Phlogophora sinuata ( Moore, 1882 )

Bandyopadhyay, Uttaran, Dey, Rushati, Bhattacharyya, Kamalika, Mallick, Kaushik, Mazumder, Arna, Gayen, Subrata, Das, Moumita, Raha, Angshuman, Sanyal, Abesh Kumar, Kumar, Vikas, Uniyal, Virendra Prasad & Chandra, Kailash, 2021, Taxonomy and ecology of genus Phlogophora Treitschke, 1825 (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) in Indian Himalaya with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5004 (2), pp. 311-342 : 325-326

Phlogophora sinuata ( Moore, 1882)

[ Fig. 10 ]

Euplexia sinuata Moore, 1882 , Descr. Indian lep. Atkinson, (2): 125.

Euplexia sinuata Moore : Hampson, 1908, Cat. Lepid. Phalaenae Br. Mus., 7: 220.

Phlogophora sinuata (Moore) : Yoshimoto, 1994, in Haruta, Tinea , 14: 110.

Type locality: Darjeeling [ India, West Bengal]

Material examined: India: 1 ♂, West Bengal, Dist. Darjeeling, Singalila National Park, Gairibas , 27.05090° N, 088.03360° E, 2494 m, 21. V. 2018; coll. K. Bhattacharyya & team .

Diagnosis: Wing expanse: Male: 34 mm. The species is typically characterized by the distinct whitish sinuous antemedial band strongly angled outward below the cell, and thus can be differentiated with the closely related P. albovittata and P. pectinata , which have the antemedial white band bent inward below the cell. The basal area of forewing is much darker and wider, thus the antemedial band is relatively narrower compared to other two species. A small ochreous patch in the basal area and a distinct large ochreous patch beyond the reniform. Submarginal line sinuous, complete, defined by black in inner side and purplish-grey at outer side as in pectinata while albovittata lacks the submarginal line.

Male genitalia: Unfortunately, the male genitalia structure could not be examined as the abdomen of the single collected specimen was unavailable.

Distribution: India: Sikkim, West Bengal ( Moore 1882; Hampson 1908). Global: Nepal ( Yoshimoto 1994).

Bionomics: A very rare species, restricted to the Central Himalaya and till date only recorded from Nepal on a single occasion after its description. One single individual was captured from the adjacent area of the type locality in the pre-monsoon month of May. The species is only reported around 2500 m altitude in the Wet Temperate forests at an average trap night temperature of 12.24 ºC and average trap night humidity of 93.67%.

Figures

FIGURES 3–10. Habitus images of Phlogophora spp. 3. Phlogophora nobilis Hreblay & Ronkay, 1998; 4. Phlogophora costalis (Moore, 1882); 5. Phlogophora humilis Hreblay & Ronkay, 1998; 6. Phlogophora meticulodina (Draudt, 1950)*; 7. Phlogophora conservuloides (Hampson, 1898); 8. Phlogophora distorta (Moore, 1881); 9. Phlogophora szecsenyii (Hreblay & Ronkay, 1998); 10. Phlogophora sinuata (Moore, 1882). *Image procured from Dr Péter Gyulai, Hungary, through personal correspondence.