Leucanithosia leptivalva, Volynkin & Černý, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2023, On the taxonomy of “ Tigrioides ” leucanioides (Walker) with descriptions of two new genera and ten new species from the Oriental realm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5352 (2), pp. 151-176 : 156-157

Leucanithosia leptivalva sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:694DE5E7-1520-45DD-84C7-C90CCBEB3AD8

( Figs 22, 23 , 55 , 70 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 22 , 55 ): male, [the Philippines] “Philippinen/ Nord Palawan | S. Vicente, 20km NEE Roxas | 10[°]21’N/119[°]10’ E | Mittelgebirgsurwald [mid-mountain rainforest], 400m | 12.I.–17.I.1988, leg. | Černý & Schintlmeister” / “coll. Dr. W. Thomas | Mus. Witt München” / “Beschtimmungsliste | Lfd. Nr. | 206 | Leucanioides | tigioides | det. K. Cerny 1989” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021-002♁ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. THE PHILIPPINES: 3 males, 2 females, the same data as holotype ( CKC) ; 9 males, 4 females, C. Palawan, 5 km E of Napsan, Primary forest clearing, 09°42.256’N 118°31.034’E, 1–2.xii.2007, J.H. Lourens leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-322 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, C. Palawan, E of Napsan, prim. for. edge, Salakot Falls , 250m, 09°50’N 118°37’E, 12.iii.2006, J.H. Lourens leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, N Palawan, SE Port Barton, Matalangao , 80m, 10°18’N 119°11’E, 6.iii.2006, J.H. Lourens leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 3 males, 3 females, South Palawan, Mt. Gantung , 200m, 9°01’N 117°57’E, cypress forest / secondary vegetation, 19–21.i.1988, Černý & Schintlmeister leg. ( CKC) ; 1 male, E Palawan, 8 km W of San Vicente , costal hill forest, 138m, 10°31.639’N 119°20.096’E, 19.xii.2007, J.H. Lourens leg. ( CKC) ; 1 male, C Palawan, E of Napsan, prim. for. edge, Salakot Falls , 250m, 9°50’N 118°37’E, 12.iii.2006, J.H. Lourens leg. ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.5–16.0 mm in males and 15.5–17.5 mm in females. The male genital capsule of L. leptivalva is reminiscent of L. diehli , L. paraliaka , L. nansabon and L. witti due to the strongly elongate and narrow dorsal part of the valva but can easily be distinguished from all the aforementioned species by the structure of the uncus, which is proximally swollen but distally narrow (it is evenly swollen in the similar species), the rectangular and heavily sclerotised posterior section of the juxta with a semiglobular and spinulose apical process, the more weakly sclerotised and proximally narrower valva, and the considerably shorter and narrower sacculus with a small and weakly sclerotised, willow leaf-shaped distal saccular process. Compared to the similar species, the phallus of the new species is shorter (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex length), has a medial ventral protrusion, and is distally dilated. The vesica configuration of L. leptivalva is most similar to L. nansabon , from which the new species differs in the reduced proximal section, the proximal cluster of spines situated laterally, the larger dorsal medial diverticulum, the distally tapered distal diverticulum bearing a smaller terminal cornutus, and the presence of the broad, second distal diverticulum. In the female genitalia, L. leptivalva differs from the similar species in the broader and longer antevaginal fold of the 7 th abdominal sternite forming a deep caliciform subostial depression, the markedly broader ductus bursae, and the considerably larger appendix bursae directed anteriorly (it is directed laterally or latero-anteriorly in the congeners).

Distribution. The new species is endemic to the island of Palawan (the Philippines).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘λεπτός’ meaning ‘thin’ and refers to the narrow and weakly sclerotised valva of the new species. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 16–23. Leucanithosia spp.: adults. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 55–57. Leucanithosia spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM (56 and 57 ex CKC).

FIGURES 69–72. Leucanithosia (69–71) and Philippinithosia (72) spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 69, 70, and 72 in MWM/ZSM; 71 in CKC.