Semia spiritus Emery, Lee & Pham, 2017, sp. nov.

Semia spiritus sp. nov.

(Figs 2 B, 3C–D, 5)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Kon Tum Prov., Ngoc Linh Nature Reserves, 1900 m, 15°00’39”N, 107°57’53”E, III 2016; (typed ink label) (VNMN; E-00112). Paratypes: 2♂♂, Lam Dong Prov., Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, 2000 m, 12°06’43”N, 108°57’53”E, 10 V 2013; 6♂♂, 1♀, same location as holotype, 20 IV 2016 (VNMN; E-113-121), 2♂♂, same data as holotype (AM, K493593-94); 1♀, Lai Chau Prov., 1600 m, 22°18' 42" N 102°09'22" E, 18 V 2015; 2♂♂, Thua Thien Hue, Bach Ma National Park, 1400 m, 16°11’51”N, 107°51’36”E, 25 IV 2016 (DE).

Other Material. 5♂♂, Kon Tum Prov., Ngoc Linh Nature Reserves, 1900 m, 15°00’39”N, 107°57’53”E, IV 2014 (DE); 7♂♂, same location, 15 V 2015 (DE); 2♂♂, Lam Dong, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, 2000 m, 12°06’43”N, 108°57’53”E, 10 V 2013 (DE); 2♂♂, Thua Thien Hue, Bach Ma National Park, 1400 m, 16°11’51”N, 107°51’36”E, 25 IV 2016 (DE).

Description of male ( Figs 2 B, 3C–D, 5A–B). Head mostly brown, brown anteriorly, with black markings around ocelli; ocelli pink; postclypeus brown, with black “V” marking dorsally, black horizontal striations along transverse grooves mid-anteriorly, pale brown patch on either side of midline over central third, and prominently shiny black marking over posterior third; anteclypeus mainly brown; gena and lorum dark brown; rostrum brown, black at tip, extending to mid-sternite II; compound eyes dark brown; antennae light brown; supra-antennal plates brown.

Thorax: Pronotum mostly pale brown-ochraceous, with black markings outlining anterior brown stripe and posterior triangle marking on midline, darker brown patches laterally along ridges between parapsidal sutures, and black strip along lateral border; pronotal collar evenly brown-red to ochraceous but greenish on lateral margins, with median black spot on posterior margin, expanded laterally. Mesonotum ranging from light to olive-brown, with black median stripe, black patterned motif on submedian sigella on most specimens, but central area olive brown on majority of specimens from Bach Ma Mountain, with dull black pattern radiating over lateral sigilla and reddish brown patch along lateral margin; scutal depressions black; cruciform elevation light brown, with lateral depressions dark and golden hairs sparsely spread. Metanotum dark brown.

Legs predominantly light brown; coxa brown with anterior black stripes; trochanters brown; femora with small black markings at ends, with primary spine erect, brown; tibiae similarly patterned to femora, but black around tarsi; tarsi brown anteriorly, blackish at tips; claws dark brown. Meracanthus narrow, pale brown, sharply pointed, overlapping anterior half of corresponding operculum.

Wings hyaline, veins cream to brown, cream at node; fore wing with infuscations along crossveins r, m, r-m, and m-cu, vein CuA2, bases and apices of veins RA2, RP, M, M1-4, and CuA1, nodal line intersection, and outer margins of apical cells 1–7; basal membrane uniformly grey; basal cell translucent; hind wing with 6 apical cells; with continuous infuscations along proximal veins of apical cells 1–3 and light infuscations along outer margins of apical cells 1–3 in most specimens; plaga grey, covering jejum, with translucent area near distal margin.

Opercula pale yellowish brown, with black lateral margins; spatulate, not extending beyond posterior margin of sternite II, rounded medially, almost meeting on midline.

Timbals (Fig. 2 B) with 5 long ribs; ribs 1–4 dark brown, full length fused ventrally, thinner through dorsal half to prominent central expansion, thicker ventrally, pale brown to yellow, interspersed by three intercalary ribs; rib 5 discontinuous centrally. Timbal plate prominent; timbal dome pale brown, extending over half width of timbal, inverted distally. Apodeme pit small, slit like, conspicuous.

Abdomen with tergites mainly brown, darker medially, lighter laterally, with black longitudinal stripe near lateral margins; tergite 1 brown; timbal covers pale brown, triangulate and convex, completely covering timbals; tergites 2–7 brown; tergite 8 dark brown; sternites pale brown, translucent.

Genitalia (Fig. 3 C–D): Pygofer trapezoid in ventral view; dorsal beak short, rounded, protruding upwards in lateral view, not extending to elongated anal styles; distal shoulder acute, directed and curved laterally; uncal lobe long, with apposed inner margins, with lateral margins angled anteriorly towards rounded apex, spatulate and gently curved in lateral view; basal lobe stout and curved inward in ventral view. Aedeagus short, concealed within uncus.

Description of female (Fig. 5 C–D). Head and thorax similar to male, with generally darker and greenish coloration; pronotal collar olive green, ampliate laterally; mesonotum distinctly olive green with similar black patterns to male.

Wings similar to male, darker infuscations along posterior margins of apical cells 1–6.

Abdomen dark brown; tergite 1 brown; tergites 2–3 with black anterior margins, brown posteriorly; tergites 3– 8 black-brown medially, browner laterally with distinct golden hairs; sternites I–VII dark brown to black, black mottling along anterior margins; abdominal segment 9 black, dark brown laterally, green along dorsal midline. Ovipositor dark brown, not extending beyond abdomen.

Measurements (12 males, 2 females). Body length: male 35.2–39.1 (36.8); female 27.8–31.0 (29.9). Length of head + thorax: male 13.8–16.0 (14.7); female 13.4–14.9 (14.2). Length of abdomen: male 19.6–23.8 (22.0); female 14.4–16.1 (15.2). Fore wing length: male 39.6–44.8 (42.0); female 41.5–44.5 (42.9). Head width: male 8.3–9.3 (8.9); female 8.8–9.2 (9.0). Pronotum width: male 9.9–11.1 (10.5); female 9.0–9.4 (9.2). Abdomen width: male 12.0–13.9 (12.8); female 11.8–11.8 (11.8).

Etymology. The name “ spiritus ” (Latin masculine noun for spirit) derives from the Vietnamese “ Linh ” (spirit, soul), reflecting the predominant location of this species on Ngoc Linh Nature Reserves.

Distinguishing features. Males of S. spiritus sp. nov. lack the continuous infuscation along the posterior margin of the hind wing apical cells 1–6, so are readily distinguished from S. klapperichi, S. majuscula, S. magna sp. nov., and S. tibetensis. Semia spiritus sp. nov. (body length> 35.2 mm) is larger than S. spinosa (body length <30 mm), S. gialaiensis (body length <34 mm), S. albusequi sp. nov., (body length <30 mm), and the single male of S. brevidilata (body length 34 mm). Semia spiritus sp. nov. lacks the distinct white pollinosity present on the tergite 8 of S. watanabei. The large timbal covers on S. spiritus sp. nov. contrast with rudimentary covers which leave the majority of timbals exposed in S. lachna, S. brevidilata, and S. watanabei. The dark brown coloration of S. spiritus sp. nov. contrasts with the pallor of S. pallida sp. nov. and the olive-brown markings on S. hainanensis . Semia spiritus sp. nov. also lacks the black markings seen laterally on the pronotal collar and tibiae of S. hainanensis .

Distribution, habitat, and seasonality. This species has been found in Central Vietnam at Bach Ma National Park and Ngoc Linh Nature Reserves and 500 km southwards at Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (Fig. 4). Specimens have been collected between March and May.