Calauta Solovyev & Witt, 2009

Sohn, Jae-Cheon & Solovyev, Alexey V., 2022, Review of Calauta Solovyev & Witt, 2009 (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) with description of a new species from Korea, Zootaxa 5105 (3), pp. 439-444 : 440

Calauta Solovyev & Witt, 2009

Calauta Solovyev & Witt, 2009: 49 .

Type species: Calauta martini Solovyev & Witt, 2009

Diagnosis. This genus is similar to Cheromettia Moore, 1883 , Pseudonagoda Holloway, 1990 , Nagoda Moore, 1887 , Nagodopsis Matsumura, 1931 and Aphendala Walker, 1865 in wing venation characters: the presence of the veins Sc and R 1–5 closely approximated to the costa and R 5 stalked from R 3 +R 4. However, the presence of the black basal zone of forewing, well separated from the rest of the wing in Calauta do not conform with any of the aforementioned genera. Calauta is particularly similar to Aphendala in the presence of the medial fascia and discal spot in the same position of the forewing, but the hindwings in Calauta are semitransparent medially. The male antennae bipectinate to almost the tip in Aphendala , while in Calauta they are bipectinate only to basal 1/3. The male genitalia of both, Calauta and Aphendala are similar, with an apically-divided uncus and the bilobed juxta; but in Calauta , each juxtal lobe is small, with a single S-shaped process, while in Aphendala the lobe is large with two pairs of processes.

Redescription. Head with vertex shorter than frons. Labial palpus short ( Fig. 3 ); 3 rd palpomere embedded in distal tufts of scales on 2 nd palpomere. Male antennae broadly bipectinate in basal 1/3 ( Fig. 3 ); pectens gradually shortened distally. Haustellum very short.

Thorax stout; patagium large; tegula covered with a mixture of hair-like and broad scales. Forewings broadened to termen; patterns of forewing comprising dark basal patch, postmedian shade and small discal spot. Hindwing with subtriangular, transparent zone at the center. Forewing venation ( Fig. 1 ) with Sc and R 1–5 close to costa; R 5 branching off from R 3 +R 4; medial stem well developed, unbranched distally; CuP concave. Hindwing venation ( Fig. 2 ) with Sc+R 1 branched with a stem of Rs and M 1 at basal 2/5; Rs and M 1 stalked. Hind-tibia with two tibial spurs and dense hair-like scales ( Fig. 2 ).

Male genitalia with uncus elongate-triangular, slightly bifid apically, with short subapical spur and downwarddirected, long setae; tegumen subtrapezoidal; gnathos upcurved medially, with horn-shaped medial process; valva triangular; juxta divided into two lateral plates, each plate with a long, spiniform process (in all congeners) and sometimes with a spinulate balloon (in C. koreana sp. nov.). Phallus simple, narrow, broadly emarginated at junction with ductus ejaculatorius; cornutus absent. Female genitalia (only known in C. notoseusa ; Fig. 12 ) with papillae anales broad; apophyses anteriores short; ductus bursae narrow; corpus bursae small, with a crescent-shaped signum.

Larvae unknown.

Remarks. Based on the morphology of the female genitalia, Calauta can be assigned to the ‘crescent signum section’ sensu Holloway (1986) that includes also genera Thosea Walker, 1855 ; Setora Walker, 1855 ; Birthamula Hering, 1931 ; Aphendala etc.

Included species:

Calauta koreana sp. nov. [Type locality: Republic of Korea]

Calauta martini Solovyev & Witt, 2009 [Type locality: Thailand]

Calauta notoseusa ( Wu, 2020) comb. nov.

= Aphendala notoseusa Wu, 2020 [Type locality: China (Fujian)]

Calauta obscura Solovyev, 2017 [Type locality: Taiwan]

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Morphology of Calauta obscura Solovyev. 1. Wing venation; 2. Hindleg; 3. Head.

FIGURES 8–12. Genitalia of Calauta (a=phallus, b=lateral plate of juxta). 5. C. koreana sp. nov., male, holotype, SJC-1211; 6. C. obscura Solovyev, male, China, SJC-1152; 7. C. martini Solovyev et Witt, male, holotype, BM 1403; 8. C. notoseusa (Wu), male, holotype, W10067; 9. C. notoseusa (Wu), female, paratype, W10066.