Gandhara interrogativa Volynkin, Černý, S.

Volynkin, Anton V., Černý, Karel, Huang, Si-Yao & Hu, Hua-Lin, 2023, Taxonomic review of the Oriental genus Gandhara Moore with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5374 (3), pp. 390-408 : 395-396

Gandhara interrogativa Volynkin, Černý, S. -Y. Huang & H.-L. Hu, sp. n.

( Figs 11, 12 , 33, 34 , 42 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 11 , 33 ): male, “N-Vietnam [border of Lai Châu and Lào Cai Provinces] 1600m | Mt. Fan-si-pan (Nord) | Cha-pa, Primärurwald [primary jungle] | 22.17’’N 103.44’’E [22°17’N 103°44’E] | 20.– 30.IV.1995 | leg. V. Sinjaev [recte: Sinyaev] & | Einheim. Sammler [native collectors]” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2019- 1088♁ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. VIETNAM: 2 males, 7 females, same data as holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1124 (male), ZSM Arct. 2019-1115 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM); MAINLAND CHINA: 2 males, 1 female, 17.IX.2022, Daqiutian, Jiulianshan Natural Reserve , Jiangxi Prov., Hua-lin Hu leg., gen. prep. Nos.: HHL02 (male) and HHL04 (female) ( CHSY) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0 mm in males and 10.5–14.0 mm in females. The male genital capsules of G. interrogativa sp. n. and G. emgai sp. n. are alike. Compared to G. emgai sp. n., the vesica of the new species has a markedly shorter tubular medial section, a narrower distal section, and an additional subbasal diverticulum laterally.The female genitalia of G. interrogativa sp. n. can be distinguished from G. emgai sp. n. by the considerably broader antrum, the shorter posterior section of the corpus bursae with a more heavily sclerotised and laterally protruding right side, and the markedly shorter and narrower appendix bursae. Additionally, the postvaginal plate of the new species is broader than in the congener.

Distribution. North Vietnam (border of Lai Châu and Lào Cai Provinces) and South China (Jiangxi Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘interrogativum’ meaning ‘interrogative’ and refers to the question mark-shaped vesica of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Gandhara spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9–14, 16 in MWM/ZSM; 15 in MfN.

FIGURES 31–34. Gandhara spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 31 in CKC; 32 and 33 in MWM/ ZSM; 34 in CHSY.

FIGURES 39–42. Gandhara spp.: female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.