Leucanithosia witti, 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

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5352.2.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1FCBB820-6683-44D0-A98D-8ADA327BEA43
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8427670
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/78771043-CB76-FFA7-02E1-FED4FD4C6E2A
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Leucanithosia witti
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Leucanithosia witti sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D9412EA9-7C26-409B-83CB-744E07744E04

( Figs 14–21 View FIGURES 8–15 View FIGURES 16–23 , 50–54 View FIGURES 48–50 View FIGURES 51–54 , 68 View FIGURES 65–68 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 14 View FIGURES 8–15 , 50 View FIGURES 48–50 ): male, “SW Thailand | Ranong-prov. Ranong, 380m | 10°01’32’’N, 98°40’13’’ E | 3.–4. XII.2005 leg. K.Cerný [recte: Černý]” / “Slide | AV7328♁ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM, ex CKC). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. THAILAND: 1 male, 1 female, the same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV7329 (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) GoogleMaps ; 1 female, Phang Nga Prov., Kuraburi distr., 180m, Ban Tiem , 7.iii.2005, Khao Pra Me, Karel Černý leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7330 (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; 1 male, Phangna, Kuraburi, Num Sai , 6.iii.2005, Ao Khoei Beach, 5m, leg. K. Sukhumalind ( CKC) ; 2 males, 1 female, Changwat Nan, 5 km N of Bo Luang , 1000m, 12.xi.1999, Márton Hreblay leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-313 (male), ZSM Arct. 2021-314 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; LAOS: 2 males, 2 females, Khamouane [Khammouane Prov.], Phon Hin Boun , 24–25.v.2013, [4] 50m, 18°10.435’N 104°29.042’E, Thomas Ihle leg., gen. prep. Nos.: AV7332 (male), AV7334, AV7335 (females) (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) GoogleMaps ; CHINA: 6 males, 5 females, W Yunnan Prov., Xishuangbanna Dai auton. pref., Puwen , 30km SSW Simao, 900m, 22°30’N 100°02’E, 16.iii.–10.iv.2000, Brechlin’s loc. coll. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM GoogleMaps Arct. 2021-315, ZSM Arct. 2021-316 (males), ZSM Arct. 2021-317 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; INDIA: 1 male, 4 females, W.B. [West Bengal], Siliguri, above Sukna , 300m, 2.vii.1990, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-003 (male), ZSM Arct. 2021-318 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, W.B. [West Bengal], Darjeeling above Sukna , ca. 500m, 7–8.vii.1989, Dr W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-339 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) .

Note. The male genital capsule of the species is somewhat variable in the length of the distal saccular process, the width of the dorsal part of the valva, and the number of cornuti in the distal diverticulum (from 1 to 4).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0– 15.5 mm in males and 17.5–19.0 mm in females. The male genital capsule of L. witti is most similar to L. nansabon but can be distinguished by the proximally broader uncus and the markedly shorter distal saccular process. The phalli of the two species are alike. Compared to L. nansabon , the vesica of L. witti is downcurved (it is directed distally in the congener), has an additional distal diverticulum armed with a terminal cornutus, and its medial dorsal diverticulum has a terminal cornutus apically. As the female of L. nansabon is unknown, the female genitalia of the new species were compared with the most similar L. leucanioides instead, from which L. witti differs in the presence of an antevaginal fold of the 7 th abdominal sternite, the somewhat shorter ductus bursae, and the markedly longer and broader gelatinous rugose area of the posterior section of the corpus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is widespread and known from Northeast India, Southwest China (Yunnan Province), Thailand (Nan, Ranong and Phang Nga Provinces), and Laos (Khammouane Province).

Etymology. The species is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr Thomas J. Witt (Munich, Germany), a prominent lepidopterist and founder of the Museum Witt Munich who has built one of the largest collections of Heterocera in the world. The name is a noun in the genitive case.