Two new species of Thitarodes (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) from Tibet in China

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1 Two new species of Thitarodes (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) from Tibet in China Author(s) :Zhi-Wen Zou, Xin Liu, and Gu-Ren Zhang Source: Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 87(2): Published By: Pacific Coast Entomological Society DOI: URL: BioOne ( is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne s Terms of Use, available at terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. PersonIdentityServiceImpl

2 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST 87(2): , (2011) Two new species of Thitarodes (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) from Tibet in China ZHI-WEN ZOU 1,2,XIN LIU 2,&GU-REN ZHANG 2 * 1 School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang , China 2 State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol & Institute of Entomology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou , China Abstract. Two new species of the genus Thitarodes, T. sejilaensis sp. nov. and T. jiachaensis sp. nov., from Tibet in China are described and illustrated. All specimens are deposited in the Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Key Words. Lepidoptera, Hepialidae, Thitarodes, new species, China. INTRODUCTION Larvae of the genus Thitarodes are host to the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis Sung, Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora (Sung et al. 2007) that is known to traditional Chinese medicine as a special invigorant called Chinese Caterpillar Fungus (Dong Chong Xia Cao in Chinese) (Chu & Lin 1985). The genus Thitarodes was established by Viette (1968) based on the presence of an acute process protruding from the base of the valve on the male genitalia. Viette (1968) designated Hepialus amoricanus Oberthur, 1909 as the type species and included three new species from Nepal: Thitarodes danieli, T. eberti and T. dierli. Further species were described by Robinson et a1. (1995), Ueda (1996, 2000) and Maczey et al. (2010), but the genus Thitarodes was not adopted by Chinese scientists who assigned new congeneric Chinese species to the genus Hepialus Fabricius (Chu & Wang 1985, Chu et al. 2004). In 2000, Nielsen et al. (2000) transferred these Hepialus species to Thitarodes, with a total of 51 species, while many Chinese species were not recorded in this paper. In 2004, Chu et al. rearranged and detailed described 55 species of Hepialus distributed in China. However they missed 5 new species reported by Yang, which include H. xunhuaensis Yang & Yang 1995, H. cingulatus Yang & Zhang 1995, H. luquensis Yang & Yang 1995 (Yang et al. 1995a) and H. baqingensis Yang & Jiang 1995, H. damxungensis Yang 1995 (Yang et al. 1995b). Hepialis varians Staudinger, 1896 was also omitted. The taxonomic system presented by Nielsen et al. (2000) for Thitarodes is corroborated by our studies of the Chinese species. The 61 Chinese species previously placed within Hepialus were divided among Thitarodes and three other genera (Zou 2009, Zou et al. 2010). In the region of Nyainqentanglha Range and Heng Duan Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau, Chinese Thitarodes are distributed between altitudes of 3600 to 4800 m.. The concentration of Thitarodes species in this region may reflect the geomorphic and ecological diversity of the Tibetan Plateau (Yang et al. 1996; Liu et al. 2005). In order to better understand and sustainably utilize this special natural medicine resource of Ophiocordyceps on the Tibetan Plateau, our research group set up an experimental station in 2006 at 4156 m on Mt. Sejila (29u379N, 94u379E) in the * Corresponding author. Gu-Ren Zhang, zhanggr@mail.sysu.edu.cn

3 2011 ZOU ET AL.: TWO NEW SPECIES OF THITARODES FROM TIBET IN CHINA 107 Nyainqentanglha Range. A recently descibed species, Hepialus pui Zhang, Gu & Liu 2007 had already been described near the station (Zhang et al. 2007) and later transferred to Thitarodes due to the presence of the basal tooth on the valve (Zou 2009, Zou et al. 2010). In this paper, we describe a new species from almost the same area as T. pui (Figs. 1, 2a) as well as a new species from nearby Jiacha County of Tibet (Figs. 1, 2b). MATERIALS AND METHODS Moths at rest between 19:00 and 22:00 after sunset in July were located by electric torches and hand collected. Most were found as mating pairs. The moths were placed in a KCN killing bottle and curated the following day. Scales were removed from wings using a small brush in 70% ethanol, and genitalia were dissected in 10% KOH. The genitalia were imaged with an Olympus SZX7 and Auto-Montage (Version BETA). Specimens were examined under a Leica MZ 7.5 dissecting microscope and photographed with a Nikon SMZ1000. All type specimens are housed in the Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Morphological characters of the new species were compared with described Thitarodes species by examining specimens in the Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University and the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science (23 species), and published descriptions (Chu et al. 2004) where access to specimens was not possible (more than 30 species). DESCRIPTION Thitarodes sejilaensis sp. nov. Male Body Length mm; forewing length: mm; hindwing length: mm (n 5 16). Female body length: mm; forewing length: mm; hindwing length: 9 11 mm (n 5 12). Head dark to dark brown; antennae dark brown, filiform, flagellum slender, 26 segments, apical segment acute; labial palpus short with two segments; compound eyes dark.. Fore leg with tibial epiphysis; male hind tibia broad, covered with hairlike scales. Scales of thorax golden-brown, long on dorsum and shorter on venter. Scales on each abdominal segment dark brown with posterior edge yellow-brown on male, and reddish-brown with yellowish-brown fringe on female. Prior to oviposition, abdomen of female broad and longer than forewing length. Male forewing pale grayish-white with extensive grayish-brown shading and scattered dark brown spots bordered with yellowish-brown; fringe with alternating dark brown and yellowish-brown spots along the termen; elongate dark spot subtending costal margin near apex. Male hindwing pale grayish-brown with fringe as in forewing. Female forewing pale gray with irregular shaped medial dark brown spot bordered with yellowish-brown, elongate brown spots along the termen, dark elongate spot at costal margin near apex. Female hindwing pale yellowish-brown with fringe of thin marginal brown and yellowish-brown spots along the termen. (Figs. 3a, b). Wing Venation (Figs. 4a, b). Forewing: costa convex for basal two thirds with slight convexity before apex; termen broadly curved from R 1 to R 3 with apex between R 2 and R 3 ; venation with h near base of Sc; R 1 and Sc nearly parallel, closer together towards costa; R 2 and R 3 divide at 2/3 of R ;R 2 + R 3 and R 4 + R 5

4 108 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 87(2) Figures 1 3. Figure 1. Locations of Mt. Sejila and Jiacha Counties. Figure 2. Habitat of T. sejilaensis (a) and T. jiachaensis (b). Figure 3. Adults of T. sejilaensis; male holotype (a) and female paratype (b).

5 2011 ZOU ET AL.: TWO NEW SPECIES OF THITARODES FROM TIBET IN CHINA 109 Figures 4 7. Figure 4. Wings of T. sejilaensis; forewing (a) and hindwing (b). Figure 5. External male genitalia of T. sejilaensis (a) and T. pui (b); lateral male genitalia of T. Sejilaensis (c) and T. pui (d); external female genitalia of T. sejilaensis (e) and T. pui (f). Figure 6. Female of T. sejilaensis with wings at rest. Figure 7. Mating adults of T. jiachaensis.

6 110 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 87(2) stalked; R 2 + R 3 long, about seven times as long as R 4 + R 5 ;R 4 proximate and nearly parallel to R 2 + R 3. R-M 1 reaching R 5 immediately basal to furcation of R 4 + R 5, posterior half indistinct; CuA 2 with basal cross vein to CuP and CuP with cross vein to A basal to CuA 2 -CuP and another at the distal end of CuP. CuP broad from base to the second cross vein, only half the distance to margin. Hindwing: similar, but termen more broadly curved from Sc, CuP lacking cross veins and reaching margin; R 4 curved and further from R 2 + R 3 than in forewing, A is short and close to anal margin. Male Genitalia. Tegumen sickle-shaped, apex pointed, middle region broader than apex, inferior region narrower than the middle, inner margin circular, teguminal arm strongly sclerotized, dark with minute teeth, one much larger than the others, the tip tapering sharply and also lined with teeth. Valva with short, acutely pointed ventroposterior process, angled towards tegumenal arm, setose, the superior part rounded, middle region slightly elbowed, posterior part inflected; saccus flat. (Figs. 5a, c). Female Genitalia. Posterior margin of the dorsal plate (ninth tergum) with papillae anales broadly triangular, densely covered with hairs. Ninth sternum with two convex edges either side of a shallow central projection forming a W shape. Base of sternum sclerotized with lateral edges narrow. Apophyses absent. Signum absent on bursa copulatrix. (Fig. 5e). MATERIAL EXAMINED Holotype. - CHINA. Mt. Sejila, Linzhi County, Tibet, 4, 500 m, 29u369N, 94u359E, VII (No. En , Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University). Paratypes 15 -, 12U, CHINA: Mt. Sejila, Linzhi County, Tibet, same locality as holotype. All specimens are deposited in the Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University. Biology. Adults of T. sejilaensis are active from about 21:00 until about 21:20 after sunset. The forewings of female adults are often held away from the body while the hindwings are held against the body when they are resting. The pre-ovipositing female abdomen is broad and longer than the forewing, so it can t almost fly (Fig. 6). Distribution. Linzhi County, Tibet of China. Etymology. This new species is named after Mt. Sejila where the species was found. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to T. pui. But distinct from T. pui of the same region by the thin, sharp sickle-like terminal of tegumen, nearly circular inner wall of tegumen, shorter process of valva only 1/3 of valva width, compared with 1/2 of valva width in T. pui (Figs. 5a, b, c, d). The preovipositing female abdomen of T. sejilaensis female is broad and longer than the forewing and female hindwings are covered with dense hairs. When the female is at rest, the forewings are often held away from the body while the hindwings are held against the body. In other species of Thitarodes the forewings are held against body with the hindwings. The apex of the tegumen is the sharpest of any described species, and the process of valva is shorter than most species. As in other Chinese species there are no posterodorsal projections on the teguminal margin, as may occur in species in other regions. Remarks. The specimens were collected in alpine brush and meadow on Mt. Sejila in the Nyainqentanglha Range on the ridge between the Niyang and Polongzangbu rivers. Rainfall is abundant, exceeding 650 mm each year. Snow falls from the end of September or beginning of October to May. The soil where the larvae live is moist during most of the years, but frozen from the middle of November to March. Thitarodes jiachaensis sp. nov. Male Body Length mm; forewing length: mm; hindwing length: mm (n 5 9). Female body length: mm; forewing length: mm; hindwing length: mm (n 5 10).

7 2011 ZOU ET AL.: TWO NEW SPECIES OF THITARODES FROM TIBET IN CHINA 111 Figures Figure 8. Adults of T. jiachaensis male holotype (a) and female paratype (b). Figure 9. Wings of T. jiachaensis; forewing (a) and hindwing (b). Figure 10. Genitalia of T. jiachaensis; male external (a), male lateral (b), and female external (c). Head with grayish-brown; antennae yellow and brown, filiform, 23 segments; labial palpus short; compound eyes dark. Fore leg with tibial epiphysis. Dorsal surface of thorax yellowish-brown, with long golden hair, ventral surface with long golden hair; female body yellowish-brown; forewing grayish-brown, with two large dark spots nearly parallel to the costal margin, and a larger kidney-like white patch in anal area. Male body yellowish-brown, smaller than female; forewings grayishbrown with dark spots bordered with yellowish-brown (Figs. 7, 8a, b). Wing Venation (Figs. 9a, b). Venation is same as for T. sejilaensis but with following differences: For forewing, R 2 and R 3 separate at 4/5 of R ;R 4 and R 5 separate at discoidal cell; R very short, about 1/8 length of R ; cross-vein R- M 1 weak, after furcation of R 4 and R 5.

8 112 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 87(2) Male Genitalia. Tegumen almost triangle-like, dorsally wide and ventrally narrow, outer margin sharply angled, apex beak-like, teguminal arm strongly sclerotized, distal region dark with minute teeth. Valva with a short acute process at sclerotized ventroposterior end, shorter than tegumen, setose, dorsally blunt, middle region slightly elbowed, inferior partly inflected. Process highly sclerotized, sharp, projecting medially. Base of vinculum broad, saccus flat with medially concave posterior margin (Figs. 10a, b). Female genitalia as shown in Fig. 10c. MATERIAL EXAMINED Holotype, - CHINA. Jiacha County, Tibet, 4, 535 m, 29u N, 94u E, VII (No. En , Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University). Paratypes 8 -, 10U, CHINA: Jiacha County, Tibet, same locality as holotype. All specimens are deposited in the Biological Museum of Sun Yat-sen University. Biology. Adults of T. jiachaensis are active from about 19:30 until about 21:00. The female of mating pairs can be found at rest with the male suspended from the female (Fig. 7). Distribution. Jiacha County, Tibet of China. Etymology. This new species is derived from the collecting locality of the holotype, jiacha. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to T. zhongzhiensis Liang 1995 (Liang 1995), but can be separated by the following features: two cross veins below CuP in the forewing, CuP of hindwing reaches the margin, the cross vein between R 5 and M 1 of the hindwing, and between M 1 and M 2 of the forewings; the teguminal arm is longer than 1/2 of tegumen length, the sclerotized part of valva is smaller, the central margin of the saccus is smooth and the ventral margin is concave (Figs. 9a, b). Teguminal arm of the new species is also similar to that of T. oblifurcus Chu & Wang 1985 (Chu & Wang 1985), T. jialangensis Yang 1994 (Yang 1994), T. yeriensis Liang 1995, T. callinivalis Liang 1995 and T. litangensis Liang 1995 (Liang 1995), but its sclerotized region and size of process of the valva are remarkably larger. As in T. sejilaensis, there is no dorsoposterior projection in tegumen. GENERAL REMARKS The two new species conform to the genus Thitarodes as characterized by Viette (1968) with respect to the presence of a basal tooth on the valve. We note that the basal valve process is not present on all species that were grouped under Thitarodes by Nielsen et al. (2000) without descriptive justification. The basal tooth may define a monophyletic assemblage of species that includes the two new species, and it is possible that Thitarodes is monophyletic with respect to all named species, but documentation of the supporting evidence will require a future generic revision. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The work was financially supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program (2011BAI13B06, 2007BAI32B05, 2007BAI32B06) and the National Science Foundation of China ( ). We thank Mr. Yang Guangqiu, Chen Longpeng, Gong Ying, and the staff of our research group for their help in collecting specimens. We are very thankful to Dr. Zhang Dandan at the Institute of Entomology, Sun Yat-Sen University, for checking the descriptions. We are also grateful to Dr. Ueda at the Kitakyushu Museum of Japan for providing references. And we thank Dr. John R. Grehan at the Buffalo Museum of Science and Dr. Norbert Maczey at CABI Europe UK for their constructive criticism on the manuscript.

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