Tolpia, Walker, 1863

Fibiger, Michael, 2007, Revision of the Micronoctuidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea). Part 1, Taxonomy of the Pollexinae, Zootaxa 1567 (1), pp. 1-116 : 9-10

GENUS TOLPIA Walker, 1863

Genus Tolpia Walker, 1863 . List of the Specimens of Lepidoptera Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, 28: 449.

Type-species Tolpia conscitulana Walker, 1863 , ibid., 28: 450, by monotypy.

Type specimen: [ Indonesia], Borneo , Sarawak. Coll. BMNH .

Taxonomic notes. The genus Tolpia comprises 21 species, placed in 7 species-groups. These are ― except for several prominent, shared structures ― regarded as modifications within the generic ground plan of the genus. The seven species-groups are described below. With only a few exceptions, the species-groups and species can be recognised only by genital characters.

Diagnosis. The general features for Tolpia are listed above under the family and subfamily diagnoses; ― expanded here. Autapomorphic character states for the genus Tolpia are indicated by (apo.).

Image (external).

Wingspan: 11–17 mm (21 species); averages larger than those of Disca (7 species) and Pollex (46 species). Forewing costa: base black; remainder of costa brown, similar to ground colour (synapomorphy with Disca ). Forewing: basal area with single black dot in middle (apo.).

Transverse lines: present, light brown to dark brown, represented on costa by a prominent black dot on each line.

Reniform: indistinct, often indicated only by dark brown line on inner side (apo.).

Fringes: length of scales in three levels, appearing as three lines.

Abdominal segment seven: long hair-like black, brown to yellowish-brown scales at apex.

Male hindleg: covered with prominent, long, black, hair-like scales forming scent brushes (plate 14, figure 3).

Male genitalia.

Ampulla: large, club-like (apo.).

Pollex : much shorter than ampulla (apo.).

Digitus: prominent, asymmetrical.

Juxta: ovoid, 1.5 X higher than wide.

Phallus: heavily sclerotised, extremely long, narrow, curved, and coiled clock-wise (plate 14, figure 5) (apo.). Phallus broadest by ductus ejaculatorius.

Female genitalia.

6 th segment fused with 7 th, posterior half heavily sclerotised.

7th and 8 th segments: heavily sclerotised, totally fused.

Antrum: large to very large, heavily sclerotised, cone-like, coiling (matching shape of phallus) (apo.).

Differential diagnosis. In Tolpia species the reniform is represented by an elongated black or brown streak, whereas in Disca the reniform is narrow, well marked, ovoid, and outlined in dark brown; in those of Pollex the reniform is broader and usually has a bright yellow or greyish-white center. In the male genitalia of Tolpia the ampulla is bent, either narrow or broad, and the pollex is short and thumb-like; in Disca the ampulla is smoothly rounded or ovoid, and the pollex is a quadrangular hump; in Pollex the ampulla is long and narrow,

club-like or stick-like, and the pollex is extremely long and usually finger-like.

Distribution. Tropical areas of the Oriental and Indo-Australian Regions.