Miltochrista dankana, Volynkin & Singh & Černý & Kirti & Datta, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Navneet, Černý, Karel, Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Datta, Harvinder Singh, 2022, Three new species of Miltochrista Hübner from India, Myanmar, Nepal and China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5168 (3), pp. 319-331 : 322-323

Miltochrista dankana sp. n.

( Figs 6–8 , 19, 20 , 26 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 6 , 19 ): male, “ India, Nagaland, Kigwema , 26.iv.2017, H.S. Datta leg.” ( NZCZSI).

Paratypes. INDIA: 1 female, data same as holotype . MYANMAR: 1 male, 1 female, Chin Hills, Myohaung Camp, 2060m, 3–5.x.2002, W. Mey leg., LF [light trap] / Natma Taung NP. Area of Mt. Victoria , gen. prep. Nos.: AV4237 (male) and AV4235 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( MfN) .

Diagnosis. Miltochrista dankana sp. n. (Figs 68) is superficially very similar to M. idiomorfa sp. n. ( Figs 1–5 ), M. straminea ( Figs 9–13 ) and M. etalina sp. n. ( Fig. 14 ) and in most cases a reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Figs 19, 20 ) differs from the similar congeners ( Figs 17, 18 , 21–23 ) in the long and robust, claw-shaped distal saccular process and the presence of a short, straight, spike-like distal process of carina. The valva shape of M. dankana sp. n. is similar to M. idiomorfa sp. n. but, besides the distal saccular process structure, differs from it in the more prominent medial dorsal costal protrusion, the more rounded distal lobe of the valva, and the more distally positioned ventral swollen costal protrusion. The transtilla of the new species is narrower than in M. idiomorfa sp. n. and the juxta bears short posterolateral protrusions instead of elongate and serrulate processes which are present in the congener. The phallus of M. dankana sp. n. is shorter than in M. idiomorfa sp. n. (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex length) and bears a shorter and straight distal carinal process which is medially down curved in M. idiomorfa sp. n. Compared to M. idiomorfa sp. n., the vesica of the new species lacks a weakly sclerotised basal tubular section, has a somewhat shorter distal conical diverticulum, a markedly smaller distal semiglobular diverticulum, and a short but broad conical medial diverticulum ventrally which is absent in the congener. The female genitalia of M. dankana sp. n. ( Fig. 26 ) differ from those of M. idiomorfa sp. n. ( Fig. 25 ) in the lack of an antrum and a gelatinous posterior section of the corpus bursae, the broader corpus bursae covered with finer spinules, and the conspicuously longer and broader appendix bursae positioned postero-laterally on the right side whereas it is positioned laterally on the left side in the congener. The ostium structure of the new species is most similar to M. straminea ( Fig. 27, 28 ) but M. dankana sp. n., the ventral edge of the ostium of is trapezoid (rectangular in M. straminea ) and the dorsal postvaginal area is shorter than in M. straminea and has a rugose surface whereas it bears a weakly sclerotised triangular plate in the congener. Additionally, the corpus bursae of M. dankana sp. n. is longer and broader than in M. straminea , lacks serrulate plates, and covered with larger spinules. The appendix bursae of the new species is broadly conical and apically rounded and positioned postero-laterally whereas it is short, narrow, distally tapered and positioned anteriorly in M. straminea .

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 6–8 ). Forewing length 11 mm in males and 12.5 mm in female. Antenna ciliate in both sexes with longer cilia in male. Sexual dimorphism limited: female larger than male, with more elongate forewing apex and shorter spurs of postmedial line. Head and body straw yellow. Thorax with three rounded blackish spots medially. Abdomen pale straw yellow; in male, with intense admixture of black scales in posterior third. Forewing ground colour straw yellow, pattern blackish-grey. Costal margin blackish-grey in antemedial area. Subbasal spot small, more or less round or short dash-shaped. Antemedial area with five short lengthwise dashes of various lengths. Antemedial line W-like sinuous, more strongly protruding in cell. Medial line slightly sinuous medially, positioned close to antemedial line, touching it in cell. Discal spot small, comma-shaped. Postmedial line strongly irregularly dentate on veins, out curved between veins R and Cu. Subterminal line interrupted into short dash-like lengthwise spots on veins, curved parallel to postmedial line. Terminal line interrupted into small spots on veins with blackish-grey suffusion between veins. Cilia monotonous straw yellow. Hindwing pale yellowish-creamy, with weak grey suffusion at costa subapically. Male genitalia ( Figs 19, 20 ). Uncus elongate, slender, laterally flattened, smoothly down curved medially, distally tapered and apically pointed. Tuba analis broad, with thin and weakly sclerotised scaphium and broad and weakly setose subscaphium. Tegumen with short penicular area anteriorly. Vinculum somewhat shorter than tegumen, thick and heavily sclerotised, U-shaped. Valva dilated and up curved in distal half. Costa slightly convex medially. Transtillae broad and moderately sclerotised, fused. Distal lobe of valva semielliptical. Sacculus broad, with setose dorsal surface and long and heavily sclerotised, apically pointed and up curved claw-shaped distal process. Juxta shield-like with two short triangular and apically rounded postero-lateral processes. Phallus narrow, cylindrical, almost straight, with slightly down curved apically rounded coecum; carina with short, straight, slender but heavily sclerotised spike-like dorsal process directed distally. Vesica projecting dorsad, with short but broad conical medial diverticulum medially and conical and semiglobular diverticula distally. Vesica ejaculatorius originates laterally, with short and thin basal plate. Female genitalia ( Fig. 26 ). Papilla analis broad, rectangular with rounded corners, weakly setose. Apophyses long and thin, apophysis anterioris dilated posteriorly and somewhat shorter than apophysis posterioris. Ostium bursae broad, with weakly sclerotised trapezoid ventral margin. Postvaginal dorsal area rugose. Ductus bursae short, membranous, dilated anteriorly. Corpus bursae broad, sack-like, densely covered with tiny spinules. Appendix bursae broad, conical and apically rounded, positioned postero-laterally on right side.

Distribution. Known from Northeast India (Nagaland) and north-western Myanmar.

Etymology. ‘Dankana’ is a Latin transliteration of the Greek ‘δαγκάνα’ meaning ‘a claw’. The specific epithet refers to the robust, claw-like distal saccular process in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 6 in NZCZSI; 2–4 in MWM/ZSM; 5 in CKC; 7 and 8 in MfN.

FIGURES 17–20. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 17 and 19 in NZCZSI; 18 in MWM/ZSM; 20 in MfN.

FIGURES 25–28. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25 and 28 in MWM/ZSM; 26 in MfN; 27 in OUMNH.

FIGURES 9–16. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10, 12–14 in MWM/ZSM; 11 in OUMNH; 15 and 16 in CKC.

FIGURES 21–24. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21–23 in MWM/ZSM; 24 in CKC.