Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron Hampson, 1893 (Erebidae, Boletobiinae, Araeopteronini), with the checklist of the genus from China

259 Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron Hampson, 1893 (Erebidae, Boletobiinae, Araeopteronini), with the checklist of the genus from China Yuanyuan Jin1* , Chunhua Yao1* , Huilin Han1,2,3 1 School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China 2 Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China 3 Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China Corresponding author: Huilin Han ([email protected]) Copyright: © Yuanyuan Jin et al. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0). Research Article Abstract Four new species of the genus Araeopteron Hampson, 1893 are described: A. maculas sp. nov., A. simaoensis sp. nov., A. submedogensis sp. nov., and A. kononenkoi sp. nov., and A. xanthopis (Hampson, 1907) is reported for the first time from China. The new species are diagnosed based on the adult habitus and genitalia, and compared with related species. Meanwhile, the genitalia of A. xanthopis are illustrated and described for the first time in this study. Key words: Guizhou, new record, new species, Noctuoidea, taxonomy, Xizang, Yunnan Introduction In the early studies, investigations on the genus Araeopteron were conducted by numerous researchers, though it was placed in different subfamilies within the family Noctuidae sensu lato (Hampson 1910; Inoue 1958, 1965; Nye 1975; Sugi 1982; Poole 1989; Kononenko 1990, 2003, 2005; Kononenko et al. 1998; Fibiger and Agassiz 2001; Fibiger and Hacker 2001; Fibiger and Kononenko 2008). With the establishment and stabilization of the status of Araeopteronini Fibiger, 2005, the genus Araeopteron was assigned to the tribe Araeopteronini within the subfamily Boletobiinae (family Erebidae). This classification has been accepted by subsequent researchers (Holloway 2011; Zahiri et al. 2012; Kononenko 2016; Han et al. 2020; Wu et al. 2020; Han and Kononenko 2021; Hirano 2021; Cheng and Han 2022). At present, eight species of the genus Araeopteron have been recorded from China. The first species of this genus in China, A. nebulosa Inoue, 1965, was recorded from Hong Kong by Ades and Kendrick (2004). Since then, the following new species have been discovered from China: A. dawai Han & Kononenko, 2021, A. medogensis Han & Kononenko, 2021, and A. tibeta Han & Kononenko, 2021 from the Xizang Autonomous Region (Han and Kononenko 2021). The remaining four species: A. amoena Inoue, Academic editor: Reza Zahiri Received: 21 May 2025 Accepted: 14 August 2025 Published: 22 October 2025 ZooBank: https://zoobank. org/3D4415C4-B8BB-4D24-B9E4E3525F15176B Citation: Jin Y, Yao C, Han H (2025) Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron Hampson, 1893 (Erebidae, Boletobiinae, Araeopteronini), with the checklist of the genus from China. ZooKeys 1256: 259–273. https://doi.org/10.3897/ zookeys.1256.159686 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025) DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 * These authors contributed equally to this work. 260 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China 1958, A. canescens (Walker, [1866] 1865), A. fasciale (Hampson, 1896), and A. fragmenta Inoue, 1965, were reported by other researchers (Fibiger and Kononenko 2008; Cao and Han 2016; Lelej 2016; Han et al. 2020; Wu et al. 2020; Cheng and Han 2022). Material and methods Adults were photographed with a Nikon D700 camera before preservation. Genitalia were dissected and prepared following standard methods (Kononenko and Han 2007). Genitalia images were captured using an AOSVI Hk-830 microscope and processed with Helicon Focus v. 7.0 and Adobe Photoshop CS6. All examined specimens, including the type specimens, are deposited in the collection at Northeast Forestry University (NEFU), Harbin, China. Institutional (and other) abbreviations NEFU Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China ZMUC Zoological Museum University Copenhagen, Denmark BMNH The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom TS Type species TL Type locality Systematic account Family Erebidae Leach, [1815] Subfamily Boletobiinae Guenée [1858] 1857 Tribe Araeopteronini Fibiger, 2005 Araeopteroninae Fibiger, 2005, Esperiana 11: 25. Araeopteronini: Holloway 2011; Zahiri et al. 2012; Kononenko and Pinratana 2013; Kononenko 2016; Wu et al. 2020. Genus Araeopteron Hampson, 1893 Common name: 纤翅夜蛾属 Araeopteron Hampson, 1893, Illustrations of Typical Specimens of Lepidoptera Heterocera in the Collection of the British Museum 9: 33, 136. TS: Araeopteron pictale Hampson, 1893. TL: Sri Lanka. Araeopteron maculas sp. nov. https://zoobank.org/DD79D194-5E1E-461E-8013-AAB5AE29E82D Figs 1, 2, 13, 21 Common name: 密点纤翅夜蛾 Material examined. Holotype: China • ♂; Guizhou, Zunyi City, Xintiankan Village; 06–07.VIII.2020; HL. Han, J. Wu leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-5011-1; in NEFU. 261 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China Paratypes: China • 1♂1♀; same data as holotype; HL. Han, J. Wu leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-5013-1, hhl-5012-2; in NEFU. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to A. ussurica Fibiger & Kononenko, 2008 (Figs 5, 14), but it can be distinguished by external features and the structure of the male genitalia (characters for A. ussurica are given in parentheses): Adult. The ground color of the forewing in A. maculas sp. nov. is generally whiter, with a smoky grey to grey-brown tinge (darker grayish, strongly suffused with Figures 1–6. Adults of Araeopteron spp. 1. A. maculas sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 2. A. maculas sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 3. A. simaoensis sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 4. A. submedogensis sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 5. A. ussurica, male (after Fibiger and Kononenko 2008, ZMUC); 6. A. medogensis, male (after Han and Kononenko 2021, NEFU). Scale bars: 1 mm. 262 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China white scales, especially at basal and costal area); the basal line is represented by two fuzzy black dots (absent); the antemedial line is obliquely inward-slanting, discontinuous, and mixed with chrome yellow (indistinct and mixed with greenish grey); the median line is wavy, more indistinct only on the costal margin, and mixed with chrome yellow (finer in the costal area, gradually becoming broader and darker towards the remaining sections, and mixed with greenish grey). Male genitalia. The tegumen bears two distinct, triangular, paratergal sclerites (broad and curved); the saccus is approximately square in shaped (V-shaped); the uncus is short and broad (long and narrow). Description. Adult (Figs 1, 2). Wingspan 9.0–10.0 mm. Antennae filiform. Head, patagia, tegula, and thorax covered with grizzled scales. Abdomen brown, interspersed with grey. Forewing grayish brown, suffused with gray, scattered with pale spots of varying sizes; antemedial and median area noticeably paler than the ground color; basal line represented by two diffuse black dots; antemedial line brown, mixed with chrome yellow, bent, obliquely inward, discontinuous; median line wavy, brown, represented by a distinct black dot on costal margin, mixed with chrome yellow; postmedial line wavy, indistinct; subterminal line blackish brown, blending with the ground color; terminal line brown, appearing as a series of dots along the veins; fringe brown, intermixed with gray; reniform stigma crescent-shaped, diffuse. Hindwing grayish brown, interspersed with grizzled scales; antemedial line indistinct; median line blackish brown, broad, curved near the Cu2 area; postmedial line slender, slightly wavy, suffused with white; terminal line same as on forewing; fringe slightly paler than forewing; discal spot scattered. Male genitalia (Fig. 13). Tegumen is simple at the upper half, with triangular ear-like lobe situated at basal half and having right-angled tip. Vinculum sclerotized, U-shaped. Saccus approximately square-shaped. Valva slightly sclerotized, with minute grains; costa narrow basally, gradually broadened and rounded apically; sacculus narrow, sclerotized, rounded apically, exceeding cucullus. Uncus short and broad, as long as c. 1/2 length of tegumen. Juxta weakly sclerotized. Aedeagus tubular; vesica with tiny sclerotized grains. Female genitalia (Fig. 21). Papillae anales slightly sclerotized, broad. Apophysis posterioris and apophysis anterioris slender, length of posterioris exceeding that of anterioris by 3/4 times. Antrum slightly hardened, bearing a few spurs, connecting ductus bursae and corpus bursae. Ductus bursae membranous, narrow. Corpus bursae oval-shaped. Distribution. China (Guizhou). Etymology. The species name is based on the wing characteristics of the adult moth. Araeopteron simaoensis sp. nov. https://zoobank.org/31C7551B-DFC5-4886-ACD4-9F052908B722 Figs 3, 15 Common name: 思茅纤翅夜蛾 Material examined. Holotype: China • ♂; Yunnan, Simao District, Manxieba Village; 22.VII.2012; HL. Han, XX. Jin, H. Geng leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-4442-1; in NEFU. Paratypes: China • 2♂; same data as holotype; HL. Han, XX. Jin, H. Geng leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-4445-1, hhl-4452-1, in NEFU. 263 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China Diagnosis. The new species is similar to A. medogensis Han & Kononenko, 2021 (Figs 6, 16), but can be distinguished by the following morphological characters (characters for A. medogensis are in parentheses): Adult. The background color of forewing in A. simaoensis sp. nov. is more yellowish brown (pale grayish to whitish); the antemedial and median lines of hindwing are more distinct, black-brown between double lines (indistinct, it is lighter, grayish); the outer margin of the hindwing is slightly concave medially (sinuous). Male genitalia. The paratergal sclerites are wider and rounder (smaller); the saccus is tongue-shaped (U-shaped); the clasper is fused to the sacculus, has a sharp and gradually narrowing harpe in 2/3 length of valva (with pointed and tapered harpe in its apical 1/3); the costa is narrow basally, gradually bulging in the apical 2/5 part of the valva (with arched bulge in apical 1/2 part of valva). Description. Adult (Fig. 3). Wingspan 9.0–10.0 mm. Antennae filiform. Head, patagia, tegula, and thorax grayish white. Abdomen brown, covered with grey. Forewing pale smoky grey with brownish, adorned with black dots along the costa; basal line oblique, blurred and discontinuous, with smoky yellow; antemedial line yellow-brown, wavy, oblique; median line smoky brown, indistinct and wavy; postmedial line indistinct, rising to M2, then bending and continuing obliquely; median area appearing darker than rest of wing; subterminal line grayish white, indistinct and wavy; terminal line barely discernible; fringe smoky brown, mixed with white; reniform stigma round and hazy. Hindwing brown with yellowish brown, slightly darker than the forewing; antemedial line blackish brown and hazy; median line parallel to postmedial line, blackish brown, with dark brown between double lines; interspersed with tawny; fringe weakly darker than forewing; discal spot absent. Male genitalia (Fig. 15). Tegumen membranous, triangular, with broader and rounded ear lobes on both sides. Vinculum wide and thick, slightly sclerotized, V-shaped. Saccus tongue-shaped, weakly sclerotized. Valva narrowed basally; sacculus weakly sclerotized, gradually rounded apically; clasper fused to the sacculus, with a sharp, narrowing harpe, placed at c. 2/3 length from base of valva; costa narrow basally, gradually bulging apically. Uncus short, approximately as long as 1/2 length of tegumen, weakly curved, relatively sclerotized. Juxta membranous. Aedeagus short, tube-shaped, slightly curved; coecum rounded, as long as 1/4 length of aedeagus, strongly sclerotized; vesica membranous, covered with small grains. Female genitalia. Unknown. Distribution. China (Yunnan). Etymology. This species name is derived from the locality of the type, Simao. Araeopteron submedogensis sp. nov. https://zoobank.org/75B7EBE8-4DEB-4C26-90A2-8BCB035CB8A0 Figs 4, 17 Common name: 亚墨纤翅夜蛾 Material examined. Holotype: China • ♂; Aut. Reg. Xizang, Nyingchi City, Motuo (=Medog) County, Beibeng Township, Dergong Village; 26.V–4.VI.2021; HL. Han leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-5016-1; in NEFU. Paratype: China • 1♂; same data as holotype; HL. Han leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-5018-1; in NEFU. 264 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China Diagnosis. The new species is similar to A. medogensis (Figs 6, 16), but it can be distinguished by the following morphological characters (characters for A. medogensis are in parentheses): Adult. The background color of forewing is pale grayish to whitish (pale grayish yellow, mixed with brown); the antemedial line formed by two brown bands, luminous bright orange at costal area, and the other part slender (continuous, brown with yellow at costal area). Male genitalia. The paratergal sclerites are absent, almost integrated with vinculum (thin, broadened apically); the saccus is wide, U-shaped, basally thickened and sclerotized (narrow U-shaped); the clasper is absent (present with a sharp and narrowing harpe in its apical 1/3). Description. Adult (Fig. 4). Wingspan 11.0–12.0 mm. Antennae filiform, with white scales. Head, patagia, and tegula covered with white; thorax grayish white. Forewing grayish white, suffused with many dark grey or blackish patches; basal line represented by a brown dot at the costal margin; antemedial line wavy, oblique, formed by two brown bands, with bright orange at costal area, its other part slender; median line, beige brown, with a black dot mixed luminous bright orange at costal area; postmedial line brown, indistinct, wavy, scattered; with dark brown between median and postmedial lines; subterminal line grayish white, wavy; terminal line brown, with a large dot on costal margin, other black and small; reniform stigma indicated by two black spots; fringe grey, mixed with brown. Hindwing grey, suffused with blackish; basal line blackish brown; transverse line blackish brown, with a black band on anal margin; marginal shade blackish brown; fringe same colour as on forewing. Male genitalia (Fig. 17). Tegumen triangular, weakly thickened. Paratergal sclerites absent. Vinculum thick, strongly sclerotized, flat, and U-shaped. Saccus wide, U-shaped, thickened and sclerotized at the base. Valva membranous, constricted at the middle; sacculus approximately 1/2 the width of valva, rounded apically; clasper absent; costa basally thin, swollen at 2/3 width of valva. Uncus short, as long as 1/2 of tegumen. Juxta membranous. Aedeagus long, narrow, slightly curved; vesica membranous, spineless. Female genitalia. Unknown. Distribution. China (Xizang). Etymology. This species name is derived from the locality of the type, Motuo (=Medog), and it is closely related to the existing A. medogensis. Araeopteron kononenkoi sp. nov. https://zoobank.org/D29B64B7-4135-4647-A578-761870E8F408 Figs 7, 8, 19, 22 Common name: 滇纤翅夜蛾 Material examined. Holotype: China • ♂; Yunnan, Baoshan City, Longyang District, Baihualing Village, Mt. Gaoligong; 30.VII–2.VIII.2014; HL. Han leg.; genit. prep. no. hhl-4461-1; in NEFU. Paratype. China • 1♀; Yunnan, Simao District, Beishan; 21.VII.2012; HL. Han, XX. Jin, H. Geng leg.; genit, prep. no. hhl-44601; in NEFU. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to A. legraini Bippus, 2018 (Figs 9, 10, 20, 23), but can be distinguished by external morphology and the structure of the genitalia (characters for A. legraini are in parentheses): 265 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China Adult. The subterminal line bears a large and brown dot at the costal margin, slender at other part (thick and flared, except delicately in the middle part); the postmedial line is reduced to a tawny bar on the inner margin (a large, irregularly scattered black patch on the inner margin); with a blackish-brown field near the apex, forming a patch at wing apex (without an additional patch at the wing apex). Male genitalia. The tegumen is short and thin (long and thick); the cucullus is rounded, rectangular in shape (moderately broadened with a bilobed apex); Figures 7–12. Adults of Araeopteron spp. 7. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 8. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 9. A. legraini (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 10. A. legraini (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 11. A. xanthopis, male (NEFU); 12. A. xanthopis, female (NEFU). Scale bars: 1 mm. 266 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China the uncus is weakly sclerotized (strongly sclerotized); the vesica is membranous, without grains (covered with numerous minute grains, and with a small cornuti band). Female genitalia. The apophysis posterioris longer than apophysis anterioris (anterioris and posterioris almost equal in length); the signum is strongly sclerotized, pie-shaped, with numerous long spines (knob-shaped, with short spines). Figures 13–18. Male genitalia of Araeopteron spp. 13. A. maculas sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 14. A. ussurica sp. nov., male, paratype (after Fibiger and Kononenko 2008, ZMUC); 15. A. simaoensis sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 16. A. medogensis, male (after Han and Kononenko 2021, NEFU); 17. A. submedogensis sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 18. A. xanthopis, male (NEFU). 267 ZooKeys 1256: 259–273 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1256.159686 Yuanyuan Jin et al.: Four new and one newly recorded species of Araeopteron from China Description. Adult (Figs 7, 8). Wingspan 11.0–11.5 mm. Antennae filiform. Head, patagia, and tegula covered with cream-white scales, mixed with beige; thorax brown, covered with cream-white. Abdomen dark brownish tan, covered with off-white. Forewing cream-white, with distinct brown bands along the costal margin; basal line brown, wavy, with a black dot at costal margin; antemedial line brown, wavy, oblique, the top part showing a shade of daffodil yellow, and with a black dot on costal margin; median line, brown, diffused, only as a distinct black dot at costal margin; postmedial brown, bent in as M-shaped; subterminal line brownish yellow, double, indistinct, and wavy, with a white area between double lines and with a large and brown dot at costal margin; a blackish-brown field near the apex forming a distinct patch at wing apex; reniform stigma black; fringe brown to grayish yellow. Hindwing darker than forewing, off-white with grayish; antemedial line blackish brown; median line brown, diffused; postmedial line Figures 19–24. Male and female genitalia of Araeopteron spp. 19. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., male, holotype (NEFU); 20. A. legraini, male (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 21. A. maculas sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 22. A. kononenkoi sp. nov., female, paratype (NEFU); 23. A. legraini, female (after Bippus 2018, BMNH); 24. A. xanthopis, female (NEFU).