Aemene bucseki, 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 : 537-539

Aemene bucseki sp. n.

( Figs 7, 8 , 19 , 27 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 7 , 19 ): male, “ Nepal, [Gandaki Province, Tanahun District] Tanahoun distr., Bimalnager village , 530 m, 11–12.IV.1995, leg. Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay ” / “Slide ZSM Arct. 2019- 136♂ A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. NEPAL: 1 female, the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-137 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 5 males, 9 females, Annapurna Himal, valley of Kali Gandaki, 1300 m, near Tatopani , 83°39´E, 28°29´N, 03. VI .1996, leg. Gy. M. László and G. Ronkay (MWM/ ZSM); 3 males, 7 females, the same locality and collectors but 20. VI .1996, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-138 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, Annapurna Himal, valley of Kali Gandaki, 1100 m, near Tatopani , 83°39´E, 28°29´N, 22.VII.1995, leg. Gy. M. László and G. Ronkay (MWM/ ZSM) ; PAKISTAN: 2 males, Margalla Hills, Pir Sohawa , 1000m, 33°49’N, 73°08’E, 04.VIII.1998, Z. Varga & G. Ronkay leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2020-223 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.5–10 mm in both sexes. Aemene bucseki sp. n. is vaguely reminiscent of A. taprobanis but differs clearly in its smaller size, the densely ciliate male antenna (shortly bipectinate in A. taprobanis ), the pale ochreous body and forewing colouration (pale yellowish creamy in A. taprobanis ), the more diffuse brown forewing pattern (black in A. taprobanis ) with a medially and posteriorly indistinct antemedial line and a wider brown suffused posterior area between the medial the postmedial lines. The hindwing of A. bucseki sp. n. is pale ochreous-creamy with a slight brownish suffusion medially and along the anal margin whereas that of A. taprobanis is pale brownish creamy with a brown suffusion terminally, the diffuse medial transverse fascia and a diffuse semilunar discal spot which are absent in the new species. The male genital capsule of A. bucseki sp. n. differs clearly from those of other members of the species-group in the distally dilated valva having a large, claw-like curved and apically pointed subapical dorsal process. A subapical costal process is also present in A. likiangensis but in the latter it is very short and tubercle-like. The phallus of the new species is almost straight whereas in other species of the species-group it is medially curved. The vesica of A. bucseki sp. n. is reminiscent of that of A. cernyi sp. n. but is more weakly granulated, has a medial cluster of short but robust triangular cornuti and lacks a dorsal cluster of cornuti whereas in A. cernyi sp. n. the medial (lateral) cluster consists of narrow spine-like cornuti. The female genitalia of A. bucseki sp. n. can easily be distinguished from those of other members of the speciesgroup by the longer and wider ductus bursae, the presence of a long and curved cluster of short but robust triangular spines in the posterior section of the corpus bursae and the less dilated anterior section of the corpus bursae lacking rounded signa. Additionally, the appendix bursae of the new species is broader than in the related species and bears heavier scobination subbasally.

Distribution. The new species is known from central Nepal and eastern Pakistan.

Etymology. The new species is named after Mr Karol Bucsek (Bratislava, Slovakia), expert in Oriental Arctiinae .

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.