Miltochrista cataplictica, Volynkin & Černý & Huang & Saldaitis, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V, Černý, Karel, Huang, Si-Yao & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2023, Thirteen new species of the genus Miltochrista Hübner from Indochina, China, Myanmar and India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 12-37 : 20-21

Miltochrista cataplictica sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8DA73909-17D3-462B-9C1F-65A4636B54FD

( Figs 45–47 , 80, 81 , 92 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 45 , 80 ): male, “ 10–20.VIII.2014, | South Laos, | 27 km ENE of Pakse, | near Tad Fane waterfall, | 15°11'01.1''N 106°07'40.5''E, | 950m, local collector leg. / “Slide | AV6903 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( WIGJ, ex CAV).

Paratypes. LAOS: 61 specimens of both sexes, the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. No. : AV7396 ♀ ( CAV) ; VIETNAM: 1 male , Đà L ạt, Datan La , 1380m, 11°54'10.6''N 108°26'[59].59''E, 29.IX.2013, K. Černý leg., gen. prep. No.: AV2870 ♂ ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.0–9.0 mm in males and 8.5–9.0 mm in females. Miltochrista cataplictica sp. n. ( Figs 45–47 ) is an unmistakable species characterised by the pale red forewing ground colour with a diffuse blackish forewing markings and a deep yellow subterminal area and cilia. The forewing pattern of the new species is vaguely reminiscent of M. flavorosea ( Figs 13–15 ) but differs in the medial line situated more proximally and connected to the longer subbasal streaks (it touches the postmedial streaks posteriorly in M. flavorosea ), and the presence of the terminal line represented by a row of dot-like spots on veins. The male genitalia of M. cataplictica sp. n. ( Figs 80, 81 ) is most similar to the externally rather dissimilar and larger M. taragmena Volynkin & Huang, 2022 ( Figs 48, 49 , 79 ) from Yunnan, China, but can easily be distinguished by the broader valva with a broader distal membranous lobe, the broader dorsal setose cluster of the sacculus, the longer and apically pointed distal saccular process (it is apically rounded in the congener), the slightly S-like curved phallus (it is almost straight in the congener), and the vesica having a shorter apical diverticulum and somewhat longer cornuti. In the female genitalia, M. cataplictica sp. n. ( Fig. 92 ) differs from M. taragmena ( Fig. 93 ) in the markedly narrower antrum, the broader corpus bursae with longer clusters of larger spines, and the presence of the additional, medial cluster of short spinules. Additionally, the lateral pockets of the 7 th abdominal sternite of the new species are larger than in M. taragmena .

Distribution. Laos (Champasak Province) and Vietnam (Lâm Đồng Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘καταπληκτικός’ meaning ‘amazing’ and refers to the beautiful, colourful forewings of the new species. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

Figures 39–49. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 39 and 45 in WIGJ (ex CAV); 40 and 47 in CKC; 41–44 in MWM/ZSM; 46 in CAV; 48 and 49 in ZFMK.

Figures 78–81. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 78 in MWM/ZSM; 79 in ZFMK; 80 in WIGJ (ex CAV); 81 in CKC.

Figures 90–93. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 90 in CKC; 91 in MWM/ZSM; 92 in CAV; 93 in ZFMK.

Figures 1–15. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 4 and 10 in WIGJ (ex CAV); 2 and 3 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 5, 6, 11 and 12 in CAV; 7 in MWM/ZSM; 8, 9, 14 and 15 in CKC; 13 in SNM (after Bucsek 2020).