Huangilene Volynkin & Černý, 2020

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2020, Huangilene, a new genus for the Miltochrista alikangiae (Strand, 1917) species-group, with descriptions of three new species from Indochina, continental China and Taiwan (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4869 (1), pp. 91-111 : 92-93

Genus Huangilene Volynkin & Černý , gen. n.

Type species: Lyclene kepica Dubatolov & Bucsek, 2013 .

Diagnosis. Small moths with a typical ‘miltochristoid’ forewing pattern. Body and wings coloration is yellow, forewing markings are blackish. Externally members of the new genus resemble Miltochrista obsoleta ( Figs 30, 31 , 52 , 64 ), but can be distinguished by the less interrupted antemedial and medial transverse lines and the forewing discal spot situated closer to the costal margin. The male genitalia of Huangilene gen. n. are characterized by the following autapomorphic features that clearly distinguish them from those of the genus Miltochrista ( Figs 34 , 54 , 65 ): (1) the anellus with two trigonal sclerotized lobes fused to each other basally and bearing series of denticles on their distal margins; (2) the presence of a lobe-like medial costal process, which is broad with a dentate ventral margin in the H. alikangiae species-group and bilobate with the distal lobe serrulate margin in the H. apoklinousa sp. n. species-group; (3) the distal section of costa present as a short, narrow and somewhat twisted lobe fused with the distal membranous lobe of valva. In addition, the male genitalia of the new genus are characterized by the large distal membranous lobe of valva being well-separated from the distal saccular process; and the aedeagus vesica curved dorsally and having a large medial ventral diverticulum bearing a robust spine-like cornutus, and the absence of a distal plate of vesica (= basal plate of vesica ejaculatorius). Also, in the H. alikangiae species-group the distal section of aedeagus is rugose with a long sclerotized string-like dentate dorsal carinal process protruding to the base of the vesica ejaculatorius, and a broad ventral area of numerous denticles protruding to the subbasal diverticulum, but in the H. apoklinousa sp. n. species-group the distal section of aedeagus is evenly serrulate without protrusions to the vesica. The female genitalia of Huangilene gen. n. are similar to those of Miltochrista , but differ by the area of numerous small spinules at the junction of the ductus bursae with the corpus bursae being protruding to the anterior section of the ductus bursae.

Remark. Species of the genus vary in their size and the clarity of forewing pattern, but the genitalia structures of various populations display no significant intraspecific variability: in males the width of valva (especially that of its distal lobe) may vary. However, the vesica structure is very stable within all species and is a reliable specific character.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–29 ). Forewing length 7–11 mm in males and 9.5– 14 mm in females. Male antenna ciliate, female antenna filiform. Body and wing coloration yellow. Thorax with two black dots. Forewing pattern elements thin, blackish. Subbasal spot. Subbasal line wavy, interrupted into several spots. Antemedial line strongly wavy, interrupted into a series of spots. Medial line sinuate or nearly straight, interrupted into a series of spots or continuous. Postmedial line S-like curved and irregularly dentate. Subterminal line wavy, interrupted into several spots. Terminal line absent. Discal spot as a dot. Cilia pure yellow. Hindwing pale yellowish, sometimes with slight dark greyish suffusion at apex. Male genitalia ( Figs 35–51 ). Uncus elongate, thin, smoothly curved, apically pointed, slightly broadened medially and basally. Tuba analis moderately broad, scaphium thin, moderately sclerotized. Tegumen short and moderately broad. Anellus with two trigonal sclerotized lobes fused to each other basally and bearing series of denticles on their distal margins. Juxta broadly trapezoid with rounded corners. Vinculum well-sclerotized, U-shaped. Valva elongate and narrow. Costa with lobe-like medial process, which is broad with a dentate ventral margin (the H. alikangiae species-group) or bilobate with the distal lobe serrulate margin (the H. apoklinousa sp. n. species-group). Distal section of costa present as short, narrow and somewhat twisted lobe fused with distal membranous lobe of valva. Distal membranous lobe of valva large, wellseparated from the distal saccular process. Sacculus narrow, its distal process elongate, spur-like, slightly curved dorsally. Aedeagus short and moderately broad, ventral part of carina longitudinally rugose and weakly dentate, this dentation continues to the basal section of vesica. Dorsal part of carina as weakly sclerotized cord continuing to the basal section of vesica. Vesica curved dorsally, with large medial ventral diverticulum bearing a robust spine-like cornutus and two or three small medial diverticula. Distal plate of vesica absent. Female genitalia ( Figs 55–63 ). Papillae anales broadly trapezoid with rounded corners, weakly setose. Apophyses long and thin, apophyses anteriores equal in length to apophyses posteriores or slightly shorter. Ostium bursae broad. Antrum broad, granulated, with rugose thick-walled membranous ostial margin. Ductus bursae short, dorso-ventrally flattened, moderately sclerotized. Corpus bursae sack-like, weakly spinulose scobinated, with area of numerous small spinules at junction with ductus bursae protruding to anterior section of ductus bursae. Appendix bursae conical, membranous, situated postero-laterally, directed posteriorly.

Distribution. The genus is widespread from Nepal and northeastern India through Myanmar and southwest and east China to Indochina except Malay Peninsula.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the surname Huang and the genus group name Lyclene . The genus is dedicated to Mr Huang Si-yao (Guangzhou, China), the authors’ colleague and an expert in Chinese Lithosiini.

Figures

FIGURES 23–34. Huangilene (23–29) and Miltochrista (30–34) spp.: adults. 34—The type species of Miltochrista. Depositories of the specimens: 23, 25, 26–31—MWM/ZSM; 24, 32—NHMUK (©); 33—ZFMK; 34—CAV.

FIGURES 52–54. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. 54—The type species of Miltochrista. Depositories of the specimens: 52—MWM/ZSM; 53, 54—CAV.

FIGURES 63–65. Huangilene (63) and Miltochrista (64, 65) spp.: adults. 65—The type species of Miltochrista. Depositories of the specimens: 63, 64—MWM/ZSM; 65—CAV.

FIGURES 1–13. Huangilene spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1—SZMN; 2–5, 9–13—MWM/ZSM (4—ex coll. CKC); 6—CKC; 7, 8—ZFMK.

FIGURES 14–22. Huangilene spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 14–18, 20–22—MWM/ZSM; 19—SDEI.

FIGURES 35–39. Huangilene spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 35—SZMN; 36–38—MWM/ZSM; 39— CKC.

FIGURES 40–43. Huangilene spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 40—ZFMK; 41–43—MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 44–47. Huangilene alikangiae sspp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 44, 46—MWM/ZSM; 45— CKC; 47—NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 48–51. Huangilene spp.: male genitalia. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 55–62. Huangilene spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 55, 58, 59, 61—MWM/ZSM; 56, 60—CKC; 57—ZFMK; 62—NHMUK (©).