O. Merkl szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 69. (Budapest, 2008)

Diagnosis - The new species belongs to the subgenus Cardiestra BOURSIN, 1963 (see HACKER 1998). It can be distinguished from all but one related species by its the reddish-brown colouration (the exception is Hadula {Cardiestra)gobideserti (VARGA, 1973)), the broader, less elongated, shorter fore wing and apex, the unusually rounded outer margin, the darker subterminal line, the shape of ante- and postmedial lines, the prominent dark discal spots on the underside of wings and, last but not least, the autumnal flight period as well. The male copulatory organ is rather uniform within the subgenus, which can be divided into two species groups on the basis of the structure of the cucullus. The eremistis group has narrow neck connecting the long and narrow cucullus to the main part of the valva, while in the other group, comprising the new species and H. (C.) longicucullus GYULAI, 2002, the neck is absent and the cucullus is direct continuation of the valva. Another synapomorphy of the latter lineage is the presence of a third diverticulum of the vesica armed with a short terminal cornutus. Hadula (C.) halophila differs from its close relative by its significantly shorter cucullus, broad, finely bifurcate harpe and less inflated vesica with weaker third diverticulum. Description - Male (Fig. 3). Wingspan 23.0 mm, length of fore wing 13.0 mm. Pubescence of head, palpi and thorax pale reddish brown, with fine silky pinkish shade; this shining is slightly paler on underside. Eyes globular; antennae densely ciliate, brown with whitish rings, more whitish terminally. Fore wings rather broad, apex finely triangular, outer margin evenly, rather strongly arched. Ground colour reddish brown, rather concolorous, only medial field somewhat darker. All elements of noctuid pattern except conspicuous, large reniform stigma. Costa striolate; crosslines derive with black patches on the edge of the fore wing than rather obsolescent. Basal and antemedial crosslines double, tortuous, postmedial line fine, slightly arcuated, sinuous. Orbicular stigma small, elliptical, poorly visible; reniform stigma large, finely encircled with brown line and surrounded with darker ghost, filled with ground colour; claviform stigma represented by a fine dark chevron. Subterminal line disrupted, zigzag, defined with diffuse brown patches at inner side. Terminal line interrupted, represented by a row of black dots. Cilia as ground colour, with fine ochreous line at base, spotted with darker grey-brown. Hind wing whitish, suffused with dark greyish brown; discal spot well-defined; marginal field somewhat darker; cilia pinkish-ochreous, chequered with brown. Underside of wings whitish fawn-coloured with fine pinkish shade and dark brownish irroration. Discal spots conspicuous, dark brown, that of hind wing extended towards outer margin. Fore wing cilia chequered with brown, hind wing cilia unicolorous. Female unknown.