S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 62. (Budapest, 2001)

SYSTEMATIC PART Autophila deleta sp. n. Holotype — Male: "Iran, Prov. Mazandaran, Elburz Mts, 20 km E of Valiabad, 3190 m, 3614' N, 5116' E, 26.X.2000., leg. B. Benedek and Gy. Fábián" (coll. Gy. Fábián, deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum (HNHM), Budapest). Slide No. BB1 Benedek (male). Diagnosis — The new species is a close relative of the Autophila hirsutula (Alphéraky, 1894) - A. fuscolampra Hacker et Ronkay, 1990 species-pair. The three species are rather similar externally and the genitalia of the taxa show also slight, although clearly recognisable differences. Autophila deleta differs externally from the other two taxa by its paler, more ochreous, practically patternless fore wings, while the two other species are darker in colouration, and the two main crosslines are present, though they are often diffuse or obsolescent. The male genital capsula of A. deleta is confusingly similar to that of A. fuscolampra, only the saccular extensions appear to be slightly longer. The main differences between the two taxa can be found in the carina and the configuration of the vesica: the small, folded, finely dentate plate of the carina of the new species is smaller, and it is situated dorsally (this plate is larger, rather flat in case of A. fuscolampra, originating from the ventral edge of the carina), the vesica of A. deleta is somewhat more elongate, having only ventro-lateral and ventral diverticula (see Fig. 7) while A. fuscolampra has well-developed dorsal diverticulum, besides the ventro-lateral and ventral ones (see Hacker & Ronkay 1990, p. 390, Fig. 78). Description — Male: Wingspan 30 mm, length of fore wing 12 mm. Body robust, dorso-ventrally flattened, pubescence of head and thorax very long, roughly shaggy. Head pale greyish brown; palpi short, ochreous-brownish; antenna filiform, dorsal surface covered densely with whitish-ochreous scales. Vestiture of thorax ochreous brown with intense golden shining; legs golden ochreous; abdomen paler greyish, strongly shiny. Fore wing elongate, rather narrow, with apex finely pointed. Ground colour unicolorous, pale brown with ochreous shade; noctuid maculation reduced to pale greyish shadow of reniform stigma, all other elements deleted. Cilia long, as ground colour. Hind wing unicolorous, patternless, ochreous white, with intense greasy shine; cilia long, golden-ochreous. Underside of both wings metallic ochreous, very shiny, without darker pattern. Female unknown. Male genitalia (Fig. 7): Uncus large, robust, distally broadened, rather horn-bill-like, with apex finely hooked, tegumen narrow, long, sclerotized, without peniculi. Fultura inferior triangular, membranous with broad, reversed V-shaped marginal sclerotization; vinculum long, strong, V-shaped. Valva elongate, narrow at base, dilated distally towards rounded, broad apical part. Sacculus narrow, very long, heavily sclerotized; apical saccular extensions very small, fine, acutely triangular. Aedeagus rather short, strong, slightly sinuous, broader at distal end. Carina sclerotized, with small, folded, finely dentate ventral plate. Vesica an elongate, ample sac, everted forward, ductus ejaculatorius originating proximad from near lateral edge of carina. Walls of vesica membranous, frontal (apical) part covered sparsely with minute teeth, most parts of all diverticula finely verrucose. Dorsal surface more or less convex, without diverticulum, ventral side with large, semiglobular basal diverticulum, and with two smaller, pocket-like ventro-lateral diverticula medially.