Turanica charyna Volynkin & Titov, sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 109F1FD3-AB73-48FE-AB6A-2E63D5740724

(Figs 3–7, 29, 30, 43)

Type material. Holotype (Figs 3, 29): male, “ 10–11.IX.2012, SE Kazakhstan, | Charyn River valley, | Sarytogay Natural Landmark, | Fraxinus sogdiana grove edge, | 43°30'30.945"N 79°13'16.681"E, | 766m, local collector leg.” / “Slide | AV9641 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” (CAV).

Paratypes. KAZAKHSTAN: 37 males, 5 females, same data as in holotype, gen. slide Nos.: AV9129 ♂, AV9130 ♂, AV9638 ♂, AV9642 ♀ (CAV).

Note. In the male genitalia, two of four dissected specimens of the new species lack the proximal cornutus. This phenomenon was already observed in other genera of Noctuidae belonging to different subfamilies or tribes (e.g., Photedes Lederer, 1857, Conistra Hübner, [1821], Shargacucullia Ronkay & Ronkay, 1992).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0–15.0 mm in males and 14.5 mm in the female. Turanica charyna sp. n. (Figs 3–7) can be externally distinguished from its only congener T. heraetica (Püngeler, 1902) (Figs 8–10) by the darker, ochreous brown with grey suffusion forewing ground colour (whereas it is ochreous in T. heraetica), and the more diffuse forewing markings, which are distinct and contrast in T. heraetica. The male genital capsule of the new species (Figs 29, 30) differs from T. heraetica (Figs 31, 32) in the distally broader valva with a slightly longer corona, the somewhat shorter penicular lobe, and the juxta shape: in T. charyna sp. n. it is evenly tapering dorsally and has a very short, denticleshaped medio-ventral protrusion whereas the juxta of T. heraetica is more medially constricted and has a well-protruding broadly triangular ventral section. Compared to T. heraetica, the vesica of T. charyna sp. n. is somewhat shorter, has a narrower distal section, and its proximal cornutus is situated more distally. In the female genitalia, the new species (Fig. 43) differs from T. heraetica (Fig. 44) in the markedly more apically dilated apophyses, the more heavily and densely setose 8 th abdominal segment, the broader antevaginal plate with a trapezoidal anterio-medial protrusion (whereas the antevaginal plate of T. heraetica is crescent-shaped), and the somewhat broader and more weakly sclerotised and rugose appendix bursae.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in Southeast Kazakhstan.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Charyn River, in the valley of which the new species is found. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.