Lemyra (Thyrgorina) kaikarisi Saldaitis, Volynkin & Duda, 2019

Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V. & Duda, Juozas, 2019, Lemyra kaikarisi, a new species from China (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4608 (3), pp. 595-600 : 595-599

Lemyra (Thyrgorina) kaikarisi Saldaitis, Volynkin & Duda , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C4DD0477-5993-4495-B287-1012AAA681DC

( Figs 1, 2 , 5, 6 , 9–13 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs. 1 , 5 ): ♂, China, NW Yunnan, Nu Jiang valley, S from Gongshan , H- 2100–2400 m, N27°43.42 ’’ E98°45.15 ’’, 15–16.v.2018, Butvila & Saldaitis leg., slide AV4758 ♂ Volynkin (Coll. ASV, later will be de- posited in WIGJ) . Paratypes: 36 ♂, 3 ♀, same data as in the holotype ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, China, NW Yunnan, Nu Jiang valley, Fugong / Gongshan , H- 1800 m, N27°18.24 ’’ E98°53.20 ’’, 17.v.2018, Butvila & Saldaitis leg. ; 2 ♂, China, N Yunnan, road Dali / Yongping , H- 2330 m, N25°29.29 ’’ E99°38.38 ’’, 12.v.2018, Butvila & Saldaitis leg., slides AV4759 ♂, AV4760 ♀ Volynkin (Colls. ASV, AFM, WIGJ) .

Remark. In his revision of Lemyra, Werner Thomas (1990) erroneously illustrated the genitalia of L. kaikarisi sp. nov. from northern Myanmar (eastern Kachin State: Kambaiti Pass on Yunnan/ Myanmar border) as those of L. nigrifrons . Lemyra nigrifrons is reliably known from north-eastern India only. The reports of this species for Myanmar and Thailand ( Dubatolov 2010) need confirmation and most probably belong to L. kaikarisi sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Lemyra kaikarisi sp. nov. is a closest relative of L. nigrifrons known from India. Externally, the new species ( Figs. 1, 2 ) differs from L. nigrifrons ( Figs. 3, 4 ) by its slightly larger size, ochreous orange tegulae and scales on distal part of the abdomen (those are bright yellow in L. nigrifrons ), and the absence of a discal spot on hindwing. The male genitalia of L. kaikarisi sp. nov. ( Figs. 5, 6 ) can be easily distinguished from those of L. nigrifrons ( Figs. 7, 8 ) by their much broader uncus, more massive aedeagus with larger carinal thorns, and larger subbasal diverticulum. The female genitalia of L. kaikarisi sp. nov. ( Fig. 9, 10 ) differ from those of L. nigrifrons ( Fig. 11 ) by their longer androconial glands, narrower postvaginal plate, lateral lobes of antrum being larger and rugose, slightly longer and narrower apophyses anteriores and broader sclerotized posterior section of corpus bursae.

Description. Adult ( Figs 1, 2 ). Length of wingspan of males 35–39 mm (holotype 38 mm) and 43–46 mm in females, forewing length 15–17 mm in males (16 mm in holotype) and 19–20 mm in females. Labial palps and eyes black, head and thorax white, with white patagiae and ochreous orange tegulae. Distal two thirds of abdomen white, basal third ochreous orange. Fore- and hindwings white, with slight ochreous suffusion along veins. Cilia of both wings white.

Male genitalia ( Figs 5, 6 ). Uncus broadly trigonal with tapered apex, dorso-ventrally flattened, its dorsal surface slightly convex. Tuba analis broad, membranous. Tegumen short and broad. Juxta moderately sclerotized, broad, shieldlike, with two short apico-lateral processes. Vinculum large, heavily sclerotized, U-shaped. Valvae narrow, as long as tegumen, slightly broadened medially, rounded apically, slightly asymmetrical: distal section of right valva is longer than that of the left one; ventral process of valva short, broad, pyramidal. Aedeagus large, heavily sclerotized; carina with short heavily sclerotized plate armed with one–two short but robust thorns. Vesica membranous basally and weakly scobinated medially and distally; subbasal diverticulum broad, sack-like; elongated cluster of long robust spinules medially; one more small bunch of spinules may be present medially opposite the large cluster; subapical diverticulum small, globular.

Female genitalia ( Fig 9, 10 ). Papillae anales broadly trapezoidal, with rounded corners; androconial glands narrow, very long, reach the medial part of corpus bursae; apophyses thin, apophyses posteriores ca. 4 times longer than apophyses anteriores. Postvaginal plate moderately sclerotized, broad, convex. Ostium bursae broad. Antrum heavily sclerotized, broad, funnel-like, with large, rounded and rugose lateral lobes. Ductus bursae short, broad, dorso-ventrally flattened, heavily sclerotized. Posterior section of corpus bursae heavily sclerotized, with two broad lateral lobes, ribbed medially; anterior section of corpus bursae smaller than the posterior one, globular, membranous. Bulla broad, sack-like.

Distribution and bionomics. Most specimens of long series of males and four females were collected at ultraviolet light during two nights at middle May, 2018 in a Nu Jiang (Salween) river valley in north-western part of China’s Yunnan Province just on the border with North Myanmar (Kachin State). The new species was collected at altitudes of approximately 1800–2400 meters in primary mountains mixed forest, dominated by various deciduous trees, bamboo and bushes ( Figs. 12 , 13 ).

Distributed in North Myanmar (Kachin State) ( Thomas 1990, as L. nigrifrons ), also.

Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Vilius Kaikaris (Joniškis, Lithuania) one of WIGJ establisher and the head of “Šiaurės vilkas” company.

Figures

FIGURE 12. China, NW Yunnan, Nu Jiang valley, S from Gongshan, H-2100–2400 m, N27°43.42’’ E98°45.15’’, 15– 16.V.2018, the type locality of Lemyra kaikarisi sp. nov. (photo by R. Butvila).

FIGURE 13. Nu Jiang valley (Salween) general view (photo by A. Saldaitis).

FIGURES 1–4. Lemyra spp., adults, 1, L. kaikarisi sp. nov., holotype ♂, China, NW Yunnan (ASV/ WIGJ); 2, L. kaikarisi sp. nov., paratype ♀, China, NW Yunnan (ASV); 3, L. nigrifrons, ♂, NE India, Darjeeling (MWM/ZSM); 4, L. nigrifrons, ♀, NE India, Darjeeling (MWM/ZSM).

FIGURES 5–8. Lemyra spp., male genitalia. 5, L. kaikarisi sp. nov., holotype, China, NW Yunnan, slide AV4758♂ Volynkin; 6, L. kaikarisi sp. nov., paratype, China, NW Yunnan, slide AV4759♂ Volynkin; 7, L. nigrifrons, NE India, Darjeeling, slide MWM 35947 Volynkin; 8, L. nigrifrons, NE India, Darjeeling, slide MWM 35948 Volynkin.

FIGURES 9–11. Lemyra spp., female genitalia. 9, L. kaikarisi sp. nov., paratype, China, NW Yunnan, slide AV4760♀ Volynkin; 10, ditto, slide AV4902♀ Volynkin; 11, L. nigrifrons, NE India, Darjeeling, slide MWM 35949 Volynkin.