Miltochrista etalina, Volynkin & Singh & Černý & Kirti & Datta, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Navneet, Černý, Karel, Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Datta, Harvinder Singh, 2022, Three new species of Miltochrista Hübner from India, Myanmar, Nepal and China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5168 (3), pp. 319-331 : 327-331

Miltochrista etalina sp. n.

( Figs 14 , 23 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 14 , 23 ): male, “NE India | Arunachal Pradesh | near Etalin | 700m, 12–15.V.1997 | leg. local collector” / “Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 37.110 Museum Witt München” (MWM/ ZSM).

Diagnosis. The new species ( Fig. 14 ) is superficially similar to small specimens of M. idiomorpha sp. n. ( Figs 1–3 ) but is distinguished by the somewhat narrower forewing. However, the male genitalia of M. etalina sp. n. ( Fig. 23 ) are most similar to those of the superficially dissimilar M. lyclenoides ( Figs 15, 16 ) recently described from Laos. The male genital capsule of the new species differs from M. lyclenoides ( Fig. 24 ) in the scobinated anellus (it is membranous in the congener), the shorter and narrower vinculum, the less distally dilated valva with a prominent medial dorsal protrusion (absent in M. lyclenoides ), and the somewhat shorter and less up curved distal saccular process. The phallus of M. etalina sp. n. is shorter than in M. lyclenoides (in proportion to the genital capsule). Compared to M. lyclenoides , the vesica of the new species is medially broader and has a remarkably shorter lateral diverticulum bearing a shorter cluster of more robust spinules. The distal cluster of the new species is longer and broader than in M. lyclenoides and consists of longer spinules.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Fig. 14 ). Forewing length 9.5 mm in holotype male. Male antenna ciliate. Head straw yellow, frons with medial black spot. Thorax stray yellow, tegula with medial black spot. Abdomen pale ochreous-yellow. Forewing with smoothly convex costal margin and rounded apex. Forewing ground colour straw yellow, markings black. Costal margin blackish-grey in antemedial area. Subbasal spot elliptical, positioned on vein R. Antemedial area with four lengthwise streak-like spots of different lengths. Antemedial line strongly sinuous. Medial line smoothly arcuate. Discal spot small, elliptical. Postmedial line strongly and irregularly dentate. Subterminal line interrupted into short lengthwise dashes on veins. Terminal line interrupted into tiny spots on veins with black suffusion between veins. Cilia monotonous straw yellow. Hindwing monotonous pale yellowish-creamy. Male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). Uncus elongate, slender, laterally flattened, slightly down curved, distally tapered and apically pointed. Tuba analis moderately broad with thin and weakly sclerotised scaphium and distally setose subscaphium. Arms of tegumen dilated posteriorly and fused in posterior third. Vinculum somewhat shorter than tegumen, with heavily sclerotised, more or less V-shaped saccus having slightly convex arms and rounded tip. Valva somewhat dilated distally. Costa with strong, rounded medial dorsal protrusion. Distal lobe broad, rounded. Sacculus broad, weakly setose basally, with long, narrow but robust, gradually tapered and up curved distal process. Juxta short, shield-like with rounded posterior section. Anellus spinulose scobinated. Phallus cylindrical, straight, with distally tapered and apically rounded coecum. Main chamber of vesica broad, globular. Proximal lateral diverticulum short, semiglobular, covered with numerous robust spinules. Distal cluster elongate, consisting of moderately long and robust spinules. Distal lateral diverticulum short, semiglobular, with narrow cluster of weak spinulose scobination. Distal diverticulum broad, conical and apically rounded, membranous. Basal plate of vesica ejaculatorius elongate, narrow and moderately sclerotised.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Known only from its type locality in Northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 10, 12–14 in MWM/ZSM; 11 in OUMNH; 15 and 16 in CKC.

FIGURES 21–24. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21–23 in MWM/ZSM; 24 in CKC.

FIGURES 1–8. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 6 in NZCZSI; 2–4 in MWM/ZSM; 5 in CKC; 7 and 8 in MfN.