Miltochrista berdepsebunda, Volynkin & Singh & Černý & Joshi, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Navneet, Černý, Karel & Joshi, Rahul, 2021, Taxonomic review of the Miltochrista pudibunda (Snellen) species-group (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4995 (3), pp. 551-564 : 557-558

Miltochrista berdepsebunda sp. nov.

( Figs 15–18 , 28–30 , 36 )

Asura pudibunda: Hampson (1900)

Lyclene minibunda: Černý & Pinratana (2009 , partim)

Lyclene pudibunda: Holloway (2001) , Bucsek (2012)

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 15 , 28 ): male, “ Malaysia, Pahang distr., Endau Rompin State park, Camping by The Kincin River , 50m, 2°37´10.4´´N, 103°20´10.9´´E, 28.3.2010 – 9.4.2010, leg. Karol Bucsek ” / “Slide ZSM Arct. 2019- 994m # A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. MALAYSIA: 1 female, same locality and collector as holotype, 1–13.III.2011, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-996 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, Pahang distr., Cameron Highlands, Kampung Kuala Boh vill. env., 4°27.9´N 101°34.8´E, 850–1050m, 26.III.–3.IV.2001, K. Bucsek leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-995 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, Sarawak, Gunong Mulu Nat. Park, R.G.S. Exped. 1977–8, J.D. Holloway et al., B.M. 1978-206 / Site 20, III–IV, W. Melinau Gorge, 150m, 422577, FEG3. Kerangas. MV-understorey, unique number NHMUK010918574, gen. prep. No.: Arct. 4770 ( NHMUK) ; 1 female, Sarawak, Gunong Mulu Nat. Park, R.G.S. Exped. 1977–8, J.D. Holloway et al., B.M. 1978-206 / Site 15, II, Camp 2.5, Mulu , 1000m, 413461, Lower I. Montane f., MV-understorey, unique number NHMUK010918575, gen. prep. No.: Arct. 5358 ( NHMUK) ; BRUNEI: 1 male, 65m, Labi Road at mile 1, secondary veg., 30.II.1979, R. Fairclough / Brit. Mus. 1980 627 / Figured specimen Moths of Borneo Part 7, unique number NHMUK010918573, gen. prep. No.: Arct. 5314 ( NHMUK) ; INDONESIA: 1 male, W Sumatra, 7 km E Panil , 0.12°N 100.01°E, 16.IX.1991, 1000m, Graul & Schintlmeister leg. ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, Sumatra (NW Aceh), Mt. Silawa (600m), 84 km E Banda Aceh, 23–29.III.1993, Dr. R. Brechlin [leg.], gen. prep. No.: AV2668 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, Sumatra ( Balakhand ), HV II; (1050m), 2°47´N 98°56´E, 13–31.III.1993, Dr. R. Brechlin [leg.], gen. prep. No.: AV2669 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; 1 female, W Sumatra, Siberut Island, Labuhan Bajan , 100m, 0°58´S 98°56´E, I.2004, St. Jakl leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-999 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; THAILAND: 1 female, SW Thailand, Phathalung , 30 km W Phathalun, 7°35.08´N 99°49.263´E, 10.XII.2007, K. Černý leg. / Paratype Lyclene minibunda sp. n. Karel Černý 2009, gen. prep. No.: AV2667 (pre- pared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; INDIA: 1 male, Khasis , Nov. 1895, Nat. Coll. / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique number: NHMUK010604631 ( NHMUK) ; 1 female, Khasis, Nat. Coll. / Collectio H.J. Elwes / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique number: NHMUK010604632 ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, W Meghalaya, Umran , 33 km N Shillong, 25°45´N 91°53´E, 8–11.XI.1997, H = ca 800m, V. Sinyaev, V., S. & M. Murzin leg. ( CKC) ; 2 males, the same data as previous ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 female, W Meghalaya, Umran , 33 km N Shillong, 26°06‘N, 92°23‘E, 800 m, 14–23.VII.1997, Sinyaev & Afonin leg. ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary , Assam, 27°35´N 95°22´E: Tinsukia 20 km N; H = 120m, 1–5.XII.1997, V. Sinyaev, V., S. & M. Murzin leg. ( CKC) ; 21 males, 1 female, Assam, Nambor Reserve Forest, Garampani , h= 100 m, 26°30‘N, 93°56‘E, 21–29.XI.1997, V. Sin- yaev & M. Murzin leg., gen. prep. Nos.: MWM 34596, ZSM Arct. 2019-464 (males) and ZSM Arct. 2019-465 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, the same data as previous, gen. prep. No.: AV5513 (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; 2 males, 1 female, Assam, Kaziranga Wild Life, Pan Bari Reserve Forest , 26°45‘N, 93°10‘E, 100 m, 12–21.XI.1997, V. Sinyaev & M. Murzin leg. ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, Sikkim, Tinket , 1.VII.2019, Santosh Singh leg. ( NZCZSI) ; 1 male, 1 female, Mizoram, Lengpui, 16.IX.[20]08 ; 1 male, Mizoram, Kolasib , 17.IX.[20]08, Rahul Joshi leg. ( NZCZSI) ; 1 male, Mizoram, Kawartha , 10.IX.2016, Harsimran Singh leg. ( NZCZSI) ; 1 female, Mizoram, Kawartha , 12.IX.2016, Santosh Singh leg. ( NZCZSI) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7–7.5 mm in males and 9–9.5 mm in females. Miltochrista berdepsebunda sp. nov. is very similar superficially to M. pseudobunda and can be separated only by the narrower protrusion of the postmedial line opposite the cell. The male genital capsule of the new species is very similar to that of M. minibunda , but differs by the narrowed tip of the saccus (whereas the saccus of M. minibunda is evenly rounded, U-shaped), the somewhat more angular apex of the distal costal process, and the medial saccular process positioned somewhat more distally. The phallus of M. berdepsebunda sp. nov. is conspicuously narrower and somewhat more elongate than that of M. minibunda . The vesica configuration of the new species is very different from that of M. minibunda (the detailed comparison is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species) and is most reminiscent of that of M. pudibunda . However, in the vesica of the new species, the subbasal chamber has three diverticula (whereas it is lacking a medial diverticulum in M. pudibunda ), and the distal row of cornuti is shorter (not reaching the tip of the distal chamber) and consisting of fewer and longer (in comparison to the phallus width) cornuti. The female genitalia of M. berdepsebunda sp. nov. are extremely similar to those of M. minibunda but differ by the ventrally positioned sclerotized appendix bursae (it is positioned laterally in M. minibunda ), and the presence of a gelatinous postero-lateral protrusion of the corpus bursae which is absent in M. minibunda

Distribution. Known from northeastern India (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram) ( Hampson 1900), southern Thailand (Phathalung Prov.) ( Černý & Pinratana 2009), Peninsular Malaysia ( Bucsek 2012) and the islands of Borneo ( Malaysia) ( Holloway 2001) and Sumatra ( Indonesia).

Etymology. ‘Berdepse’ is a Latin transliteration of the Greek ‘μπέρδεψε’ meaning ‘confused’. The specific epithet refers to the wrong treatment of the new species as M. pudibunda and M. minibunda .

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10 and 16 in CKC; 11, 12 and 14 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 13 and 15 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 17–20. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 17 and 19 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NH- MUK); 18 and 20 in CKC.

FIGURES 28–31. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 28 and 29 in MWM/ZSM; 30 and 31 in CKC.

FIGURES 32–37. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 32 in RMNH; 33 and 35 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 34, 36 and 37 in CKC.