Gandhara, Moore, 1878

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 : 393-395

Gandhara clava Volynkin & Černý, sp. n.

( Figs 7, 8 , 27–29 , 40 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 7 , 27 ): male, “ Thailand | Changwat Chiang Mai | 6 km SE of Pang Faen | 1100 m, 21.VIII.1999 | leg. T. Csővári & L. Mikus | Museum Witt” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2019-1092♁ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. THAILAND: 2 males, 5 females, same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1113 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 3 males, Chiang Mai Prov., between Chiang Dao and Kariang , 900m, 19°25’N 98°48’E, 26.X.2002, B. Herczig & G. Ronkay leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7375 ( CKC) ; 1 male, 2 females, 17–23. V .1991, Mae Hong Son [Prov.], Ban Huai Po , 1600–2000m, J. Horak leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7376 (female) ( CKC) ; LAOS: 2 males, 24.IV.–16. V .1999, Luang Prabang Prov., Ban Song Cha (5 km W), ca. 1200m, Vit Kubáň leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1086, ZSM Arct. 2019-1135 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.5–13.0 mm in males and 14.0 mm in females. The male genital capsule of G. clava sp. n. is indistinguishable from G. typica sp. n. and the identification requires examination of the vesica structure, which is considerably shorter, more distally dilated and twisted in G. clava sp. n. The female genitalia of the new species differ clearly from G. typica sp. n. due to the markedly shorter ductus bursae and the longer and broader posterior section of the corpus bursae, and are more similar to G. emgai sp. n. (for the detailed comparison see below in the diagnosis of this species).

Distribution. The new species is known from Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son Provinces) ( Černý & Pinratana 2009, partim.), and northern Laos (Luang Prabang Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin noun ‘clava’ meaning ‘club’ and refers to the clavate configuration of the vesica. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Gandhara spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1: an original painting from Moore (1878); 2 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 3–8 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 25–27. Gandhara spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 28–30. Gandhara spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 28 and 30 in MWM/ZSM; 29 in CKC.

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