Miltochrista tumida, Volynkin & Černý & Huang & Saldaitis, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V, Černý, Karel, Huang, Si-Yao & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2023, Thirteen new species of the genus Miltochrista Hübner from Indochina, China, Myanmar and India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 12-37 : 19-20

Miltochrista tumida sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:11625931-0B37-416E-A171-49A900071588

( Figs 37, 38 , 75, 76 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 37 , 75 ): male, “N-Vietnam 1600m | Mt. Fan-si-pan (Nord) | Cha-pa, Primärurwald [primary jungle] | 22.17''N 103.44''E [22°17'N 103°44'E] | 25.–30.III.1995 | leg. V. Sinjaev [recte: Sinyaev] & | A. Schintlmeister | Museum Witt” / ‘Slide | ZSM Arct. | 358/2017 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratype. VIETNAM: 1 male, Cuc Phuong Nat. Park , 60 km SW Hanoi, 400m, 20.15'N 105.20'E [20°15'N 105°20'E], 21.XI.1994, Sinyaev & Simonov leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 382/2017 ♂ ( MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.0–10.0 mm in males. The two known specimens of M. tumida sp. n. ( Figs 37, 38 ) demonstrate the range of intraspecific variability and are different from each other in their forewing shape, the length of the antemedial and subterminal streaks, and the shape of the discal spot. However, these specimens display no recognisable differences in their male genitalia structures ( Figs 75, 76 ). The male genital capsule of the new species ( Figs 75, 76 ) is vaguely reminiscent of M. tenuiprocessa sp. n. ( Figs 77 , 78 ) but differs clearly in the broader, swollen uncus which is somewhat dorso-ventrally flattened and dilated distally (it is distally laterally flattened and apically pointed in the congener), the medially narrower valva with a shorter medial dorsal protrusion of the costa situated more proximally, the markedly shorter and less downcurved distal costal process, the shorter but broader dorsal setose cluster of the sacculus, and the longer, slenderer, more upcurved, cylindrical and apically pointed distal saccular process (it is laterally flattened and apically rounded in M. tenuiprocessa sp. n.). The phallus of M. tumida sp. n. is somewhat S-like curved whereas it is almost straight in M. tenuiprocessa sp. n. Compared to M. tenuiprocessa sp. n., the vesica of the new species has a considerably longer and broader proximal section with a well-developed subbasal diverticulum, a longer lateral cornutus, and a shorter distal diverticulum bearing a markedly longer and narrower cornutus.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Vietnam (Lào Cai and Ninh Bình Provinces).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘tumidus’ meaning ‘swollen’ and refers to the swollen uncus. The name is an adjective in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

Figures 27–38. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 27 and 28 in CKC; 29 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 30–33, 35, 37 and 38 in MWM/ZSM; 34 in WIGJ (ex CAV); 36 in OUMNH.

Figures 74–77. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 74 in OUMNH; 75 and 76 in MWM/ZSM; 77 in WIGJ (ex CAV).

Figures 78–81. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 78 in MWM/ZSM; 79 in ZFMK; 80 in WIGJ (ex CAV); 81 in CKC.