Arcanusa confusa Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti, 2022

Ranjan, Rahul, Singh, Navneet & Kirti, Jagbir Singh, 2022, A new genus, three new species and a new species record of Epipaschiinae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from India, Zootaxa 5222 (4), pp. 385-394 : 391-393

Arcanusa confusa Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti , sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 11 )

Type locality: Dodak (Sikkim, India)

Material examined: Holotype (m #). India, Sikkim, Dodak , 24.ix.2014, R. Ranjan leg. (Coll. NZCZSI)

Diagnosis: Externally, Arcanusa confusa sp. nov. ( Fig. 5 ) is almost indistinguishable from A. sinuosa ( Wang et al. 2017a: 90, Fig. 2 ), which is distributed in central Himalaya (Sikkim, Darjeeling) and eastern Himalaya (Arunachal Pradesh). Nonetheless, the species can be distinguished in the male genitalia. In A. confusa sp. nov. ( Fig. 11 ) the apex of the gnathos bears three small, robust, almost straight spines of nearly similar length, while in A. sinuosa ( Wang et al. 2017a: 91, Fig. 8 ) the two lateral spines are long and curved, whereas the central spine is short and straight). In the new species the apex of valva is narrower and the ventral wall is more oblique, the basal saccular process is ovally elongate, with a baso-dorsal series of small spines, whereas in A. sinuosa the basal saccular process is curved and spine-like, and with a completely smooth edge. In A. confusa sp. nov the apex of juxta is more pronounced., bearing prominent spines, and the vesica of aedeagus bears fewer spines, than in closely resembling A. sinuosa .

Description: Adult. Labial palpi with 1 st and 2 nd segment dark olive-green, thickly scaled, 3 rd segment pointed, finely scaled with fuscous. Antennae filiform, scape with a long extension, reaching 2 nd abdominal segment. Thorax covered with long, fluffy patagia, apical scales fuscous. Forewing olive-green, medially paler, subbasal and antemedial patches of raised black scales posteriad discal cell, another similar patch is present beyond the upper angle of cell; antemedial whitish line slightly extended outwardly posteriad the cell, postmedial whitish line excurved at median veins, inwardly bordered with black scales from the posterior part of the cell to inner margin, outwardly bordered with similar patterned scales from vein 1A to inner margin. A terminal series of triangular blackish patches followed by a pale fine line terminates the forewing, cilia fuscous and pale, consisting of a double series of hairs. Hindwing pale fulvous, inner area with fuscous scales; medial line straight, postmedial line excurved, conjoined near discocellular area, the latter followed by an olive-green line from median veins to the anal angle which transforms to a fuscous patch at the apex.A marginal series of triangular patches followed by a pale line, cilia consist of a double series of pale and fuscous hairs.

Male genitalia. Uncus rectangular, expanded apically and highly setose. Gnathos shortly trifid apically, lateral arms broad at base. Tegumen broad, forming an X-like structure with the base of the uncus. Vinculum slightly wavy, forming a squarish saccus. Transtilla membranous with light sclerotisation at the base. Juxta (attached at the centre of the aedeagus in Fig. 11 ) rectangular with a series of lateral spines, juxtal arms are fused at the apex. Valva broad, ventral edge running obliquely from middle part to apex, forming the apical part of valva into a triangle; costa strongly sclerotised; sacculus broad at base with an elongate oval dorsad process bearing a series of minute, basodorsal spines. Aedeagus almost straight, cylindrical; coecum conspicuous, elongate, swollen; vesica with a patch of long and short cornuti.

Distribution: So far, A. confusa is only known from its type locality.

Etymology: The name of the species refers to the fact that it can be easily confused with the similar species A. sinuosa Moore.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Adults. 1, A. parilis gen. et sp. nov., male; 2, C. atkinsonii, male; 3, L. whitakeri sp. nov.; 4, L. buruensis; 5, A. confusa sp. nov.; 6. C. dudgeoni, male (photo credit: Wang et al. 2017b).

FIGURES 7–12. Male genitalia. 7, A. parilis gen. et sp. nov., male. 8, C. atkinsonii; 9, L. whitakeri sp. nov.; 10. L. buruensis; 11. A. confusa sp. nov.; 12. C. dudgeoni (photo credit: Wang et al. 2017b).