Teulisna ganesha, Volynkin, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, Taxonomic review of the Teulisna pallida (Moore) species-group with descriptions of two new species from the Himalayas (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 63, pp. 15-23 : 17-20

Teulisna ganesha sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F9A3FF6E-7AAC-45FA-9260-E0CC7D1DE74D

( Figs 3, 4 , 10, 11 , 15 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 3 , 10 ): male. “ Nepal, Ganesh Himal | 3 km NE of Sunpati, | 2330m, 13. VI. 1993, | leg. M. Hreblay, G. Csorba ” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 369♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. NEPAL: 5 males, the same data as holotype ; 1 male, 1 female, Solu Khumbu Himal , 10 km S of Lukla, Bupsa, 2300m, 3.vii.1993, M. Hreblay & G. Csorba leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021- 370 (male), ZSM Arct. 2021-374 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ; 1 female, 2835m, Kalinchok Mt. , 6 km NNE Muldi (Murre), 27.vi.1997, M. Hreblay & K. Csak leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-373 (prepared by Volynkin) (all in MWM / ZSM)

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.5–14.0 mm in males and 14.5–15.5 mm in females. Teulisna ganesha sp. n. is externally reminiscent of the west Himalayan T. pallida but is distinguished by the greyish-brown body (it is pale ochreous in the congener), the considerably more intense brown suffusion on the forewing, the smaller costal spots, and the indistinct postero-lateral spot on the forewing. Compared to other closely related species, T. thomasi sp. n. and T. quadrisignata , the new species has a greyish-ochreous body (it is brown in the congeners) a pale ochreous forewing (it is brown in T. quadrisignata and deep ochreous in T. thomasi sp. n.) with smaller costal spots. The male genital capsule of T. ganesha sp. n. can be distinguished from T. pallida by the considerably shorter ampulla and the markedly longer and distally thin ventral lobe of the distal saccular process. Compared to T. quadrisignata and T. thomasi sp. n., the male genital capsule of T. ganesha sp. n. has a short ampulla which is reduced in both the congeners. The phalli of T. ganesha sp. n. and T. pallida are alike whereas that of the current new species is broader and somewhat longer (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex length) than in T. quadrisignata and T. thomasi sp. n. The vesica of the new species differs clearly from the three similar congeners in the longer and curved proximal ventral diverticulum, and the markedly smaller and semiglobular proximal dorsal diverticulum (it is conical in both the similar congeners). Additionally, compared to T. pallida , T. ganesha sp. n. has a significantly shorter medial dorsal diverticulum, a medial ventral diverticulum (absent in the congener), and a shorter and considerably thinner cornutus on the distal dorsal diverticulum. In the female genitalia, T. ganesha sp. n. differs from T. pallida in the broader ductus bursae, the markedly smaller appendix bursae lacking the dorsal sclerotised pocket, and the narrower anterior section of the corpus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from three localities in Nepal.

Etymology. Ganesha is one of the most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. The specific epithet also refers to the type locality of the new species situated in Ganesh Himal mountain range. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Teulisna spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1–6 in MWM/ZSM; 7 and 9 in MfN.

Figures 9–11. Teulisna spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM

Figures 14–16. Teulisna spp.: female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.