Rhagoba Moore, 1888

Ko, Jae-Ho, Bayarsaikhan, Ulziijargal, Lee, Tak-Gi & Bae, Yang-Seop, 2024, Review of the genus Rhagoba Moore, 1888 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae) from Laos, with a description of new species, Zootaxa 5443 (1), pp. 127-134 : 128

Genus Rhagoba Moore, 1888

Rhagoba Moore, 1888: 217–218 . TS: Filodes octomaculalis Moore, 1867 , by original designation (but cited as ' octomaculata ', an incorrect subsequent spelling). TL: Darjeeling, India.

Diagnosis. Rhagoba Moore, 1888 ( Figs. 1–10 in present study), is similar to the genus Pygospila Guenée, 1854 ( Kalawate et al. 2022, p. 20640, Image 1), but can be distinguished by the following characters: the thorax exhibits a strongly metallic blue reflection (a weakly metallic blue reflection in Pygospila ); in the male genitalia, the valva is ovoid (spatulate in Pygospila ); the phallus is cylindrical, short, with cornutus (linear, very long, without cornutus in Pygospila ); in the female genitalia, two signa of the corpus bursae are present (absent in Pygospila ).

Distribution. Laos, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China.

Remarks. Upon discovery of a new species of this genus, we can confirm that the strong metallic blue reflection on the thorax and the translucent patches on the wings are characteristic ( Figs. 1–5 ). Additionally, the spine-shaped fibula and the transverse, sclerotized band of the valva in the male genitalia ( Figs. 6–8 ), as well as the long ductus bursae and two signa of the corpus bursae in the female genitalia ( Figs. 9–10 ), are very similar in all species. These features are the most distinct characteristics of the genus.

Key to the species of the genus Rhagoba in Laos based on the male genitalia

1. Uncus nearly triangular; fibula caniniform; length of fibula shorter than 1/2 of sacculus ( Fig. 8 )...... R. flavolineata sp.nov.

- Uncus nearly spatulate; fibula spine-shaped; length of fibula longer than 1/2 of sacculus............................. 2

2. Distal part of sacculus straight ( Fig. 6 )........................................................ R. octomaculalis

- Distal part of sacculus curved ( Fig. 7 )............................................................ R. obvellata

Key to the species of the genus Rhagoba in Laos based on the female genitalia

1. Ostium weakly sclerotized; anterior apophyses almost same length as anterior apophyses ( Fig. 10 ).... R. flavolineata sp.nov.

- Ostium strongly sclerotized; anterior apophyses about half the length of anterior apophyses.......................... 2

2. Antrum about 1/2 length of ductus bursae ( Fig. 9 )............................................... R. octomaculalis

- Antrum about 1/4 length of ductus bursae ( Du & Li 2012, Fig 5B )..................................... R. obvellata

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. Adults of genus Rhagoba spp. from Laos. 1a. Rhagoba octomaculalis, female (INU-7104L). 1b. ditto, male (INU-7105L). 1c. ditto, male (INU-7106L). 2. Rhagoba obvellata, male (INU-6810L). 3a. Rhagoba flavolineata sp. nov., male (HT, INU-7134L). 3b. ditto, female (PT, INU-7136L). 4. Head and thorax of Rhagoba flavolineata sp. nov. showing blue reflection on thorax (HT, INU-7134L). 5. Lateral view of the head of Rhagoba flavolineata sp. nov. (HT, INU-7134L).

FIGURES 6–8. Male genitalia of Rhagoba spp. from Laos. 6. Rhagoba octomaculalis (INU-7102L). 7. Rhagoba obvellata (INU-6810L). 8. Rhagoba flavolineata sp. nov. (HT, INU–7134L).

FIGURES 9–10. Female genitalia of Rhagoba spp. from Laos. 9. Rhagoba octomaculalis (INU-6809L). 10. Rhagoba flavolineata sp. nov. (PT, INU-7138L).