).The history of investigation of the ZooKeys 1179: 35-61 (2023), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1179.107587 Biao Gao et al.: Five new Hermonassa from China

The anthracina species group
The detailed morphological characteristic of the anthracina species group was described by Kovács et al. (2018).The most conspicuous characters of this group is the structure of the male genitalia, namely: the bilobate valva, the presence of heavily sclerotised and lateral or proximo-lateral folded projection of the saccular lobe, strongly dilated apically, spatulate uncus, the deltoidal juxta, the very long and ventrally rounded, heavily sclerotised vinculum, and the apically dilated and rounded harpe; the female genitalia have a rather bull-head-shaped, heavily sclerotised antrum and strongly sclerotised quadrangular plates of the ductus bursae.Kovács et al. (2018) listed two species in the group, the Tibetan H. anthracina and the southern Himalayan H. kalamantra.In the present study, the Tibetan-Himalayan distribution of H. kalamantra and Tibetan distribution for H. anthracina are clarified; the new species with a Tibetan-Himalayan distribution described here as H. nigricans sp.nov. is the third member of the anthracina group.
Hermonassa nigricans Gao, Han & Kononenko, sp.nov.https://zoobank.org/51C58FF7-BBED-4279-B252-9C3E217B25C8Figs 1,2,11,12,23 Hermonassa anthracina : Sugi 1995: 90, pl. 117, fig. 3, genit. fig. 696 (♂) Diagnosis.The new species is superficially very similar to H. anthracina (Figs 3,4,(13)(14)(15)24), and H. kalamantra (Figs 5,6,(16)(17)(18)25) and can barely be distinguished from these species by external characters.The new species is blackish-brown, somewhat darker than both other species; the antemedial line is somewhat broader than in both species, the postmedial line is doubled and more distinct than in both species.The hindwing is somewhat more whitish than in the related species.The main specific differences are in the genitalia of both sexes.In the male genitalia of H. nigricans sp.nov. the uncus is more massive and gradually expands from the base to the top (in H. anthracina and kalamantra it is suddenly expands from 2/3 of the base); the tegumen is broader than in both species; the harpe is more massive and the club-like top of harpe is more swollen compared with H. anthracina and kalamantra; the sclerotised flattened extension of sacculus is rounded and directed upward (in H. anthracina it is directed straight, in H. kalamantra downward).The aedeagus of H. nigricans sp.nov. is larger than in related species, the carina is broader than in H. anthracina and H. kalamantra.In the female genitalia: the apophyses posteriores are broader and stronger (in H. anthracina and H. kalamantra they are slender); the antrum is more massive than in both species, the ductus bursae has two strong sclerotised bands (in H. anthracina they are broader and longer, not strongly sclerotised; in H. kalamantra they are 2× shorter than in H. nigricans).
Etymology.The name of the new species is derived from the Latin word nigricans that means black.
Distribution and biology.Hermonassa nigricans is distributed in southwest China (Aut.Reg.Xizang) and Nepal.The species is rather common in the grassland and shrubby areas in eastern spurs of the Tibet plateau (Aut.Reg.Xizang) at altitude 2200-4100 m.It occurs sympatrically with its related species H. anthracina and H. kalamantra.Collecting period range from early August to beginning of November.

Hermonassa anthracina
Remarks.Boursin (1967) listed numerous paratypes collected in Nepal (coll.ZSM), south Tibet, and north India (coll NHM) in the description of H. anthracina; however.Kovács et al. (2018) did not refer to the material of H. anthracina from Nepal, but they listed numerous specimens of this species from China.They noted that "the type series [of H. anthracina in Boursin's (1967)  September (Kovács et al. 2018).In Aut.Reg.Xizang it is known from only two specimens and appears rare compared with H. anthracina and H. nigricans sp.nov.adults have been collected in late July.
Remark.The species is reported for China for the first time.

The dispila species group
The members of the dispila species group are externally similar to taxa of the anthracina group, while some species have narrower forewing and different wing colouration.As mentioned by Kovács et al. (2018: 301) they are morphologically more heterogeneous and diverse: "The genitalia of these species show different trends of change in certain features which led to the often remarkable differences between the male genital capsule of the different lineages of the clade.Due to the basically uniform external appearance and the genital features of the entire species group, as well as partly overlapping differential characters, the taxa of the species group can be arranged into different lineages."Those authors listed 12 species in the dispila species group; however, the exact number of species and selection of the main lineages of this group are likely will be clarified in the course of further revisions.(Figs 10,21,22,27) are the most similar species in the dispila species group.Externally H. conusa differs from related species by more a robust habit, a broader forewing shape, dark brown with pale violet tint colouration of the forewing (in H. renifera and H. shizukoae the forewing colouration is brown with a reddish tint, especially in the costal part) and by a more coarse forewing pattern with more distinct basal, ante-, and postmedial lines (they are weakly expressed in H. renifera and H. shizukoae); more distinct claviform, and larger drop-shaped orbicular than in related species (in H. renifera and H. shizukoae the claviform is weekly expressed and the orbicular is small drop-shaped).The male genitalia of H. conusa sp.nov.differ from those of the related species by shorter tegumen (it is ~ 1/3× height of vinculum vs ~ 1/2× in H. renifera and H. shizukoae), the broad valva with prominent subbasal extensions of the costa (in the related species the valva are much narrower, without extension of the costa); the harpe with a large and broad base, which reaches but does not exceed the dorsal margin of valva (in the related species the base of harpe is narrower and exceed the dorsal margin of valva); the top of harpe is short, straight and broad (vs long, narrow and curved in H. renifera and H. shizukoae).The juxta is wide, rectangular, with a medium process, inverted nail-shaped (in H. renifera and H. shizukoae the juxta is tongue-shaped, or nearly heart-shaped with a smaller and shorter process); the sacculus is much broader than in related species.The aedeagus is much longer and narrower than in H. renifera and H. shizukoae; the cornutus much smaller and thinner; the vesica is tube-like, with smaller subbasal diverticulum compared with H. renifera and H. shizukoae.In the female genitalia, antevaginal plate is narrow and nearly heart-shaped vs broad and calyculate in H. shizukoae; ductus bursae is long and slightly sclerotised vs short in H. shizukoae; corpus bursae is shorter, with four band-like signa (in H. shizukoae corpus bursae is longer and the signa are slighter and wrinkle-like.
Etymology.The species name refers to the large, sclerotised, conical extension on the base of the juxta in the male genitalia of the new species.
Distribution and biology.Hermonassa conusa is known only from Linzhi mountain range in Aut.Reg.Xizang, in southwest China.The species occurs in grassland meadows in the coniferous forest at an altitudinal range of 3150-3650 m.Adults have been collected between the end of July and the end of August.

Hermonassa renifera Chen, 1991 Figs 9, 20
Hermonassa renifera Chen, 1991  Remarks.Hreblay and Ronkay (1998) considered this taxon conspecific with H. shizukoae but latter small differences were found in the details of the male genitalia and Kovács et al. (2018) concluded that H. renifera and H. shizukoae are two distinct species.The species was described from two specimens, and no additional material was ever collected.Because of the holotype of H. renifera was not dissected, the ink drawing of the male genitalia probably belongs to the paratype.Here we accept Kovács et al. (2018)  Distribution and biology.The species is distributed in north India and Nepal where it is rather common at altitude ca 3600 m (Kovács et al. 2018).
Remarks.The species is the southern Himalayan representative of H. renifera -H.shizukoae species pair (Kovács et al. 2018).

The cuprina species group
The cuprina species group includes two species, H. cuprina and H. brunneocuprina sp.nov.This species group can be characterised by the uniform external appearance with a relatively large size, the narrow forewings, cupper-brown or brown colouration and by the forewing pattern with more or less clearly expressed thin basal, antemedial, and postmedial transverse lines and the presence of black contrasting claviform, and the orbicular and reniform stigmata.The main diagnostic features of the male genitalia are the relatively short, flat and apically dilated, spatulate uncus; juxta small, three leaved, dart-shaped, large U-shaped vinculum, the relatively narrow simple valva, thin, upcurved harpe, and the slightly curved aedeagus with a sclerotised comb in the carina.The female genitalia are characterised by the deeply split antevaginal plate, deep cup-like antrum, a thin, medium length ductus seminalis, and the presence of two longitudinal signa on the corpus bursae.Diagnosis.This new species is superficially similar to H. cuprina (see Figs 30,32,34), but can be distinguished from the latter one by the following characters.In the adult: the basal, antemedial and postmedial lines with double yellowish brown lines (in H. cuprina they are whitish); the subterminal line is thin (in H. cuprina it is distinct); the terminal line is solid (in H. cuprina it is as dotted line); the orbicular spot is short and drop-shaped (in H. cuprina it is long).In the male genitalia: the top of the uncus is large, shovel-shaped apically; the uncus is smaller in the new species (in H. cuprina it is somewhat larger again); the cucullus is rounded apically (in H. cuprina it is tapering); the juxta is three leaved dart-shape (in H. cuprina it is morning glory-shaped); the carina process is small and triangular (in H. cuprina it is large, band-shaped).In the female genitalia: the 8 th segment has a swollen membranous sac (in H. cuprina it is absent); the antevaginal plate is concave (in H. cuprina it is less concave); ductus bursae is relatively broad (in H. cuprina it is narrow); corpus bursae is elongated S-shaped (in H. cuprina it is curved medially only).
Distribution and biology.Hermonassa brunneocuprina is known only from Linzhi mountain range in Aut.Reg.Xizang, the Southwest China.The species occurs in grassland meadows in coniferous forest at altitude range 2000-6200 m.Adults have been collected in early November.Remarks.Hermonassa cuprina has not yet been found in China.The syntypes of this species are deposited in NHM UK and MNHU (Moore 1882;Poole 1989).The lectotype is not designated.For the illustration of H. cuprina (Figs 30,32,34) we follow the treatment and illustrations in Sugi (1995) of this species from north India.

The dictyota species group
The dictyota species group externally can be characterized by the relatively large size (wingspan 38-40 mm), the robust habitus and the reticulate forewing pattern atypical for most Hermonassa spp.The male genitalia of these species are rather uniform and characterized by having an apically swollen or spatulate uncus, anchor-like, apically hooked juxta, moderate harpe, variable in length saccular extension and the presence of a pollex at the apical part of the valva.In the female genitalia, the antevaginal plate is large, with a deep cut in the centre, a sclerotised antrum, the relatively short ductus bursae and the sclerotised proximal part of the corpus bursae.The dictyota species group comprises the following four species: H. dictyota, H. legraini, H. yixincheni, and H. albimacula sp.nov.Diagnosis.Hermonassa albimacula sp.nov. is superficially similar to H. legraini (Fig. 37) and H. dictyota (Fig. 38), but differs from both by a darker reddish brown ground colour of the forewing, a broader subterminal line, and the less expressed pale elements of the wing pattern.The male genitalia differs from those of H. legraini by the thinner uncus, the shape of juxta with a shorter apical extension, the shape of the valva, shorter and more tapered than in H. legraini; the harpe and saccular extension are ~ 2× shorter than in H. legraini; the pollex is smaller, but broader and placed more apically compared with H. legraini.The female genitalia of the new species differs from those of H. legraini by a broader antrum with broad antevaginal plate deeply cut in the centre, the 3× broader ductus bursae, sclerotised apically and the shape of the bursae with a broad cervix.

Hermonassa dictyota
Distribution and biology.Hermonassa yixincheni is known only from Linzhi mountain range in Aut.Reg.Xizang, southwest China.The species occurs in grassland meadows in the coniferous forest at altitude range 2100-2970 m.Adults have been collected from mid-July to late August.
Diagnosis.Hermonassa linzhiensis sp.nov. is superficially similar to H. pallidula (Fig. 45), H. ellenae , and H. hoenei (Fig. 46).It differs from these related species by relatively larger size (wingspan 34-48 mm), more stout body, and with pale reddish tint of the pale brownish yellow forewing.The forewing pattern differs from the similar species by more strongly expressed basal, ante-, and postmedial lines, the somewhat larger and more contrasting orbicular and reniform spots and clearly bean-like shape of the reniform spot.In the male genitalia H. linzhiensis sp.nov.(Fig. 55) is most similar to H. pallidula (Fig. 56), but differs from the latter by somewhat narrower uncus, broader valva, larger and sharp pollex, somewhat broader harpe, and basal extension of sacculus.Aedeagus narrower than in H. pallidula, the single cornutus smaller.
Etymology.The name is derived from the species' type locality, the vicinity of Linzhi City, Aut.Reg.Xizang, China.
Distribution and biology (Fig. 42).Hermonassa linzhiensis is known only from Linzhi mountain range in Aut.Reg.Xizang, southwest China.The species occurs in grassland meadows in the dense coniferous forest at an altitude range of 2200-3500 m.Adults have been collected from early June to mid-August.
point of view, but further study of this species pair on the basis of newly collected materials is necessary.