Aemene sinuata ( Moore, 1878 ), 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 : 539-540

Aemene sinuata ( Moore, 1878) , stat. rev.

( Figs 12–14 , 22, 23 , 29 )

Aemene sinuata Moore, 1878 , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 34, pl. 3, fig. 11 (Type locality: [NE India, Meghalaya, Cherrapunji] “ Cherra Punji ”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) ( Fig. 12 ): female, “Cherra Punji. Oct. 61” / “ Aemene sinuata (type) Moore” / pink label “Origin.” / “coll. Atkinson, Moore” / “ Coll. Staudinger ” / “988.” / “ Siccia taprobanis Wkr. Hmpsn. 19,” ( MFN).

Additional material examined. INDIA: 4 males, 2 females, Kumaon, Himalaya , Distr. Naini Tal, Bhim Tal, 1500 m, 10. VI .–4.VII.1971, de Freina leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-063 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; NEPAL: 1 female, Trisuli valley , 820 m, 3 km N Betrawati, 85°11’E, 27°59’N, 25.X.1995, L. Peregovits & L. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 7 females, Trisuli valley, 820 m, 3 km N Betrawati, at the Trisuli bridge, 85°11’E, 27°59’N, 25.IX.1995, leg. B. Herczig & Gy.M. László, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-060 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 2 males, Koshi, Taplejung area at Dhoban , 820 m, 87°40’E, 27°23’N, 28.III.1996, Csorba & Ronkay leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-059 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 1 female, 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., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-061 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 female, Mechi, Taplejung area, Tammur valley , 4 km N Dhoban, 800 m, 87°40’E, 27°22’N, 22.X.1996, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 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) ; 1 female, 1615m, Taplejung area, Shimbu ( Pakora ), 11.X.1994, M. Hreblay & T . Csővári , gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-062 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 female without abdomen, Annapurna-Region, Sudame , 24–25.III.95, 83’45’E, 28’20’ N, M. Hreblay & L. Nemeth leg. (MWM/ ZSM) .

Remark. In the original description, Moore (1878) did not mention a number of specimens therefore the existence of syntypes is possible. In order to stabilize the nomenclature I hereby designate the female specimen having the Moore’s type label and deposited in MFN as lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11–11.5 mm in males and 12.5–13 mm in females. Aemene sinuata is externally very similar to A. taprobanis but can be distinguished by the somewhat shorter pectination of the male antenna, the somewhat more elongate forewing apex in both sexes and the thinner discal spot of the forewing positioned slightly more posteriorly than in A. taprobanis . The male genital capsule of A. sinuata is very similar to that of A. taprobanis but differs in the subapical section of the costa which is somewhat more protruding dorsad. In the phallus of A. sinuata , the medial dorsal protrusion is somewhat smaller than in A. taprobanis . Compared to A. taprobanis , the vesica of A. sinuata bears a weaker scobination medially and dorsally, smaller cornuti (in proportion to the size of the phallus) and a shorter medial diverticulum. The female genitalia of A. sinuata differ from those of A. taprobanis in the more heavily sclerotised left part of the posterior section of the corpus bursae, and the larger medial and the smaller anterior elliptical signa. The detailed comparison with A. likiangensis is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Distribution. North and Northeast India (Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Karnataka and West Bengal) ( Moore 1878; Hampson 1900, as taprobanis , partim; Kirti & Singh 2016, as taprobanis , partim) and Nepal.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Aemene spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9–11 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 12 in MFN; 13–16 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 21–24. Aemene spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in CKC; 22–24 in MWM/ZSM.

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