Termioptycha almae Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti, 2022

Ranjan, Rahul, Singh, Navneet & Kirti, Jagbir Singh, 2022, On the taxonomy of genus Termioptycha Meyrick, 1889 (Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae) with description of two new species and two new species records from India, Zootaxa 5165 (3), pp. 415-424 : 417

Termioptycha almae Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti , sp. nov.

(Figs. 2, 9)

Type locality: Deorali (Sikkim, India)

Material examined: Holotype (♂). India, SIKKIM, Deorali , 18.ix.2014 (NZCZSI), R. Ranjan leg.

Diagnosis: By the darker ground colour of the forewing, T. almae sp. nov. (Fig. 2) is closely similar to T. nigrimacularis ( Rong et al. 2017: fig. 4), T. bilineata (Fig. 4) and T. inimica ( Rong et al. 2017: fig. 13) but is distinct from the first two species by the paler hindwing and from T. inimica , by the presence of a sub basal bunch of hairs on the inner margin of hindwing. In male genitalia, T. almae sp. nov (Fig. 9) is distinct from T. nigrimacularis ( Rong et al. 2017: fig. 14) by the uncus not bifid apically, gnathos protruded medially and valva having mid-costal process (in T. nigrimacularis uncus is apically bifid, gnathos flat medially, and the mid-costal process of valva is absent), from T. bilineata (Fig. 11) by the absence of apical spine of uncus, absence of ampulla and presence of a mid-costal process of valva (in T. bilineata , the rectangular uncus is having apical spine, a conspicuous ampulla present and mid-costal process of valva is absent), and from T. inimica ( Rong et al. 2017: fig. 23) by unspined gnathos, uncus almost rectangular, and presence of a mid-costal process (in T. inimica gnathos is densely spined, uncus is broadest medially and narrow at apex and base, mid-costal process of valva is absent).

Description: Adult. Dark olive. Labial palpi upturned, 2 nd segment longest, 3 rd minute. Antennae ciliated, basally swollen. Patagia reaching upto metathorax. Forewing with a basal pale olive patch outlined with fuscous; a tuft of black scales in cell, another on beyond the cell; a postmedial indistinct line originating from radial vein being excurved between vein M 3 and cubital than incurved to meet at inner margin, outer area suffused with fuscous scales; terminal spots of dark scales; cilia alternatively chequered with pale pinkish and fuscous scales. Hindwing basal and medial area whitish tinged with pale fulvous and with a subbasal bunch of hairs on inner margin, traces of postmedial line, area beyond it dark. Male genitalia with uncus almost rectangular with small basolateral extension, apex with a minute spine on both the terminal. Gnathos narrowed and slightly protruded medially. Tegumen as long as uncus. Vinculum almost double the length of tegumen, forming V shape. Juxta U shape with lateral process elongate and slightly curved. Valva almost rectangular with apical margin oblique, anteriorly directed long apical hairs; costa with strong central process, an elongated flap running along costa from base to apex of valva, a dorsally directed sclerotised flap from saccular region. Aedeagus arched with a sclerotised spine; vesica with bunch of small spines along with some long spines.

Etymology: The species is named in honour of eminent Epipaschiinae worker Dr. Alma Solis, USA, for her great contributions to this field.

Distribution: So far, the new species is known from its type locality only i.e., Deorali, Sikkim.