Lemyra (Thyrgorina) aurantiaca ( Fang, 1985 ), 2024

Singh, Harsimranjeet, Raha, Angshuman, Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Singh, Navneet, 2024, Taxonomic review of the genus Lemyra Walker (Erebidae: Arctiinae) from India, Zootaxa 5454 (1), pp. 1-69 : 32-33

Lemyra (Thyrgorina) aurantiaca ( Fang, 1985) : 56, stat. rev. ( Spilarctia )

( Figs 83, 84 , 189, 190 )

TL: Pingbian Dawei Shan [Yunnan, China]

Material examined: India, Arunachal Pradesh: [ Lower Subansiri district ], TWLS , Pange , 2 ♂, 17.vi.2017, B. Sinha & Party leg. ( NZCZSI; 12795/H10), 1 ♂, 18.vi.2017, B. Sinha & Party leg. ( NZCZSI; 12796/H10) ; West Bengal: [Darjeeling district], Mangpoo , 3 ♂, 8.vii.2017, S. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 12798/H10) ; Sikkim: [West Sikkim district], Burmiok , 2 ♂, 15.vii.2018, S.S. Bisht leg. ( NZCZSI; 12797/H10) .

Diagnosis: Forewing length: ♂ 23 mm. Diagnosis provided under L. (T.) s. stigmata .

Taxonomic note: Dubatolov (2010) considered Spilarctia stigmata aurantiaca Fang, 1985 as a subspecies of L. (T.) stigmata due to its yellow abdomen and thicker markings on forewings, particularly the basal stroke in the cell which extends from wing base to the discal vein. Whereas, the nominotypical subspecies is slightly smaller with orange red abdomen, lighter wing maculation and less distinct basal stroke on forewing. Later, Kishida (2022) treated L. (T.) s. aurantiaca as a junior synonym of L. (T.) stigmata , as the type locality of L. (T.) s. aurantiaca is doubtful and the individuals from India, Nepal and China did not show considerable variations in wing maculation. Herein, we studied L. (T.) s. aurantiaca discussed by Dubatolov (2010), apart from the typical L. (T.) s. stigmata as illustrated by Kishida (2022). In addition to the differences discussed by Dubatolov (2010), L. (T.) s. aurantiaca ( Fig. 83 ) has fine ochreous yellow collar which is absent in L. (T.) s. stigmata ( Fig. 81 ). Moreover, the male genitalia of L. (T.) s. aurantiaca ( Figs 189, 190 ) and the genitalia drawing of L. (T.) s. aurantiaca provided by Fang (2000: 400, Fig. 283) are different from that of L. (T.) s. stigmata ( Figs 187, 188 ) by the subapical process of valva being more blunt and situated nearer to the apex. As several individuals from these two populations were collected from adjacent areas in Arunachal Pradesh having more or less similar habitats and topographies, we consider both the taxa as separate species and therefore, revive and upgrade the status of L. (T.) s. aurantiaca as L. (T.) aurantiaca ( Fang, 1985) , stat. rev. Externally, L. (T.) aurantiaca looks quite similar to L. (T.) s. bucseki ( Kishida 2022: 165, Fig. 1 ), except for its yellow abdomen and fine ochreous yellow collar (in L. (T.) s. bucseki abdomen is reddish orange and the head, thorax and collar are yellowish white). In the male genitalia, L. (T.) aurantiaca ( Figs 189, 190 ) differs clearly by more blunt and thicker inner valva process.

Distribution. Indian records: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal (present study). Global records: China (Yunnan), northern Vietnam ( Dubatolov 2010).

Remarks: New record to India.

Group D: Vesica with two patches of spines (lateral spined plate absent)

Figures

FIGURES 74–84. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 74–75. L. nigrescens, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Jatinga, Assam, India); 76. L. collarlis, syn. nov., male, dorsal side (Jatinga, Assam, India); 77. L. pseudocollarlis, syn. nov., male, dorsal side (Jatinga, Assam, India); 78. L. wokhaensis, male, dorsal side (Wokha, Nagaland, India); 79. L. pseudoneurica, male, dorsal side (Wokha, Nagaland, India); 80. L. cernyi, male, dorsal side (Vadaserikara, Kerala, India); 81–82. L. stigmata stigmata, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 83–84. L. aurantiaca, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Pange (TWLS), Arunachal Pradesh, India).

FIGURES 179–190. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 179–180. L. pseudocollarlis, syn. nov., male: 179, ventral view, 180, Aedeagus; 181–182. L. wokhaensis, male, 181, ventral view, 182, Aedeagus; 183–184. L. pseudoneurica, male: 183, ventral view, 184, Aedeagus; 185–186. L. cernyi, male: 185, ventral view, 186, Aedeagus; 187–188. L. stigmata stigmata, male: 187, ventral view, 188, Aedeagus; 189–190. L. aurantiaca, male: 189, ventral view, 190, Aedeagus.

FIGURES 1–11. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 1–2, L. neglecta, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Jang, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 3. ditto, dorsal side, male (Pfutsero, Nagaland, India); 4–5, L. rubripecta sp. nov., holotype male, dorsal and ventral sides (Old Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 6. L. rubripecta sp. nov., female, dorsal side (Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 7. L. biseriata, female, dorsal side, (Jatinga, Assam, India); 8–9. ditto, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Kohima, Nagaland, India); 10–11. L. densimacula sp. nov., male, dorsal and ventral sides (Kohima, Nagaland, India).