Tambana helmuti, Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A revision of the genus Ta mb ana Moore, 1882 with description of eight new species and one subspecies (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae). Revision of Pantheinae, contribution XIII, Zootaxa 4048 (3), pp. 301-351 : 318-319

Tambana helmuti sp. n.

( Figs 43 , 106 )

Type material. Holotype. MYANMAR: male, Prov. Kanchin, Pang Wah 20 km N, 2064–2180 m, 25°43′N, 98°23′E, Löffler S. leg., 23.v.2006, slide GB12020 male, coll. HS, later will be deposited to coll. NHM, Vienna. Paratype. VIETNAM: 1 male, Prov. Lao Cai, Mt. Fan-si-Pan, Cha-Pa, 2400 m, 22°250′N, 103°766′E, local collector leg., v.2005, slide GB12163 male, coll. AB.

Note. The specimen labelled as BC ZSM Lep 58653 has been used for barcoding. Molecular distance based on the Kimura two-parameter model for COI DNA barcodes between T. helmuti and the nearest species T. naumanni is 5,91%; the distance between T. helmuti and T. xilinga is 7,81%, between T. helmuti and T. mekonga is 7,47%; and between T. helmuti and T. fansipana is 7,68%.

Diagnosis. Externally the new species similar to T. xilinga and T. mekonga but differs from both by duller, more brownish colouration of forewing, less developed whitish dusting and by narrower and more distinct terminal band on hindwing. In the male genitalia it differs by the shape of uncus, shape of tegumen bearing prominent penicular extensions, by narrower and shorter valva and by shape of aedeagus and arming of the vesica. The new species well separated from its allies by the differences in their DNA barcodes.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 43 ). Wingspan 46–47 mm. Head, and thorax blackish-brown with white scales, tegulae and patagia bordered with black. Forewing ground colour dark blackish-brown with somewhat metallic shining, less expressed than in T. xilinga and whitish dusting, more expressed in the medial field; crosslines black, twin, less dentate than in T. xilinga basal line represented as short black streak; antemedial line dentate, black, outlined inwardly with pale brown and whitish suffusion; orbicular very small, as whitish spot encircled with black; medial shadow wide, diffused, blackish, less distinct than in T. xilinga ; reniform brown in centre, outlined inwardly with prominent black spot; pale whitish-brown dusting lies outward reniform; submedial line twin, blackish-brown, pale inside; subterminal field blackish-brown with whitish dusting; subterminal line broken for row of wedge-like dashes, outlined inwardly with whitish line; terminal field brownish; terminal line as row of semilunar streaks cilia brown-grey. Hindwing dull-yellow in basal third, with wide, well defined greyish-brown terminal band; cilia greyish-brown, paler opposite veins.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 106 ). The configuration of the genitalia armature of the new species is similar to that of T. nekrasovi , but differs by shape of valva, shape of uncus and thin harpe. Uncus relatively short, extended and rounded apically; tegumen broad, almost equal to vinculum in length, with prominent penicular extensions; vinculum V-shaped; transtilla with broad leave-like lobes; juxta shield-like, broad; valva moderate large, with parallel margins from base to middle part, angled on ventral side and narrower distally; harpe lies in distal third of valva, curved, much thinner than in other Tambana species. Aedeagus relatively short, broad, with moderate scobinate carina. Vesica broadly-tubular, with two subapical patches of strong cornuti.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The species named after Helmut Seibald, the grandson of Mr. H. Seibald, owner of the holotype, kindly presented the material from his collection for the description.

Distribution and bionomy. Myanmar (Kanchin), North Vietnam (Lao Cai, Mt. Fan-si-Pan). The species was collected in May at elevation 2100–2400 m.

Figures

FIGURES 41 – 46. Tambana spp., adults. 41. T. mekonga sp. n., male, holotype, China, Yunnan, slide GB 12074 (GB / ZSM); 42. T. mekonga sp. n., male, paratype, China, Yunnan, slide GB 8676 (GB / ZSM); 43. T. helmuti, male, holotype, Myanmar, slide GB 12020 (GB / ZSM); 44. T. fansipana sp. n., female, holotype, Vietnam, slide GB 7402 (GB / ZSM); 45. T. funebris, male, holotype, Myanmar (NHRM); 46. T. funebris, male, paratype of T. gerri, Vietnam, slide GB 8050 (GB / ZSM); 47. T. funebris, female, China, Sichuan, slide GB 12106 (PGM); 48. T. ronnyi, male, paratype, Vietnam, slide GB 7707 (GB / ZSM).

FIGURES 104 – 106. Tambana spp., male genitalia. 104. T. sp., Myanmar, slide GB 7401 (AB / ZSM); 105. T. mekonga sp. n., holotype, China, slide GB 12074 (WS / ZSM); 106. T. helmuti sp. n., holotype, Myanmar, slide GB 12020 (HS / NHM, Vienna).