Atkinomus Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti, 2022

Ranjan, Rahul, Singh, Navneet & Kirti, Jagbir Singh, 2022, A new genus, three new species and a new species record of Epipaschiinae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from India, Zootaxa 5222 (4), pp. 385-394 : 386

Genus Atkinomus Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti , gen. nov.

Type species. Atkinomus parilis Ranjan, N. Singh & Kirti , sp. nov. by present designation.

Diagnosis. Atkinomus gen. nov. and the members of Canipsa Walker, 1866 particularly C. atkinsonii Moore, 1888 , are most closely similar in external morphology: similar wing maculation; antennae minutely serrate and fasciculate with scape having a long flagellate process; 2 nd segment of the labial palpi hollowed and holds the scales of the maxillary palpi; hind tibia with two pairs of tibial spurs, the outer spur is almost half the length of the inner spur. Both genera are best distinguished on the basis of the characters of the male genitalia. Atkinomus gen. nov. is mainly characterized by the uncus which is apically and basally broader, medially constricted (approximately Pellet Drum (Damaru) like), highly setose at apical half; socii present at the base of the uncus; valva with an elongated saw-shaped medial plate stretching from the distal part of sacculus to the subapical area of valva, parallel to ventral margin; whereas in Canipsa , referring to the species C. atkinsonii , the uncus is T-shaped, socii are absent, and the valva lacks any medial plate. Coenodomus Walsingham, 1888 ( Figs. 6 , 12 ) is another closely similar genus, but in the genus Coenodomus , the male antenna is bipectinate whereas, in Atkinomus , the male antenna is minutely serrate and fasciculate. In the male genitalia of Coenodomus , the uncus is broad and without a constriction. Furthermore, most of the species belonging to the genus Coenodomus have a valva with costal margin noticeably longer than the saccular margin, and without any elongated medial spinulose plate ( Wang et al. 2017b, figs 16–23).

Description. Male. Antennae minutely serrate and fasciculate; scape with a long flagellate process; 2 nd segment of the labial palpi hollowed, which holds scales of maxillary palpi. Hind tibia with two pairs of tibial spurs, inner spur almost 2× than outer spur.

Male genitalia. Uncus apically and basally broader, medially constricted; socii present at the base of uncus; valva elongate, slightly constricted medially, apically widening into a rounded apex, an elongate saw like medial plate, parallel to ventral margin, stretching from the distal part of sacculus to below valva apex; juxta broadest medially, apical bifurcation fused.

Etymology. The name of the genus is a portmanteau word combing: ‘Atkin’ from C. atkinsonii and ‘omus’ from Coenodomus . Gender masculine.

Distribution. So far, the new genus is only known from the state of Sikkim ( India).

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Adults. 1, A. parilis gen. et sp. nov., male; 2, C. atkinsonii, male; 3, L. whitakeri sp. nov.; 4, L. buruensis; 5, A. confusa sp. nov.; 6. C. dudgeoni, male (photo credit: Wang et al. 2017b).

FIGURES 7–12. Male genitalia. 7, A. parilis gen. et sp. nov., male. 8, C. atkinsonii; 9, L. whitakeri sp. nov.; 10. L. buruensis; 11. A. confusa sp. nov.; 12. C. dudgeoni (photo credit: Wang et al. 2017b).