Aemene cernyi, Volynkin, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, Three new species of the genus Aemene Walker (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) from the Himalayas, Zootaxa 5068 (4), pp. 533-546 : 535-536

Aemene cernyi sp. n.

( Figs1–3 , 17 , 25 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 17 ): male, “ Sikkim, Mt. Kanchenjunga SE 2000m, 22.– 31.7.1995 27´30´´N 88´20´´E leg. E. Afonin & V. Siniaev” / “Slide ZSM Arct. 2019-033 A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. INDIA: 2 males, the same data as in the holotype (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 1 female, Sikkim, Darjeeling , [Coll.] Franz Daniel, München, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-034 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; NEPAL: 2 males, valley of Tamea Kosi River , 3 km N of Malephu, 900 m, 10–11.X.1995, L. Németh leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 6 females, valley of Tamea Kosi River , 5 km S of Piguti, 950 m, 8–9.X.1995, L. Németh leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 4 females, valley of Tamea Kosi River, Piguti , 1000 m, 7.X.1995, L. Németh leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 4 females, valley of Tamea Kosi River , 1 km N of Dolakha, 1700 m, 12.X.1995, L. Németh leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 5 females, Mechi, Taplejung area, Tammur valley, Tapethok , 1500 m, 87°45´E, 27°28´N, 24.X.1996, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 2 males, Koshi, Taplejung area, Tapethok , 1600 m, 87°52´E, 27°32´N, 2.IV.1996, G. Csorba & S. T . Kovács leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 1 female, Mechi, Taplejung area, Tammur valley , 4 km N Dobhan, 800 m, 87°40´E, 27°22´N, 22.X.1996, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 7 females, Mechi, Taplejung area, Tammur valley , 2 km N Sinwa, 1100 m, 87°43´E, 27°24´N, 23.X.1996, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 3 males, 2 females, Koshi, Taplejung area Mitlung , 1100 m, 87°48´E, 27°27´N, 31.III.1996, C. Csorba & S. T . Kovács leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 4 females, Koshi, Taplejung area, Tawa , 1200 m, 87°49´E, 27°30´N, 1.IV.1996, C. Csorba & S. T . Kovács leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 1 male, 2 females, Koshi, Taplejung area at Dhoban , 820 m, 87°40´E, 27°23´N, 28.III.1996, Csorba & Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male without abdomen, Solu Khumbu Himal, 20 km SE of Jiri, Bhandar , 2125 m, 6.VII.1993, M. Hreblay, G. Csorba leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, Deorali Danda , 1 km N of Yamphudin, 1850 m, 12. V .1997, Márton Hreblay & Lajos Szécsényi leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 1 female, Annapurna Himal, Geirigan village , 1340 m, 83°45´E, 28°20´N, 25. VI .1996, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 1 male, 3 females, the same locality and collectors but 26.VII.1995 (MWM/ ZSM) ; 2 females, Annapurna Himal, near Geirigan , 1340 m, 83°45´E, 28°20´N, 31.III.1995, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 3 females, Annapurna Himal , 1000 m, 1 km S of Bahundanda, 84°25´´E, 28°20´´N, 06. VI .1996, Hreblay & Szaboky leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 4 females, Ganesh Himal, valley of Mailung Khola , 1150 m, 85°04´E, 28°05´N, 22. V .1995, Gy. Fábián leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 3 females, Annapurna Himal, valley of Kali Gandaki, 1300 m, near Tatopani , 83°39´E, 28°29´N, 20. VI .1996, Gy. M. László and G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 4 males, 6 females, Annapurna Himal, valley of Kali Gandaki, 1300 m, near Tatopani , 83°39´E, 28°29´N, 03. VI .1996, Gy. M. László and G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 1 female, Trisuli, Trisuli-valley, Ganesh Himal , Nepal , 26.X.1995, S. T . Kovacs [leg.] (MWM/ ZSM) ; 4 females, Ganesh Himal , 3 km NE of Sunpati, 2330 m, 13. VI .1993, M. Hreblay, G. Csorba leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 4 females, Ganesh Himal, Syabrubesi , 1520 m, 12. VI .1993, M. Hreblay, G. Csorba leg. (MWM/ ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11–11.5 mm in males and 11.5–12 mm in females. The new species is vaguely reminiscent of A. taprobanis but differs clearly in the densely ciliate male antenna (shortly bipectinate in A. taprobanis ), the darker, brown-grey body and forewing colouration (pale yellowish-creamy in A. taprobanis ), the diffuse brown forewing pattern (sharp and black in A. taprobanis ), and the darker, brownish-grey hindwing ground colour (pale ochreous with grey suffusion in A. taprobanis ). In the male genitalia of A. cernyi sp. n., the uncus is dilated distally (medially dilated in A. taprobanis ), the valva is markedly wider and the apical costal processes conspicuously shorter than in A. taprobanis . Additionally, the distal saccular process of the new species is reduced and tubercle-like whereas it is broadly triangular and apically rounded in A. taprobanis . The phallus of A. cernyi sp. n. lacks a medial dorsal protrusion which is present in A. taprobanis . The vesica of the new species bears a narrower medial cluster of weaker granulation but two clusters of numerous short spine-like cornuti whereas A. taprobanis has a row of four larger spine-like cornuti of different lengths dorsally and a large separated spine-like cornutus laterally. The female genitalia of A. cernyi sp. n. differ from those of A. taprobanis in the shorter and narrower lateral subostial postvaginal lobes, the laterally more heavily sclerotised posterior section of the corpus bursae, the larger ribbed band-like signum, and the presence of only one round signum (whereas thatof A. taprobanis bears two rounded signa). The differences between A. cernyi sp. n. and A. laszloi sp. n. are discussed in details below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Distribution. The new species is known from Nepal and Northeast India (Sikkim and north of West Bengal).

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr Karel Černý (Innsbruck, Austria), expert in Asiatic Arctiinae and author´s friend.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Aemene spp.: adults. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 17–20. Aemene spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 17–19 in MWM/ZSM; 20 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 25–30. Aemene spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25–27, 29 and 30 in MWM/ZSM; 28 in CKC.