Polymixis (Lophotyna) aungi, Benedek & Volynkin & Babics & Saldaitis, 2021

Benedek, Balázs, Volynkin, Anton V., Babics, János & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2021, Review of the subgenus Lophotyna Hampson of the genus Polymixis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), with descriptions of two new species from Myanmar, Zootaxa 4999 (1), pp. 22-40 : 35-36

Polymixis (Lophotyna) aungi sp. nov.

( Figs 13, 14 , 26 , 35 , 39 )

Type material. Holotype: male, “ Myanmar ( West ), Chin State, ca. 4 km W Thaing Gnin village, N23°12´102´´, E93°48´112´´, 2100 m, 4–5.xi.2015, leg. Loeffler & Naumann”, gen. prep. No.: JB2393 ♂ ( BBT, later to be depos- ited in HNHM).

Paratypes: 8 males, 7 females, with the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. No.: JB2453 ♀ ( BBT, ABF and JSL) .

Diagnosis. The new species ( Figs 13, 14 ) is similar externally to the members of the P. crinomima speciesgroup ( Figs 15–20 ) but is distinguished by the more contrast forewing pattern and the reniform stigma outlined with white scales outwardly. The male genital capsule of P. aungi ( Fig. 26 ) is vaguely reminiscent of those of the P. albosignata species-group ( Figs 21, 22 ), but differs clearly by the narrower juxta, the robust vinculum, the basally wide valva with the very wide sacculus and clavus, and the elongate and narrow dorsal costal protrusion. The digiti of P. aungi are clavate and almost symmetrical: the right one is only slightly narrower than the left one, whereas the digiti of species of the P. albosignata species-group have strongly asymmetrical digiti. Additionally, the cucullus of the new species has a well separated ventral protrusion which is absent in the P. albosignata species-group. The digitus and the cucullus shape of the new species is also vaguely reminiscent of those of certain species of the genus Mniopamea Hacker & Peks, 1992 , namely Mniopamea kashmirensis Hacker & Peks, 1992 (illustrated by Hacker & Peks (1992) and Gyulai & Saldaitis (2016)), but the valva configuration and the sacculus and aedeagus structures of the two species are fundamentally different. The aedeagus and the vesica of P. aungi are less elongate in comparison to the genital capsule than those of P. albosignata and P. hoenei . The female genitalia of P. aungi ( Fig. 35 ) differ from those of species of the P. albosignata species-group ( Figs 30, 31 ) by the more elongate ovipositor, the longer and wider dorsal plates of the antrum (they are very short, narrow and separated from each other in of P. albosignata and P. hoenei ), and the markedly less elongate signa bursae.

Description. External morphology of adults. Length of forewing 18 mm in both sexes. Antennae filiform, eyes and head large, collar with distinct blackish stripe. Thorax pale greyish-brown. Forewing elongate with costa somewhat convex subbasally and subapically, pointed apex, angled thornus and posteriorly oblique outer margin. Forewing ground colour pale greyish-brown with slight pinkish suffusion in medial and postmedial areas. Subbasal longitudinal dash long and thin, black. Antemedial line thin, black, strongly dentate, indistinct posteriorly. Orbicular stigma elliptical, pale brown with thin black edge indistinct along costa. Reniform stigma large, greyish brown but outlined with white outwardly, with pinkish suffusion anteriorly, V-shaped dark brown shade medially, and thin black edge indistinct anteriorly. Claviform stigma elliptical, narrow, with thin black edge, posteriorly fused with medial longitudinal black dash connecting ante- and postmedial lines. Postmedial line curved opposite the cell, dentate on veins. Postmedial area with intense pinkish brown suffusion and diffuse black suffusion on veins. Postmedial line irregularly dentate, indistinct. Subterminal area with intense greyish suffusion. Terminal line black, interrupted into series of short triangular spots between veins. Cilia greyish brown. Hindwing with somewhat serrate outer margin, pale brown with dark brown suffusion on veins. Medial fascia indistinct, represented by slight dark brown suffusion. Discal spot thin, semilunar, indistinct. Cilia pale brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 35 ). Uncus elongate, thin, distally narrowed, dorso-ventrally flattened and curved, with laterally setose distal third and rounded tip. Tegumen relatively short with narrow arms. Penicular lobes nearly rectangular, setose. Vinculum robust, longer than tegumen, with heavily sclerotized U-shaped saccus. Juxta deltoid with strongly elongate and narrow apical section. Transtilla strongly elongate and thin. Valva very broad basally and tapered distally. Costa curved dorsally, with strongly elongate and narrow medial dorsal protrusion and short but robust clavate digitus. Digiti almost symmetrical: right one somewhat narrower than left one. Cucullus densely setose with triangular apex and elongate and apically rounded ventral lobe. Corona present in subapical third of outer margin of cucullus, consisting of weak setae. Clasper heavily sclerotized, strongly curved medially and dilated distally. Sacculus extremely wide and strongly narrowed distally. Clavus short but wide, rectangular with rounded corners; right and left clavi symmetrical. Aedeagus elongate and narrow, with almost straight medial section and ventrally curved proximal and distal sections. Coecum short but strongly dilated. Carina elongate, with elongate but short, weakly dentate dorsal crest with concave dorsal margin. Vesica membranous, elongate, more or less tubular, curved dorsally, narrowed distally, with short medio-ventral conical diverticulum with rounded tip. Female genitalia ( Fig. 33 ). Ovipositor elongate, conical. Papilla analis elongate, narrowly elliptical, weakly setose. Apophysis posterioris elongate, flattened, thin distally and dilated proximally.Apophysis anterioris elongate and thin, somewhat dilated basally, shorter than apophysis posterioris. Ostium bursae broad. Antrum wide but short, with evenly sclerotized ventral section having somewhat convex posterior margin and swollen and weakly dentate dorsal section. Ductus bursae elongate, dorso-ventrally flattened, heavily sclerotized, somewhat dilated posteriorly, with laterally membranous anterior end connecting to corpus bursae. Corpus burse narrowly sack-like with rounded anterior end, with four elongate and granulated band-like longitudinal signa. Appendix bursae broadly conical with rounded tip, moderately sclerotized basally, positioned postero-laterally.

Distribution. The species is known from north-western Myanmar (Chin State).

Etymology. The species is named after Mr. Htay Aung, tourist guide in Myanmar, for the wish of the collector of the new species.

Figures

FIGURE 39. West Myanmar, Chin State, ca. 4 km W Thaing Gnin village, the habitat of P. aungi (photo by S. Löffler).

FIGURES 9–16. Polymixis spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9 and 10 in JSL; 11 in NSMT (photo by U. Jinbo); 12–16 in BBT.

FIGURES 24–26. Polymixis spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in BBT.

FIGURES 30–35. Polymixis spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 30, 33–35 in BBT; 31 in ZFMK (photo by D. Stüning); 32 in HNHM (photo by Zs. Balint & G. Katona).

FIGURES 21–23. Polymixis spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in BBT; 22 in ZFMK (photo by D. Stüning); 23 in HNHM (photo by Zs. Balint & G. Katona).