Naarda uthanti, Tóth, Balázs & Ronkay, László, 2015

Tóth, Balázs & Ronkay, László, 2015, Revision of the Palaearctic and Oriental species of the genus Naarda Walker, 1866 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Hypeninae). Part 5. Description of 13 new species from Asia, Zootaxa 3925 (2), pp. 179-201 : 185-186

Naarda uthanti sp. n.

male: fig. 38, female: fig. 39

Type material. Holotype. ♂: “Upper Burma: Htawgaw. 6000 ft. Capt. A.E.Swann; Brit. Mus. 1923–488”; slide No. BM Noct. 21732♂ (coll. BMNH).

Paratypes. Burma: 1 ♂, 2 ♀: data as holotype, slide No. BM Noct. 21733♀ ( BMNH); 1 ♂: “N.E. Burma, Kambaitl, 7000 ft, 18.VI.1934. R. Malaise” (coll. BMNH).

Diagnosis. This new species is closely related to N. melinau Holloway, 2008 . The labial palps of the new species are, however, longer and the forewing is broader than in the latter taxon. The genitalia are also similar, but the apical, tapered part of valva is much curved in N. uthanti than in N. melinau , moreover, the costa is shorter, its apical process is much more pointed and the vesica lacks the cornutus (males); the ductus bursae is longer, the colliculum is much larger, and the cervix of corpus bursae is much shorter compared to N. melinau (females).

Description. Wingspan 21–23 mm, length of forewing 10–11 mm. Sexes similar. Antennae filiform, ciliate and setose in both sexes, ciliation being denser in male than in female. Labial palps nearly five times longer than diameter of eye; 3rd joint conspicuous, elongate, its tip light; 2nd joint domed, dorsal edge convex, angular. Scalehood of vertex broad-based, relatively long, trapezoidal. Characteristic wing pattern features: no significant difference between sexes, shape of forewing also similar: relatively broad, with straight costa in male; ground colour greyish brown (somewhat faded); terminal line conspicuous; subterminal line lighter than ground colour, slightly zigzagged with outwards projections on veins; postmedial line broad, black, slightly curved, with an angular projection towards reniform stigma; medial line indistinct; antemedial black; reniform stigma 8-shaped, bright ochreous with conspicuous dark border (dark outline stronger in male than in female) and two blackish dots inside, the bottom one being larger than the top one; orbicular stigma tiny, hardly visible. Hindwing somewhat lighter than forewing, with subterminal and postmedial lines in similar intensity and shape to those of forewing; traces of medial line also present. Male genitalia (fig. 7). Uncus long, nearly straight, its dorsal edge slightly domed, tip hooked. Scaphium straight, slightly shorter than uncus. Tegumen as long as vinculum. Saccus narrow and short, triangular. Juxta weakly sclerotised, as broad as the capsule, with small process on its dorsal edge. Valva slightly elongate, with dorsal and ventral edges being parallel, but its distal quarter abruptly tapering and directed ventrally by ca 75° turn. This distal part being very narrow, its tip rounded, more sclerotised than other parts of valva. Sacculus very long and narrow, with tiny triangular extension at its tip. Costa as broad as and nearly as long as sacculus, having pointed, spine-like process turned ventrally towards the tip of valva. Aedeagus elongate, slightly curved, with tiny and straight carinal process. Vesica globular, generally smooth but dorsal quarter with dense scobination of tiny grains. Female genitalia (fig. 20). Ovipositor lobes angular. Apophyses relatively strong; apophyses anteriores slightly shorter than apophyses anteriores. Sternum A7 bilobed, shape of a lobe like a rounded equilateral triangle, lobes situated far from each other, therefore sinus being very broad and abruptly tapering towards ostium. Ductus bursae relatively long, its posterior 2/3 covered by the strongly sclerotised, moderately broad colliculum, its anterior third narrow and membranous. Corpus bursae ovoid, medium-sized, with very broad, curved and moderately long cervix bursae attached to posterior half of corpus bursae. Whole surface of bursa (including cervix) densely scobinate by tiny grains, signum absent.

Distribution. All specimens were taken in Northeastern Burma, close to the border with China, in a mountainous region at the altitude of ca 1800 m.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of U Thant, late Burmese diplomat, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Taxonomic remarks. The warm brown ground colour, broad wings and straight costa represent an unusual combination of characters.