Tambana variegata Moore, 1882

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 : 312-313

Tambana variegata Moore, 1882

( Figs 25–27 , 98 )

Tambana variegata Moore, 1882 , Descriptions of New Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the Collection of the Late Mr. W. S. Atkinson: 155. Type-locality: India, Prov. W Bengal, Darjeeling. Holotype: coll. NHM.

References. Hampson 1894: 436; 1913: 347, Pl. 233: 6 ( Trisuloides ); Warren 1912: 43, Pl. 4 row g ( Tambana ); Chen 1982: 238, 1999:60 ( Trisuloides ); Chen, Wang & Lin 1991: 36, Pl. 1: 5 ( Tambana ); Yoshimoto 1994: 95, Pl. 83: 2 ( Tambana ); Krusek & Behounek 1996b, Pl. 45:2 ( Tambana ); Speidel & Kononenko 1998: 552, Pl:5, male genit. fig. 27 ( Tambana ); Behounek, Han & Kononenko 2011a: 16, fig, 40, genit. male 43 ( Tambana ); Kononenko & Pinratana 2013: 274, Pl. 37: 3 ( Tambana ).

Material examined. Types. Holotype: male, Darjiling / Moore coll. 94–106/ Tambana variegata Type Moore/ type, coll. NHM (examined by photo). Other material examined: NEPAL: 1 male, Prov. East Bandar, below Thodung, 2200 m, Dierl W. leg., 3.viii.1964, det. L. Sheljuzhko, 1965, slide GB/ ZSM N4289 male, coll. ZSM; MYANMAR: 1 male, NE Burma, Kambaiti, 2000 m, 12–17.iv.1934. Malaise/ Tambana variegata Moore , female, det Berio/ Riksmuseum Stockholm, coll. NHRM. VIETNAM: 1 male, Prov. Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Frontier Camp FTO, 22°16′86,6′′N, 103°16′81,7′′E, 1890 m, 11–13.viii.1998, leg A. Kun, coll. GR.

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs 25–27 ). Wingspan 55–65 mm. T. variegata differs from its allies by big size being second largest species in the genus, by wing pattern and the male genitalia. Externally it resembles T. arctoides , but differs by more reddish tint of forewing with variegate wing pattern formed by whitish thin, broken crosslines and whitish suffusion. Forewing colour dark brown, with intensive dusting of whitish scales between dark brown crosslines and in dark subterminal field. Hindwing yellow, with diffused terminal band, although it could be weakly expressed in some specimens.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 98 ). Male genitalia of T. variegata differ from related species by broad shape of valva with parallel margins, lateral position of harpe in subapical part of valva and by structure of aedeagus having broad carina covered with small flat spines and broad unarmed vesica. Uncus moderate long, massive, belt-like; tegumen broad, two times shorter than vinculum, with small penicular extensions; vinculum V-shaped, with V-like saccus; transtilla with broad lobes; juxta shield-like, broad; valva large, moderate long, slightly curved distally, with parallel margins, constricted and rounded to apex, having straight distal margin; harpe lies in distal third of valva, large, massive, curved; not extends distal margin of valva. Aedeagus large, curved in basal half, slightly extended apically; carina broad, sclerotised, with scobinate patch; vesica bulbous-tubular, with basal field of small dense cornuti.

Female genitalia unknown.

Distribution and bionomy. Southwest China (Tibet), North India ( Hindustan, Assam, Sikkim, West- and East Ghats, W Bengal, Darjeeling), Bhutan, Nepal, North Thailand, North Vietnam. The species occurs in montane forest at elevation 900–2200 m. Moths fly in August and September.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 32. Tambana spp., adults. 25. T. variegata, male, holotype N India (NHM); 26. T. variegata, male, Myanmar (NHRM); 27. T. variegata, male, North Vietnam (GR); 28. T. entoxantha, male, syntype North India, Sikkim (NHM); 29. T. entoxantha, male, holotype of klapperichii, China, Guangdong (ZFMK); 30. T. entoxantha, female, holotype China, Jianxi / Fujian (AB / ZSM); 31. T. c-album, female, syntype China (NHM); 32. T. c-album, male, China, Hubei (GR).

FIGURES 98 – 100. Tambana spp., male genitalia. 98. T. variegata, North Vietnam, slide WS 378 (WS); 99. T. entoxantha, Indonesia, Sumatra, slide AZ 12049 - 1 (AZ); 100. T. c-album, China, Shaanxi, slide VK 2018 (ZFMK).