Miltochrista pudibunda, ' sensu Hampson, 1900

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 : 552

The Miltochrista pudibunda species-group

Diagnosis. The species-group differs from other members of the genus by the combination of the following features in the male genitalia: (1) the penicular lobes are present and bear bunches of strongly elongate piliform scales (present in only few other groups, e.g., in M. obliquilinea ( Swinhoe, 1901) and M. dasara (Moore, [1860] in Horsfield & Moore, [1860]) species-groups); (2) the costa is strongly dilated distally and partly covering the distal membranous lobe of the valva outwardly; (3) the phallus has a longitudinal sclerotized crest ventrally. In the female genitalia, the species-group differs from other congeners by: (1) the ostium bursae with two dorsal lobes fused with the distal margin of the 7 th sternite, (2) the heavily sclerotized posterior section of the corpus bursae bearing clusters of dentation and (3) the heavily sclerotized appendix bursae. The similar sclerotization is known in the M. dasara species-group, but the latter one lacks ostial lobes fused with the 7 th sternite.

External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–20 ). Forewing length 7–9.5 mm in males and 8–9.5 mm in females. Antennae of both sexes weakly ciliate. Body and wing coloration varies from yellow to pinkish yellow. Forewing pattern black, of ‘miltochristoid’ type, consisting of medially curved antemedial and medial lines, strongly dentate postmedial line, and subterminal line interrupted into row of dot-like or short dash-like spots. Hindwing with blackish suffusion at apex, in certain species diffuse medial line present in anterior part of hindwing.

Male genitalia ( Figs 21–31 ). Uncus elongate and slender, smoothly curved and apically pointed. Tuba analis with weakly setose subscaphium. Distal (subuncal) 1/3 of arms of tegumen dilated and fused with each other. Penicular lobes small (ca. 1/4 of tegumen length), elliptical, bearing bunches of strongly elongate piliform scales. Vinculum somewhat shorter than tegumen. Saccus V-shaped with rounded tip or U-shaped. Juxta triangular with shallow medial incision basally. Valva elongate, curved ventrally. Costa strongly dilated distally; in certain species ( M. pudibunda and M. pseudobunda ), ventral protrusion of costa bears rounded swollen process. Distal membranous lobe of valva short (ca. six times shorter than valva) and round, positioned inwards of distal edge of costa. Sacculus wide (ca. 4/5 of valva width basally and ca. 1/2 of valva width medially), distal saccular process elongate, apically pointed, somewhat curved dorsally; in certain species ( M. berdepsebunda sp. nov. and M. minibunda ) short triangular medial costal process present. Phallus elongate, somewhat narrowed distally, with longitudinal sclerotized crest on dorsal side. Vesica elongate, curved dorsally, bearing granulated diverticula and clusters of robust spike-like cornuti. Distal plate of vesica wide (up to 1/2 of vesica width), heavily sclerotized.

Female genitalia ( Figs 32–37 ). Papillae anales wide, trapezoid with rounded corners, weakly setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, equal in length. Ostium bursae with two sclerotized lateral lobes ventrally fused with sclerotized edge of 7 th abdominal sternite. Ductus bursae short (from 1/3 to 1/2 of corpus bursae length) and membranous. Corpus bursae sack-like, its posterior section heavily sclerotized and bearing clusters of numerous denticles. Anterior section of corpus bursae membranous with one drawing pin-shaped signum. Appendix bursae conical, heavily sclerotized, positioned postero-laterally or postero-ventrally.

Figures

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

FIGURES 9–16. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10 and 16 in CKC; 11, 12 and 14 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 13 and 15 in MWM/ZSM.

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 21–24. Miltochrista pudibunda: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 22–24 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 25–27. Miltochrista pseudobunda: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25 and 26 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 27 in MWM/ZSM.

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.