Thysanoptyx manganensis Singh & Joshi, 2017

Volynkin, Anton V., 2017, A new species of Thysanoptyx Hampson, 1894 from India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4319 (2), pp. 375-378 : 375-376

Thysanoptyx manganensis Singh & Joshi , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 5 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, India, Sikkim, Mangan , 19.IV.2010 (Coll. Rahul Joshi) ( PUP /RJ/THY-201).

Paratypes: 4 ♂, same data as the holotype ( PUP /RJ/THY-201a).

Diagnosis. The new species belongs to T. sordida species group and is closely related to T. incurvata ( Figs. 2 , 6 ). But can be distinguished from the latter in slightly broader forewing, the broader black medial rectangular patch with basal anterior corner oblique (indented in T. incurvata ), and the slightly broader dark suffusion on hindwing. From the two other Thysanoptyx species known from NE India: T. sordida ( Figs. 3 , 7 ) and T. tetragona ( Figs. 4 , 8 ), the new species differs externally by its slightly larger size, the larger and rose thorn like subapical costal spot, and the longer and broader black medial patch of forewing. In the male genitalia of T. manganensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 5 ), the juxta is elevated, the medial saccular process is significantly shorter, the distal saccular process smoothly narrowing, and the vesica with a welldeveloped spiniform cornutus, whereas in T. incurvata ( Fig. 6 ) the juxta is normal, the medial saccular process is longer, the distal saccular process is distinctly spine like, and the vesica with a much smaller cornutus as a minute spine.

Description. Adult male ( Fig. 1 ). Forewing length 17.5–18.5 mm. Head yellow with black frons. Antennae weakly ciliate. Thorax black; patagia and tegulae yellow at base. Forewing pale ochreous-yellow, with a tuft of androconial patch having yellow scales from discal cell; a large central rectangular black patch, arising just beneath the androconial patch and up to well beyond middle of wing, not touching costa, its basal anterior corner slightly oblique; a rose thorn like black spot on postmedial region of costa; costa & cilia black. Hindwing yellow, outer area suffused with fuscous. Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Uncus simple, narrow, dorso-ventrally flattened, apically pointed; tegumen with both arms apart from each other; juxta large, triangular, elevated; saccus large, rectangular, with deep medial concavity. Valva medially broadened, with acute apex; sacculus broad, with broad trigonal medial process directed dorsally and distal saccular process smoothly narrowing. Aedeagus elongated, apically slightly broadened; vesica membranous, balloon shape, with an apical, robust spiniform cornutus. Female unknown.

Etymology. The name of the species refers to its type locality, Mangan (Sikkim).

Remark. The female specimen reported earlier from India as T. incurvata ( Kirti & Singh 2015) has the genitalia significantly differing from those of T. incurvata (published in Volynkin & Dubatolov 2017) and cannot be assigned to any other known species of Thysanoptyx. Probably it belongs to a new, yet undescribed species, but for its certain description we need an additional material.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Thysanoptyx spp., adults. 1, T. manganensis, sp. nov., holotype ♂, NE India; 2, T. incurvata, holotype ♂, [Taiwan] Kanshirei, Formosa (© NHM); 3, T. sordida, ♂, E India, Khasis (© NHM); 4, T. tetragona, lectotype ♂, Bangladesh, Silhet (© NHM).

FIGURES 5 – 8. Thysanoptyx spp., male genitalia. 5, T. manganensis, sp. nov., paratype male, NE India; 6, T. incurvata, Taiwan slide BMNH (E) Arct- 6601 mVolynkin (© NHM); 7, T. sordida, E India, Darjeeling, slide BMNH (E) Arct- 6599 mVolynkin (© NHM); 8, T. tetragona, lectotype, Bangladesh, Silhet, slide BMNH (E) Arct- 4909 m Holloway (© NHM).