Miltochrista taragmena, Volynkin & Huang, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V. & Huang, Si-Yao, 2022, On the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner with descriptions of five new species from India and China and notes on the genus Arctelene Kirti & Gill (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 58, pp. 86-108 : 100-103

Miltochrista taragmena sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:06D9E61F-F67D-440E-AA37-EB2FD7998391

( Figs 36, 37 , 55 , 67 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 36 , 55 ): male, [ China, Yunnan, Lijiang ] “Li- kiang ca. 2000m | Prov. Nord- Yuennan | 10.8.1934. H. Höne ” / “Lycl. rubri- | cosa Moore” / “ ♂ ” / “Slide | AV2132 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ZFMK).

Paratypes: 8 males, 6 females, the same locality and collector as holotype, 2.VII.1934 (1 male), 9.VII.1934 (1 female), 28.VII.1934 (1 male), 31.VII.1934 (1 female), 3.VIII.1934 (1 female, gen. prep. No.: ZFMK Lep 153381), 5.VIII.1934 (1 male, 1 female with gen. prep. No. AV 2133), 6.VIII.1934 (1 male, 1 female), 14.VIII.1934 (1 male), 25.VII.1935 (2 males), 26.VII.1935 (1 female), 3.VIII.1935 (1 male) ( ZFMK) .

Note. This species was erroneously reported from China as ‘ Lyclene (Asura) rubricosa Moore’ by Daniel (1952).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.0–15.0 mm in males and 13.0–14.0 mm in females. Miltochrista taragmena sp. n. is externally vaguely reminiscent of M. hogani sp. n., species of the M. pseudoarcuata – M. paraarcuata species pair (illustrated by Kirti & Singh 2016) and the genus Arctelene but is distinguished by the broad forewing with a more diffuse pattern, and the longer longitudinal streaks in the subbasal forewing area. The male genitalia structure of the new species is similar to the recently described M. flavorosea Bucsek, 2020 ( Figs 34, 35 ), from which M. taragmena sp. n. externally differs in the markedly larger size, the more diffuse forewing pattern, and the lack of the medial transverse line in the hindwing. The male genital capsule of M. taragmena sp. n. differs from that of M. flavorosea ( Fig. 56 ) in the broader uncus, the shorter and thicker distal costal process, the broader distal membranous lobe, and the markedly shorter distal saccular process. Additionally, the dorsal setose cluster of the sacculus of the new species is narrower than in the congener. The phallus of M. taragmena sp. n. is broader and somewhat longer than in M. flavorosea . Compared to M. flavorosea , the vesica of the new species has a broader main chamber, a longer and broader distal diverticulum, and markedly larger cornuti. In the female genitalia, M. taragmena sp. n. is distinguished from M. flavorosea ( Fig. 68 ) by the markedly shorter and broader antrum, the presence of the postero-lateral gelatinous area of the corpus bursae (in M. flavorosea , there is a postero-lateral sclerotised plate instead), and the presence of one cluster consisting of markedly smaller spines in the corpus bursae whereas M. flavorosea has two clusters consisting of robust spines. Compared to M. flavorosea , the 7 th abdominal sternite of the new species has narrower and more weakly sclerotised lateral plate, and markedly shorter and narrower, triangular lateral pocket with irregular margins whereas it is bilobate with a larger and semielliptical posterior lobe.

Distribution. Southwest China (Yunnan) ( Daniel 1952, as rubricosa ).

Etymology. The specific epithet originates from the Greek ‘ταραγμένος’ meaning ‘confused’, and refers to the confusion of the new species with Arctelene rubricosa , comb. n. by Daniel (1952). The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 28–42. Miltochrista (28–37) and Arctelene (38–42) spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 28–30, 32–35, and 42 in MWM/ZSM; 31, 38–41 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 36 and 37 in ZFMK.

Figures 55–58. Miltochrista (55 and 56) and Arctelene (57 and 58) spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 55 in ZFMK; 56 and 58 in MWM/ZSM; 57 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 67–70. Miltochrista (67 and 68) and Arctelene (69 and 70) female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 67 in ZFMK; 68 in MWM/ZSM; 69 and 70 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).