Lemyra (Thyrgorina) eximia ( Swinhoe, 1891 )

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 : 16-17

Lemyra (Thyrgorina) eximia ( Swinhoe, 1891) : 137 ( Alpenus )

( Figs 34–36 , 137, 138 , 204 )

TL: North Kanara [Karnataka, India]. Lectotype designated by Hampson (1901).

Material examined: India, Karnataka: [Shimoga district], Jog falls , 1 ♂, 21.vii.2004, N. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 5376/H10), 3 ♂, 22.vii.2004, N. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 5373–75/H10); [Uttara Kannada district], Ganeshgudi ,

1 ♂, 21.vii.2007, N. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 5372/H10); [Kodagu district], Madikeri , 1 ♂, 4.i.2005, N. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 12806/H10) , 1 ♀, 24.ix.2005, N. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 15138/H10); Kutta , 2 ♂, 1 ♀, 10.x.2006, N. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 12807/H10) .

Diagnosis: Forewing length: ♂ 14 mm. Female, 18 mm. The south Indian species L. (T.) eximia ( Figs 34–36 ) is somewhat reminiscent to the Himalayan species, L. (T.) biseriata ( Figs 7–9 ), L. (T.) bimaculata ( Figs 26–27 ) and L. (T.) densimacula sp. nov. ( Figs 10, 11 ), but is almost unmistakable by its more reddish colour. Lemyra (T.) eximia is further distinct from L. (T.) biseriata and L. (T.) bimaculata , by stronger wing maculation. The intensity of wing maculation in L. (T.) eximia is more similar to L. (T.) densimacula sp. nov., whereas the broad marginal band on hindwing of the latter is replaced by a series of marginal spots in L. (T.) eximia . In male genitalia, L. (T.) eximia ( Figs 137, 138 ) is clearly different from all the above discussed congeners by the short and stout valva with much reduced subapical process and vesica with smaller patch of weak spines.

Distribution. Indian records: Karnataka (Ganeshgudi, Jog falls) ( Singh et al. 2021). Global records: unknown.

Remarks: Lemyra (T.) eximia exhibits sexual dimorphism; in males, the wings are reddish, while the females are yellowish in colour ( Thomas 1990). Specimens were collected in Karnataka at an altitude around 1000 m and less than 1000 m from West coast semi evergreen forest and southern moist mixed deciduous forest.

Figures

FIGURES 32–42. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 32–33. L. bucseki, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Vazula, Himachal Pradesh); 34–35. L. eximia, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Kutta, Karnataka, India); 36. ditto, female, dorsal side (Kutta, Karnataka, India); 37–38. L. spinisinferma, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Vallakadavu, Kerala, India); 39–40. L. malshejensis, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra, India); 41–42. L. saputarensis, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Saputara, Gujarat, India).

FIGURES 131–142. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 131–132. L. pseudobimaculata, male: 131, Ventral view, 132, Aedeagus; 133– 134. L. tawaghatensis, male: 133, ventral view, 134, Aedeagus; 135–136. L. bucseki, male: 135, ventral view, 136, Aedeagus; 137–138. L. eximia, male: 137, Ventral view, 138,Aedeagus; 139–140. L. spinisinferma, male: 139, ventral view, 140,Aedeagus; 141–142. L. malshejensis, male: 141, ventral view, 142, Aedeagus.

FIGURES 201–206. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 201. L. rubripecta sp. nov., female, ventral view; 202. L. biseriata, female, ventral view; 203. L. obliquivitta, female, ventral view; 204. L. eximia, female, ventral view; 205. L. multivittata, female, ventral view; 206. L. stigmata stigmata, female, ventral view.

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).

FIGURES 21–31. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 21–22. L. rubidorsa, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Rishop, West Bengal, India); 23–24. L. Proteus, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Wokha, Nagaland, India); 25. L. magnaproteus, syn. nov., male, dorsal side, (Wokha, Nagaland, India); 26. L. bimaculata, male, dorsal side, (Munsiyari, Uttarakhand, India); 27. L. bimaculata (HT of L. kodai), male, dorsal side, (Loharkhet, Uttarakhand, India); 28. L. bimaculata (HT of L. crispens), male, dorsal side, (Loharkhet, Uttarakhand, India); 29. L. bimaculata (HT of L. saccuens), male, dorsal side, (Loharkhet, Uttarakhand, India); 30. Lemyra pseudobimaculata, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Tawaghat, Uttarakhand, India); 31. L. tawaghatensis, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Tawaghat, Uttarakhand, India).