Miltochrista obliquilinea ( Swinhoe, 1901 )

Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Navneet, Černý, Karel, Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Datta, Harvinder Singh, 2020, Revision of the Miltochrista obliquilinea species-group, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4780 (3), pp. 448-470 : 450-451

Miltochrista obliquilinea ( Swinhoe, 1901)

( Figs 1–4 , 34, 35 , 54 )

Lyclene obliquilinea Swinhoe, 1901 , The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (7) 7: 467. Type locality: [NE India] “Jaintia Hills, Assam ”.

Type material examined. Lectotype ( Fig. 4 ) (designated herein): female, “Jaintia Hills | 1901–178.” / “ Lyclene obliquilinea Swinhoe ♀ type” / red ring “Type” label / QR-code label with unique number “NHMUK010604685” (Coll. NHMUK).

Additional material examined. INDIA: MIZORAM: 1 male, India , Mizoram, Reiek , 20.IV.2017, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI); 2 males, India , Mizoram, Reiek , 19.IV.2017, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI); MEGHA- LAYA: 1 male, Cherrapunji, July 1893 / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1. / NHMUK010604686, slide BMNH (E) Arct. 5318 (Coll. NHMUK); 1 male, India , Meghalaya, Cherrapunji , 2.IX.2008, leg. Rahul Joshi (Coll. NZCZSI); 3 males, India , Meghalaya, Cherrapunji , 6.IX.2014, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI); 1 male, India , Meghalaya, Jowai , 6.IX.2014, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI); 1 male, India , Meghalaya, Pynursla , 10.IX.2014, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI); 3 males, India , Meghalaya, Pynursla , 11.IX.2014, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI); 6 males, 11 females, NE India, W Meghalaya, Garo Hills, Nokrek National Park , 25°40’N, 91°04’E, 1150 m, 2–13.VII.1997, leg. Afonin & Sinyaev, slides ZSM Arct. 2019-434 (male) and ZSM Arct. 2019-435 (female) Volynkin (Coll. MWM/ ZSM) ; ARUNACHAL PRADESH: 1 male, India , Arunachal Pradesh, Tippi , 16.V.2016, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI) ; NAGALAND, 1 male, India , Nagaland, Kohima , 23.IV.2017, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI) ; WEST BENGAL: 1 female, [NE India, West Bengal] Gopaldhara, Darjeeling, 3440–5800’ (H. Stevens), 14.VII.[19]18 / NHMUK010604687, slide BMNH(E) Arct. 5410 ( Coll. NHMUK); 1 female, India, W.B., Darjeeling , Mangpu Road , 1900 m, Lf , 29.VI.1987, leg. Dr. W. Thomas (Coll. MWM/ZSM) ; SIKKIM: 4 males, 2 females , Sikkim, Mt. Kanchenjunga SE, 2000 m, 22–31.VII.1995, 27’30’’N, 88’20’’E, leg. E. Afonin & V. Sinyaev (Coll. MWM/ZSM) ; ASSAM: 1 female, NE India , Assam, Nambor Reserve Forest, Garampani , H= 100 m, 26°30’N, 93°55’E, 21– 29.XI.1997, leg. V. Sinyaev & M. Murzin (Coll. MWM/ZSM) ; TAMIL NADU: 3 males, 1 female, India mer., 1000 m , Tamil Nadu, Kalkad Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjolai , 6–7.IV.97, 8.15’N, 77.27’E, tea estate / rainforest, Sinyaev & Schintlmeister (Coll. MWM/ZSM) ; KERALA: 1 male, India mer ., Kerala, 6 km N Munnar, 1700 m, Kodalar Tea Estate , 10’06’N / 77’04’E, 14–15.IV.1997, leg. Schintlmeister & Sinyaev, mountain rainforest, 14 °C (Coll. MWM/ ZSM) ; NEPAL: 1 male, East Nepal, Kanchenjunga Himal, Khambachen , 4150 m, 28.VI.1998, leg. Márton Hreblay & Balázs Benedek (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 male, East Nepal , Surke Danda, 2000 m, 1 km W of Kesawa, 17.V.1997, leg. Hreblay & Szecsenyi (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 male, East Nepal , Deorali Danda, Anpan, 1900 m, 6.VIII.2000, leg. Csőváry & Hreblay (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 female, East Nepal , Milke Danda, Gursa, 2100 m, 22.VIII.2000, leg. Csőváry & Hreblay (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 male, West Nepal , 11 km N of Dailekh, 2350 m, 27.IV.1997, leg. M. Hreblay & L. Szecsenyi (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 male, 1615 m, Taplejung Area , Shimbu (Pakora), 11.X.1994, leg. M. Hreblay & T. Csőváry (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 2 males , Koshi, Taplejung area , SW of Mamankhe, 1700 m, 87°57’E, 27°26’N, 6–7.IV.1996, leg. Csorba & Ronkay (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 male, Nepal , Mechi, Taplejung area , between Mamankhe and Anpang, 2000 m, 87°54’E, 27°26’N, 01.XI.1996, leg. Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay (Coll. MWM/ZSM); 1 male, Nepal , Mechi, Taplejung area, Nesum village, 1550 m, 87°29’E, 27°17’N, 21.X.1996, leg. Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay ( Coll. MWM/ZSM); 2 males, Nepal, Annapurna Himal, 2 km N Landrung, 1540 m, 83°49’E, 28°23’N, 8.IV.1995, leg. Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay, slide ZSM Arct. 2019-398 (male) Volynkin (Coll. MWM/ZSM) .

Remark. In the original description, Swinhoe (1901) mentioned both sexes. Therefore, the existence of syntypes is obvious. In the NHMUK collection, the senior author found a female syntype only (one female was cited as ‘type’ by Hampson (1914) also). As there are several externally similar Miltochrista species in India, the lectotype

designation is necessary to avoid any probable confusion in the future following the Recommendation 74G of the ICZN (1999).

Diagnosis. Forewing length is 11–12.5 mm (wingspan 23–27 mm) in males and 12–13 mm (wingspan 26–28) in females. M. obliquilinea along with the following two species are the largest in the species-group, and besides their size, M. obliquilinea and M. konta sp. n. can be distinguished from other externally similar relatives such as M. kontumica and M. adelfika sp. n. by the slightly longer serration of the postmedial line. The male genitalia of the three species are characterised by the large distal section of valva with a short distal costal process having a rounded apex. The female genitalia are characterised by the presence of three sclerotised and strongly dentate bands in corpus bursae. Furthermore, M. obliquilinea is externally similar to M. konta sp. n. and can only be recognized by its conspicuously longer area of blackish scales on the tip of male abdomen. The male genitalia of M. obliquilinea are most similar to those of the externally dissimilar M. dentinebula , but differ by their more curved distal saccular process, smaller aedeagus in comparison to the genital capsule size, smaller dorsal diverticulum of vesica of aedeagus, more weakly granulated medial section of vesica, and bunch of cornuti containing three to four cornuti (whereas in M. dentinebula the vesica bears five cornuti). Compared to those of M. konta sp. n., the male genitalia of M. obliquilinea differ by their narrower valva with a less elongated and dilated distal section, more curved distal saccular process, and larger lateral diverticulum of vesica. The female genitalia of M. obliquilinea can be distinguished from those of M. konta sp. n. by their longer posterior sclerotised band, longer and broader left lateral sclerotised band, more massive spines of the right lateral sclerotised band, and smaller spines covering the anterior section of corpus bursae.

Distribution. The species is known from India (Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland) ( Swinhoe 1901) and Nepal (present publication).

Figures

FIGURES 1–15. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of specimens: 1–3, 7–12, 15—MWM/ZSM; 4, 5, 13, 14—NHMUK (©); 6—CKC.

FIGURES 34–37. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 34, 35, 37—MWM/ZSM; 36—CKC.

FIGURES 54–59. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 54–57, 59—MWM/ZSM; 58—CAV.