Microlithosia jagbiri Singh &Joshi, 2017

Ranjan, Rahul, 2017, A new species of Microlithosia Daniel, 1954 from India (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4319 (2), pp. 383-385 : 383-384

Microlithosia jagbiri Singh &Joshi , sp.nov. ( Figs. 1–4 )

Type locality: Valmikinagar , Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, India

Type material: Holotype: ♂, India, Bihar, Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Valmikinagar , 26.VI.2011. (Coll. N. Singh).

Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as in the holotype.

Description: Adult ( Fig. 1 ). Forewing length 9 mm. Adult with head, thorax, and forewing orange yellow; the latter with paler cilia. Forewing costa almost straight, termen slightly curved. Hindwing paler than forewing. Male genitalia ( Figs. 2–4 ): uncus narrow, long, curved towards apex; apex of cucullus oval with some minute spines; sacculus reaching half the length of valvae, apical portion strongly curved, slightly asymmetrical (outer edge of right sacculus with a minute spine at the curving place, inner edge of left sacculus with a slightly larger spine before curve); aedeagus short, broad; vesica with two unequal, basal groups of strong spines, three spines at apex.

Diagnosis: Externally, the species of Microlithosia are very similar, so the male genitalia are diagnostic for species differentiation. The male genitalia structure of M. jagbiri , sp. nov. is closely similar to M. decreta and M. champhaiensis , but differs from M. decreta in the strong curve of the slightly asymmetrical sacculus, and two prominent groups of spines in vesica (in decreta the sacculus is symmetrical and with a shallow curve, subapical spine is strong; furthermore, the second group of vesica is represented by a strong spine); from M. champhaiensis differs by the presence of two groups of strong spines (in champhaiensis series of small spines is present). Another closely similar species is M. pseudodecreta , but it differs from new species in the single group of spines in vesica and branched saccular process.

Etymology: The new species is named in honour of our revered teacher and an eminent arctiid specialist from India, Prof. Jagbir Singh Kirti.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Microlithosia jagbiri Singh & Joshi, sp. nov. (Holotype), 1, Adult; 2 Male genitalia; 3, Right Valva (inner view); 4, Aedeagus.