Tarika annapurna, Volynkin & Saldaitis & Černý & Huang, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas, Černý, Karel & Huang, Si-Yao, 2023, Taxonomic review of the genus Tarika Moore with descriptions of six new species from Nepal, China and Indochina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 5258 (3), pp. 285-300 : 288

Tarika annapurna sp. n.

( Figs 4 , 19 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 4 , 19 ): male, “ Nepal, Annapurna Himal | between Nangethanti and | Ghorepani, 2600 m, 83°42,5′E | 28°23,5′N, 24.VII.1995, leg. | Gy. M. László & G. Ronkay ” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021-226♁ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 18.0 mm in the male holotype. Tarika annapurna sp. n. differs from the other species known to occur in the Himalayas, T. varana in the somewhat narrower male forewing with a slightly less convex anal margin. The male genital capsules of the two species display no remarkable differences and the main diagnostic features are found in the vesica structure. Compared to T. varana , the largest spiniform cornuti in the subbasal cluster of the new species are thinner, the medial diverticulum bears a markedly larger cornutus, and the distal diverticulum is significantly longer and broader and bearing a serrulate plate apically whereas it is apically membranous in T. varana .

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Central Nepal (Gandaki Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of Annapurna mountain range, from where the new species is known. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Tarika spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 3, 4, 7 and 8 in MWM/ZSM; 5 in WIGJ; 6 in AFM.

FIGURES 17–19. Tarika spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 17 and 18 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 19 in MWM/ZSM.