Tactusa bechi Fibiger, 2010

FIBIGER, MICHAEL, 2010, Revision of the Micronoctuidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) Part 3, Taxonomy of the Tactusinae, Zootaxa 2583 (1), pp. 1-119 : 26-27

Tactusa bechi Fibiger , new species

( Plate 3 , figure 2; female genit. plate 22, figure 6)

Material examined. Holotype: female, NE India, Assam, Khasis , -. viii.1894, Nat. coll., Walsingham, BM 1910-427 , genit. prep. 6169, coll. BMNH.

Taxonomic notes. T. bechi is a member of the T. nieukerkeni species-group, all of which have a blackish triangular or quadrangular patch between the antemedial and postmedial lines, the typical Tactusa features listed under the female genitalia of the species-group and individually for the species.

Diagnosis. Imago (external). Wingspan: 11 mm.

Forewing: ground colour light yellow, with acutely-angled blackish patch in upper medial area; black subterminal area; and three black dots on costa between medial patch and apex.

Crosslines: only subterminal and terminal lines indicated, former inwardly outlined by light yellow; latter marked by interneural black spots.

Reniform stigma: well marked, white, black outlined.

Hindwing: dark grey, with hardly visible discal spot.

Underside: unicolorous grey.

Male genitalia. Unknown.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor: quadrangular with rounded corners.

Posterior apophyses: slightly longer than ovipositor, much longer than anterior apophyses.

8 th abdominal segment: slightly longer than ovipositor, left side by ostium pointed, right side quadrangular (apo.).

Ostium: slightly displaced to left, positioned anteriorly in 8 th segment (apo.)

Antrum: very long, coiled, basal part heavily sclerotised, as long as ductus bursae (apo.).

Ductus bursae: membranous, relatively short; as long as corpus bursae (apo.).

Signum: cross shaped.

Differential diagnosis. T. bechi is externally similar to previous species but differs in shorter wingspan, shorter, triangular black patch by costa, short 8 th abdominal segment, with pointed edge by left side of ostium, and short angled antrum.

Distribution. Known from a single specimen from NE India, Assam.

Figures

PLATE 3. Figures 1–8. Tactusa species, adults. 1, T. jeppeseni, female holotype, India NE, Assam; 2, T. bechi, female holotype, India NE, Assam; 3, T. dohertyi, male holotype, Indonesia, Java Centr.; 4, T. minor, female holotype, Thailand N, Chiang Mai; 5, T. tranumi, female holotype, Vietnam N, Vinh Phuc; 6, T. artus, male holotype, Thailand N, Chiang Mai; 7, 8, T. biartus, male holotype, Thailand N, Chiang Mai, and wing prep. 3198, with same data.