Lamida whitakeri Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti, 2022

Ranjan, Rahul, Singh, Navneet & Kirti, Jagbir Singh, 2022, A new genus, three new species and a new species record of Epipaschiinae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from India, Zootaxa 5222 (4), pp. 385-394 : 390

Lamida whitakeri Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti , sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 9 )

Type locality: Mangan (Sikkim, India)

Material examined: Holotype (♁). India, Sikkim: Mangan , 25.iv.2014, R. Ranjan leg. (Coll. NZCZSI) . Paratypes (22 ♁, 4 ♀). India, Sikkim, Mangan , 25.iv.2014, 4 ♁, 1 ♀; Dodak, 05.v.2014, 1 ♁, 06.v.2014, 1 ♁; Deorali, 22.iv.2014, 2 ♁; Uttarakhand, Dehradun, 22.v.2014, 1 ♁, 23.v.2014, 1 ♁, Chirbatiya, 01.vi.2014, 3 ♁, 02.vi.2014, 8 ♁, Powali , 31.v.2014, 1 ♁, 3 ♀, R. Ranjan leg. (Coll. NZCZSI) .

Diagnosis: Externally, L. whitakeri sp. nov. closely resembles L. mediobarbalis ( Janse 1931: pl. 35, fig. 4; pl. 32, fig. 13) and L. obscura ( Janse 1931: pl. 35, fig. 8; pl. 32, fig. 11), but is distinct by the basally bifurcated cornutus ( L. mediobarbalis with a single-spined cornutus, and in L. obscura cornutus absent), the maxillary palpi and 2 nd segment of the labial palpi being well developed (both structures are less developed in L. mediobarbalis ), the juxta bearing apically bifurcating asymmetric lateral processes, and by the valva lacking any structure on the outer margin; in L. obscura the juxta bears two long, non-bifurcating processes, and the valva bears a small curved hook initiating from sub middle of the outer margin. Another very similar species is L. moncusalis , from which L. whitakeri sp. nov. is distinct by the 2 nd segment of the labial palpi being hollowed out for over 2/3 rd of its upper length (it holds the scales of the maxillary palpi), while in L. moncusalis the 2 nd segment of labial palpi is hollowed out at the apical half only.

Description: Adult fuscous brown. Labial palpi recurved, reaching prothorax; 2 nd segment extremely long, apical 2/3 rd hollowed out and holds a bunch of long scales forming a fan-like structure originating from the maxillary palpi; 3 rd segment small, curved, approximately 1/5 th of 2 nd segment. Forewing with an antemedial tuft of black scales below cell; another medial tuft in cell; 3 rd bar-shaped tuft on discocellular; indistinct sub-basal antemedial line; medial line oblique; postmedial line strongly excurved at median veins, obliquely incurved to meet inner margin; area beyond postmedial line paler; terminal series of dark spots, interrupted with veins; followed by a fine pale line; double series of long and short cilia. Hindwing with subcostal area paler from base to beyond middle; a terminal line pale; cilia with dark bases, apical 3/4 th paler.

Male genitalia. Uncus bifid apically, lobes slightly oval, dorsal series of setae present on the apical and lateral edges of lobes, basal uncus widened into lateral arms and broadly attached to apical tegumen; tegumen approximately half the length of uncus; vinculum broad, slightly longer than tegumen; saccus reduced; juxta large, egg-shaped, with two large strongly sclerotised, apically bifurcating asymmetrical processes emerging from each side of the juxta base, left process shorter, thinner, apically bifid and right process longer, broader, broadened toward bifurcated apex, with the left arm of bifurcation curved and more than three times longer than the right arm of bifurcation; valva elongated, membranous, apically broadened, apex produced dorsally; harpe present; aedeagus with conspicuous coecum; vesica with a robust spine, bifurcated asymmetrically at the base.

Distribution: So far, L. whitakeri sp. nov. is reported from Indian Himalaya (Sikkim and Uttarakhand).

Etymology: The species is named in honour of Dr. Terry Whitaker, United Kingdom, an expert for global Pyraloidea especially the groups of Southeast Asia.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Adults. 1, A. parilis gen. et sp. nov., male; 2, C. atkinsonii, male; 3, L. whitakeri sp. nov.; 4, L. buruensis; 5, A. confusa sp. nov.; 6. C. dudgeoni, male (photo credit: Wang et al. 2017b).

FIGURES 7–12. Male genitalia. 7, A. parilis gen. et sp. nov., male. 8, C. atkinsonii; 9, L. whitakeri sp. nov.; 10. L. buruensis; 11. A. confusa sp. nov.; 12. C. dudgeoni (photo credit: Wang et al. 2017b).