Ghoria sericeipennis Moore, 1878

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, Restoration of Ghoria sericeipennis Moore (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5067 (2), pp. 296-300 : 296-299

Ghoria sericeipennis Moore, 1878 , stat. rev.

( Figs 1–3 , 9 , 12 )

Ghoria sericeipennis Moore, 1878 , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 13 (Type locality: [NE India, north of West Bengal, Darjeeling] “ Darjiling ”).

Type material examined. Syntype ( Fig. 1 ): male, “Darjiling ♂ Russell” / “Moore Coll. 94–106.” / red ring “Type” label / QR-code label with unique number “ NHMUK010401898 ” ( NHMUK) .

Additional material examined. NEPAL: 13 males, 3 females, Annapurna Himal , Poon Hill, 2700 m, 12–15.VII.1998, Sinyaev & Afonin leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-946 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 17 males, 11 females, Annapurna Himal , between Nangethanti and Ghorepani, 2600 m, 83°42.5’E, 28°23.5’N, 24.VII.1995, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-947, ZSM Arct. 2020-042 (males), ZSM Arct. 2020-043 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 5 males, 7 females, Annapurna Himal , Banthanti village, 2500 m, 83°43’E, 28°22.5’N, 25.VII.1995, Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay leg. (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 2300 m, Mt. Kalinchok , 5 km W of Bigu, 3.VII.1997, M. Hreblay & K. Csak leg. (MWM/ ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15–15.5 mm in males and 18 mm in females. Ghoria sericeipennis ( Figs 1–3 ) differs externally from G. albocinerea ( Figs 4–6 ) in its dark grey head which is pale yellow in the congener. Additionally, in the male of G. sericeipennis , the hindwing is white with intense brownish grey suffusion at apex whereas the male hindwing of G. albocinerea is monotonous pale greyish-brown. The species is also reminiscent of G. longivesica Volynkin, Saldaitis & Černý, 2020 ( Figs 7, 8 ) due to the grey head. However, G. sericeipennis is distinguished by the somewhat smaller size, the paler, orange-yellow collar (it is deep orange in G. longivesica ), and the wider subapical area of brownish-grey suffusion on the hindwing. The male genital capsule of G. sericeipennis ( Fig. 9 ) is very similar to that of G. albocinerea ( Fig. 10 ) but differs in the somewhat longer vinculum and the longer distal saccular process reaching the valva apex. Compared to that of G. longivesica , the male genital capsule of G. sericeipennis has a thicker uncus and a wider and shorter valva (in proportion to the tegumen-uncus complex). The aedeagus of G. sericeipennis is markedly longer and wider than in G. albocinerea (in proportion to the tegumen-uncus complex) and more dilated distally than in G. longivesica . The vesica of G. sericeipennis is longer than in G. albocinerea , more twisted subbasally, lacks a medial diverticulum, bears two wide clusters of numerous short but robust cornuti (whereas G. albocinerea has one cluster consisting of markedly smaller cornuti) and has a much broader sub-distal diverticulum bearing larger spinules. Compared to that of G. longivesica ( Fig. 11 ), the vesica of G. sericeipennis is shorter but broader, twisted subbasally, lacks a subbasal cluster of spinulose scobination, has a sub-distal diverticulum and two wide clusters of numerous short but robust cornuti (whereas G. longivesica has one smaller cluster positioned on a short apical diverticulum). The female genitalia of G. sericeipennis ( Fig. 12 ) are similar to those of G. albocinerea ( Fig. 13 ) but differ in the shorter and medially less dilated ductus bursae, and the longer corpus bursae covered with more robust spinules. The female genitalia of G. sericeipennis differ from those of G. longivesica ( Fig. 14 ) in the shorter apophyses posteriores, the markedly shorter ductus bursae, and the conspicuously shorter corpus bursae fully covered with spinules.

Distribution. The species is known from Northeast India (north of West Bengal) and Nepal.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Ghoria spp.; adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 4 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2, 3, 5–8 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 9–11. Ghoria spp.; male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 12–14. Ghoria spp.; female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.