Manulea (Churingosia) mikrotera, Volynkin & Černý, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2022, Churingosia, a new subgenus of the genus Manulea Wallengren with descriptions of four new species from the Oriental realm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 5205 (2), pp. 162-176 : 169

Manulea (Churingosia) mikrotera sp. n.

( Figs 13, 14 , 23 , 24 , 32, 33 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 13 , 23 ): male, “ NE India | Arunachal Pradesh | near Hunli | 1400m, 22–28. V. 1997 | leg. local collector” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021-091 ♂ | A. Volynkin” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. INDIA: 12 males, 5 females, Arunachal Pradesh, near Etalin, 700m, 10–21. V .1997, local collector leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-243 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; MYANMAR: 1 male, 25 km E Putao , env. Nan Sa Bon vill., 800m, 6–9. V.1998, Murzin & Sinyaev leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-090 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 female, 16 km E Putao, Kaung Mu Lon village , 500m, 28–30.IV.1998, Murzin & Sinyaev leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-241 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 3 females, 65 km NE Putao, Zi Yar Dam village , 1250m, 18–21. V .1998, Murzin & Sinyaev leg. ( MWM / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 17.0– 17.5 mm in males and 18.5–19.0 mm in females. Manulea mikrotera sp. n. is superficially distinguished from M. nigripes and M. mavropoda sp. n. in the broader forewing (the length to width ratio is ca. 2.2:1 vs. 2.5: 1 in the congeners). Additionally, the new species is markedly smaller than M. nigripes . The male genital capsule of M. mikrotera sp. n. is most similar to M. nigripes but differs in the somewhat more elongate vinculum, and the slightly broader distal lobe of the valva. The phallus of the new species is longer and somewhat broader (in proportion to the valva length) than in the congener and bearing a more elongate carinal process. Compared to M. nigripes , the main chamber of the vesica of M. mikrotera sp. n. is longer and broader (in proportion to the valva width), and the dorsal diverticulum is longer, proximally broader, and bearing a longer latero-apical cluster of spinulose scobination. In the female genitalia, the new species differs from M. nigripes in the posteriorly broader sclerotised plate of the ductus bursae with a markedly broader and deeper medial incision (it is posteriorly tapered with a narrow and shallow incision in the congener), and the somewhat larger round signum bursae.

Distribution. Northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim) and North Myanmar (Kachin State).

Etymology. The specific epithet originates from the Greek ‘μικρότερος’ meaning ‘smaller’ and refers to the smaller size of the new species in comparison to the most similar M. nigripes . The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Manulea (Churingosia subgen. n.) spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10, and 13–16 in MWM/ ZSM; 11 and 12 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 20–23. Manulea (Churingosia subgen. n.) spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 20, 21 and 23 in MWM/ZSM; 22 in OUMNH.

FIGURES 24–26. Manulea (Churingosia subgen. n.) spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ ZSM.

FIGURES 31–34. Manulea (Churingosia subgen. n.) spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 31 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 32–34 in MWM/ZSM.