Miltochrista minibunda ( Černý, 2009 )

Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Navneet, Černý, Karel & Joshi, Rahul, 2021, Taxonomic review of the Miltochrista pudibunda (Snellen) species-group (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4995 (3), pp. 551-564 : 563

Miltochrista minibunda ( Černý, 2009)

( Figs 19, 20 , 31 , 37 )

Lyclene minibunda Černý in Černý & Pinratana, 2009, Moths of Thailand, 6, 94, pl. 20, fig. 190 (Type locality: “SW Thailand, Ranong, 380 m, 10°01’32”N, 98°40’13”E ”).

Type material examined. Holotype ( Fig. 19 ): male, “SW Thailand Ranong-prov., Ranong, 380m 10°01´32´´N, 98°40´13´´E 3.–4.XII.2005 leg. K. Cerný [recte Černý]” / “ Holotype Lyclene minibunda Karel Černý, 2008 ” / QRcode label with a unique number: “NHMUK010889688” ( NHMUK).

Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype ( NHMUK) ; 5 males, 2 females, the same data as holotype ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, the same locality and collector, 2–3.XII.2007 ( CKC) ; 3 males, SW Thailand, Surat Thani, Khao Sok NP, 199m, 8°53´23´´N, 98°30´25´´E, 6.XII.2005, K. Černý leg., gen. prep. No.: AV2455 (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; 1 male, the same data as previous ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, SW Thailand, Chumphon, Pa Toh, Ban Lang Tang , 162m, 9°46´5´´N 98°46´59´´E, 7.XII.2005, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, the same locality and collector as previous, 19 and 21.XI.2006, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) ; 8 males, 11 females, the same locality and collector as previous, 3.V.2008, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) ; 6 males, 2 females, SW Thailand, Nakhon Si Tammarat, Khao Luang region, Nopphitam env. 70m, 8°44.043´N 99°41.450´E, 6.XII.2007, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) ; 2 males, 2 females, the same locality and collector as previous, 27.IV.2008 ( CKC) ; 3 males, 5 females, SW Thailand, Phathalung , 30 km W Phathalung, 7°35.08´N 99°49.263´E, 10.XII.2007, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) ; 1 female, W Thailand, Kanchanaburi, Drei Pagoden [Three Pagodas] Pass , 348m, sec. forest, 15°18.401´N 98°23.912´E, 21.IX.2008, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) ; 4 males, W Thailand, Tak, Doi Mussoe , 821m, 16°45.317´N 98°55.438´E, 26–27.IX.2008, K. Černý leg. ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7 mm in males and 8–8.5 mm in females. Miltochrista minibunda differs clearly from the related species by the intense pink suffusion in the medial and postmedial areas of the forewing. The male genital capsule of M. minibunda is very similar to that of M. berdepsebunda sp. nov., but it differs by the vinculum lacking a subapical protrusion, the apically somewhat more rounded distal costal process, and the medial saccular process positioned somewhat more basally. The phallus of M. minibunda is markedly shorter (in comparison to the valva length) and thicker than those of other members of the species-group. The vesica configuration is distinct from that of M. berdepsebunda sp. nov. by the smaller (in comparison to the phallus width) subbasal cornutus positioned more laterally, the more elongate (in comparison to the vesica width) distal and especially medial diverticula of the subbasal chamber, and the dilated distal chamber bearing a tiny cornutus basally, a robust blade-like cornutus apically and a smaller thorn-like cornutus subapically. The female genitalia of M. minibunda and M. berdepsebunda sp. nov. are closely similar, the detailed comparison is provided under the diagnosis of M. berdepsebunda sp. nov.

Distribution. Known only from southwestern and western Thailand ( Černý & Pinratana 2009).

Figures

FIGURES 17–20. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 17 and 19 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NH- MUK); 18 and 20 in CKC.

FIGURES 28–31. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 28 and 29 in MWM/ZSM; 30 and 31 in CKC.

FIGURES 32–37. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 32 in RMNH; 33 and 35 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 34, 36 and 37 in CKC.