Bryoleuca pljushtchi Pekarsky, 2015, sp. n.

Bryoleuca pljushtchi sp. n. (Fig. 1)

Type material. Holotype: female (Fig. 1), Afghanistan, Sabzil, 2850 m, 19– 20.07.2013, leg. O. Pak & I. Pljushtch, Slide No. OP 2688m (coll. O. Pekarsky).

Diagnosis. The new species for the first inattentive look could be taken for an Athaumasta Hampson, 1906, however the slenderer thorax, narrower, more elongated forewing with oblique termen and the patternless hindwing indicate its position within the genus Bryoleuca (Athaumasta has robust thorax, broader forewing, and conspicuous pattern on hindwing). It belongs, according to its genitalia structure, to the raptricula species-group which is characterized by large size of the female genitalia, very short ductus bursae, presence of elongated sclerotized longitudinal plate in anterior part of ductus bursae, sclerotized appendix bursae. The new species is especially close to B. orthogramma (Fig. 8), though being externally strikingly different from all other congeners. The female genitalia of B. pljushtchi (Fig. 7) differ from all relatives by the significantly larger size, large, practically rectangular antrum, smoothly sclerotized longitudinal plate in anterior part of ductus bursae, large appendix bursae with heavily sclerotized, cup-like apical plate. Comparing with B. pljushtchi, only B. volodia (Fig. 12) has relatively similar rectangular shape of antrum, but the other parts of the genitalia are, however, conspicuously different. The other related species, B. raptricula, (Fig. 10), B. felina (Fig. 11), B. orthogramm a, and B. nahnybidai (Fig. 9) have narrow, shield-like antrum and wrinkled anterior part of corpus bursae.

Description. Adults (Fig. 1). Wingspan 35 mm. Head, collar, thorax, tegulae and abdomen pale clay-yellow. Forewing elongated; apex rounded; outer margin with straight upper part (from apex to vein M3) and oblique lower part (from vein M3 to vein A1). Ground colour pale clay-yellow; elements of noctuid pattern dark brown; basal line as dark dot on vein A; subbasal and antemedial lines undulate; median fascia present, diffuse, passing through orbicular stigma; postmedial line dentate, sinuous; subterminal line distinct; pre-apical patch small; reniform stigma rather elliptical; orbicular stigma large, lunulate; claviform stigma absent; cilia as ground colour. Hindwing as ground colour but lighter in shade; discal lunule absent. Female genitalia (Fig. 7). Ovipositor large, wide, densely covered with hair-like setae; anterior apophyses long, posterior apophyses slightly longer and thinner than anterior apophyses. Antrum broad, ventral plate large, rectangular; subgenital plate (8th abdominal segment) wide, well sclerotized; ductus bursae short; corpus bursae elliptical, membranous, posterior part with longitudinal sclerotized plate; appendix bursae large with heavily sclerotized, cup-like apical plate.

Distribution and bionomics. The new species is known from its type locality, Afghanistan, Sabzil. B. pljushtchi inhabits floodplain meadow bordering dry rocky hill biotope (Fig. 13).

Etymology. The species name is dedicated to Igor Pljushtch, collector of the holotype specimen.