Hexafrenum tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister, 2022

Irungbam, Jatishwor Singh, Schintlmeister, Alexander & Fric, Zdenek Faltynek, 2022, New and less known Notodontidae from Manipur, India (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), Zootaxa 5196 (1), pp. 61-93 : 65-66

Hexafrenum tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C30C4CE8-21D4-4552-AA90-A6C387C247E2

( Figs. 9, 10 , 36, 37 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, India, Manipur, Ukhrul district, Shirui Hill (Site 4), 25.1112°N 94.4534°E, 2425 m, 25.VII.2019, genitalia slide no. GU 69-95, leg. JS Irungbam.

Type deposited in the MWM, Dresden, Germany.

Paratypes (3 ♂♂): India : 2 ♂♂, Manipur, Ukhrul district, Shirui Hill ( Site 4), 25.1236°N 94.4408°E, 2036 m, 25.VII.2019, 13.IX.2019, genitalia slide no. GU 69-96, genitalia slide no. GU 69-98, leg W. Thomas, Dresden (in coll. A. Schintlmeister, Dresden, MWM) ; 1 ♂, Shirui Hill ( Site 1), 25.1236°N 94.4408°E, 2190 m, 16.X.2017, genitalia slide no. JSI-GP-322; leg. JS Irungbam (in coll. NZC, ZSI, Registration no. 11519/H10) .

Diagnosis: The new species, Hexafrenum tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov., is closely related to H. avis Schintlmeister & Fang, 2001 from Southeast China and Vietnam. The forewings of H. tangkhula sp. nov. are chocolate-brown with a hint of reddish colour, while H. avis have greyish grounds without reddish-brown scales. The hindwings of H. tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. are dark brown, while those of H. avis are paler and more greyish. Both the species have large rectangular-shaped apical projections on the valves, which has rounded tips in H. tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov., but they are slightly pointed in H. avis ( Fig. 38 ). H. tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. have long and pointed socii, while H. avis has relatively short socii. The large prominent black spot at the basal fascia is a characteristic feature for H. tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov.

Description ( Figs. 9, 10 ): Forewing length 21– 25 mm in males.Antennae bipectinate with short rami. Forewing relatively broad, elongated shape with pointed apex. Ground color of the forewing chocolate-brown, with a hint reddish colour. The apex of the forewings, the discal spot and a basal streak toward the margin are pale yellowish brown. The basal fascia has a large prominent black spot. Hindwings are dark brown. Male genitalia ( Figs. 36, 37 ). Uncus long and bifurcated uncus with short arm. Socii well developed, long and slightly curved, with pointed tip, almost 2/3 rd of uncus. Tegumen short, rather broad, dome shaped. Valves robust and large rectangular shaped apical projection; Valva apex slightly protruded. Phallus robust and short with two long and curved processes distally. Cornuti not visible. 8th sternite with a pair of strongly sclerotized and tapered lateral projections. 8 th tergite characteristically semispherical notched.

The female of H. tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. is unknown.

Etymology: The species name is derived from “Tangkhul tribe” of the Naga community in Manipur who play an important role in the conservation and protection of biodiversity in the Shirui Hill, Manipur.

Distribution: India: Manipur.

Habitat ( Figs. 56 ): All the three new species, Cleapa ukhrulensis Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov., Spatalina rimbiensis Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. and Hexafrenum tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. are currently known from the Shirui Hills, Manipur (NE India), of which S. rimbiensis Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. is also known from Sikkim (Rimbi) and different localities of Nepal. They occur at altitudes between 1900 to 2700m above sea level whereas S. rimbiensis Irungbam & Schintlmeister , sp. nov. is reported from lower altitude at 1550m in Nepal. All the species were collected mainly during the monsoon months (July and September). The Shirui Hill, has a cold climate, with temperatures between 3°C and 33°C. Most of the year, the upper ridges of Shirui Hill are covered with clouds, but they receive rain from May through the beginning of October. In the region, average annual rainfall is about 1763.7 millimeters. There are a variety of Rhododendron and Quercus species that dominate the vegetation in the area. Despite the relatively sparse population, the forest area is heavily disturbed by anthropogenic activities, such as seasonal cultivation, illegal tree felling, forest burning, and domesticated animal grazing ( Schintlmeister & Irungbam 2019).

Figures

FIGURE 56. Habitat of the Shirui hill, Manipur.

FIGURES 1–10. Adults of Notodontidae. 1. Cleapa ukhrulensis Irungbam & Schintlmeister, sp. nov., Holotype male, Manipur, India; 2. Ditto, Paratype male, Manipur, India; 3. C. latifascia Walker, 1855, male, Nepal; 4. C. cleapa Schintlmeister, 2007, male, S. Vietnam; 5. Spatalina rimbiensis Irungbam & Schintlmeister, sp. nov., Holotype male, Sikkim, India; 6. Ditto, Paratype male, Manipur, India; 7. Ditto, Paratype female, Sikkim, India; 8. S. ferruginosa (Moore, 1879), male, Darjeeling; 9. Hexafrenum tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister, sp. nov. Holotype male, Manipur, India; 10. Ditto, Paratype male, Manipur, India. Scale bar 10 mm.

FIGURES 36–39. Genitalia of Notodontidae. 36. Hexafrenum tangkhula Irungbam & Schintlmeister, sp. nov. Holotype male, Manipur, India; 37. Ditto, Paratype male, Manipur, India; 38. A. avis avis Schintlmeister & Fang, 2001, China, Sichuan PT 55- 66 (Schintlmeister 2008: 345, fig. 1681); 39. Hupodonta corticalis Butler, 1877.