Miltochrista qingchenga, Volynkin & Černý & Huang & Saldaitis, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V, Černý, Karel, Huang, Si-Yao & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2023, Thirteen new species of the genus Miltochrista Hübner from Indochina, China, Myanmar and India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 12-37 : 16-17

Miltochrista qingchenga sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F59954F7-CDD0-4BB3-AE7E-2E6F1D8037C4

( Figs 25, 26 , 65 , 89 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 25 , 65 ): male, “ China, Sichuan-prov. | Mt. Qingchengshan | 10.–21. Juli 2006 ” / “ Museum Witt ” / “ Slide | ZSM Arct. | 423/2017 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratype. CHINA: female, the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 424/2017 ♂ ( MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.0 mm in the male holotype and 13.0 mm in the female paratype. Miltochrista qingchenga sp. n. ( Figs 25, 26 ) is externally similar to M. conthytera sp. n. ( Figs 20, 21 ) and M. ehyrosta sp. n. ( Figs 16–19 ) but distinguished by the somewhat larger size, the slightly paler forewing ground colour, and the more medially sinuous medial line. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Fig. 65 ) is similar to the externally dissimilar M. cingula ( Fig. 66 ) but in the latter the uncus is shorter and broader, and the valva is less dilated distally and has a narrower distal saccular process. The phallus of M. qingchenga sp. n. is shorter (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex) and narrower than in M. cingula . Compared to M. cingula , the vesica of the new species has a longer proximal section, a narrower main chamber, a shorter and narrower distal cornutus, and bears two lateral cornuti whereas M. cingula , as well as most other related species, has a single lateral cornutus. The female genitalia of the two species are very similar but unlike M. cingula ( Fig. 90 ), in M. qingchenga sp. n. ( Fig. 89 ) the medial ventral depression of the ostium bursae margin is broader and rather V-shaped (it has parallel lateral margins in M. cingula ), the posterior sclerotised clusters of the corpus bursae consist of longer spinules, and the medial lateral gelatinous diverticulum of the corpus bursae is well-developed (similar to M. conthytera sp. n. and M. ehyrosta sp. n.).

Distribution. China (Sichuan Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

Figures 16–26. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 16 in WIGJ (ex CAV); 17 in CAV; 18 and 19 in CKC; 20–22, 25 and 26 in MWM/ZSM; 23 in GMF-B; 24 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 62–65. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 62, 63 and 65 in MWM/ZSM; 64 in WIGJ.

Figures 86–89. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 86 in CKC; 87 and 89 in MWM/ZSM; 88 in GMF-B.

Figures 66–69. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 66 in CKC; 67 in MWM/ZSM; 68 and 69 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 90–93. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 90 in CKC; 91 in MWM/ZSM; 92 in CAV; 93 in ZFMK.