Lemyra (Thyrgorina) biseriata ( Moore, 1877 )

Singh, Harsimranjeet, Raha, Angshuman, Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Singh, Navneet, 2024, Taxonomic review of the genus Lemyra Walker (Erebidae: Arctiinae) from India, Zootaxa 5454 (1), pp. 1-69 : 9-10

Lemyra (Thyrgorina) biseriata ( Moore, 1877) : 596 ( Alpenus )

( Figs 7–9 , 101, 102 , 202 )

TL: S[outh] Andamans. This is by mistake, probably Assam ( India) ( Thomas 1990, Dubatolov 2010).

= Alpenus flavens Moore, 1879: 39 (TL: Cherra Punji, Assam [Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India])

Material examined: India, Assam: [Dima Hasao district], Jatinga , 1 ♀, 26.ix.1995, A.P.S. Kaleka leg. ( NZCZSI; 12811/H10) ; 1 ♀, 28.ix.1995, A.P.S. Kaleka leg. ( NZCZSI; 12812/H10) ; Mizoram: [Aizawl district], Aibawk , 2 ♀, 17.xi.1995, M.S. Shishodia leg. ( NZCZSI; 12809/H10) ; Nagaland: [Kohima district], Kohima , 2 ♂, 23.iv.2017, H. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 12808/H10) ; West Bengal: [Kalimpong district], Neora Valley NP, Suntalekhola , 1 ♂, 8.vii.2018, K. Bhattacharyya & party leg. ( NZCZSI; 12813/H10) ; [Darjeeling district], Sittong , 1 ♂, 21.ix.2018, H. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI; 12810/H10) .

Diagnosis: Forewing length: ♂ 14 mm, ♀ 19 mm. Externally, L. (T.) biseriata ( Figs 7–9 ) is closely similar to L. (T.) bimaculata ( Moore, 1879) ( Figs 26–29 ), but is distinct by a pale orange red suffusion of wings which is more intense on hindwing, more loosely arranged marginal series of black spots on hindwing and absence of a distinct costal black spot at the basal region of forewing. However, all of these characters are highly variable and thus, both the species are best diagnosed through male genitalia features. In male genitalia, L. (T.) biseriata ( Figs 101, 102 ) is distinct by the valva having more acute apex and vesica with a thin, sclerotized lateral spined plate of minute spines along with a patch of spines, whereas in L. (T.) bimaculata ( Figs 124, 126, 128, 130 ), vesica bears a large patch of dense spines and the lateral spined plate is absent. Lemyra (T.) eximia ( Figs 34, 35 ) also resembles L. (T.) biseriata in external appearance except for thicker maculation on forewing and in hindwing, thicker and larger series of marginal spots. Whereas in L. (T.) biseriata ( Figs 7–9 ), maculation of forewing is thinner and hindwing has two tornal spots. In male genitalia of L. eximia , vesica bears a narrow, distal patch of hair like spines and the lateral spined plate is absent ( Fig. 138 ) whereas in L. (T.) biseriata ( Fig. 102 ), the lateral spined plate is recurved, somewhat forming a thumb like process at the apex of aedeagus.

Distribution. Indian records: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Meghalaya (Khasi Hills, Cherrapunji) ( Chandra & Kumar 1992, Dubatolov 2010, Singh et al. 2021), Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal (present study). Global records: Nepal ( Thomas 1990, Dubatolov 2010).

Remarks: Lemyra (T.) biseriata is reported from Northeast India and is geographically isolated from its similar looking L. (T.) bimaculata distributed in Northwest Himalaya. Lemyra (T.) biseriata was described on the basis of a female type. Here we discuss the morphology of adult male with its genitalia for the first time. The species flies at an altitude range of 700–1450 m in the tropical wet evergreen forest of Assam and Mizoram, the sub Himalayan secondary dry mixed forest of West Bengal and the wet temperate forest of Naga Hills.

Figures

FIGURES 1–11. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 1–2, L. neglecta, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Jang, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 3. ditto, dorsal side, male (Pfutsero, Nagaland, India); 4–5, L. rubripecta sp. nov., holotype male, dorsal and ventral sides (Old Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 6. L. rubripecta sp. nov., female, dorsal side (Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India); 7. L. biseriata, female, dorsal side, (Jatinga, Assam, India); 8–9. ditto, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Kohima, Nagaland, India); 10–11. L. densimacula sp. nov., male, dorsal and ventral sides (Kohima, Nagaland, India).

FIGURES 95–106. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 95–96. L. neglecta, male: 95, ventral view, 96. Aedeagus; 97–98. ditto; 99–100. L. rubripecta sp. nov., holotype male: 99, ventral view, 100, Aedeagus; 101–102. L. biseriata, male: 101, ventral view, 102, Aedeagus; 103–104. L. densimacula sp. nov., holotype male: 103, ventral view, 104, Aedeagus; 105–106. L. flavalis, male: 105, ventral view, 106, Aedeagus.

FIGURES 201–206. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 201. L. rubripecta sp. nov., female, ventral view; 202. L. biseriata, female, ventral view; 203. L. obliquivitta, female, ventral view; 204. L. eximia, female, ventral view; 205. L. multivittata, female, ventral view; 206. L. stigmata stigmata, female, ventral view.

FIGURES 21–31. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 21–22. L. rubidorsa, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Rishop, West Bengal, India); 23–24. L. Proteus, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Wokha, Nagaland, India); 25. L. magnaproteus, syn. nov., male, dorsal side, (Wokha, Nagaland, India); 26. L. bimaculata, male, dorsal side, (Munsiyari, Uttarakhand, India); 27. L. bimaculata (HT of L. kodai), male, dorsal side, (Loharkhet, Uttarakhand, India); 28. L. bimaculata (HT of L. crispens), male, dorsal side, (Loharkhet, Uttarakhand, India); 29. L. bimaculata (HT of L. saccuens), male, dorsal side, (Loharkhet, Uttarakhand, India); 30. Lemyra pseudobimaculata, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Tawaghat, Uttarakhand, India); 31. L. tawaghatensis, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Tawaghat, Uttarakhand, India).

FIGURES 119–130. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 119–120. L. Proteus, male: 119, ventral view, 120, Aedeagus; 121–122. L. magnaproteus, syn. nov., male: 121, ventral view, 122, Aedeagus; 123–124. L. bimaculata, male: 123, ventral view, 124, Aedeagus; 125–126. L. bimaculata (HT of L. kodai), male: 125, ventral view, 126, Aedeagus; 127–128. L. bimaculata (HT of L. crispens), male: 127, ventral view, 128, Aedeagus; 129–130. L. bimaculata (HT of L. saccuens), male: 129, ventral view, 130, Aedeagus.

FIGURES 32–42. Habitus of Lemyra spp. 32–33. L. bucseki, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Vazula, Himachal Pradesh); 34–35. L. eximia, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Kutta, Karnataka, India); 36. ditto, female, dorsal side (Kutta, Karnataka, India); 37–38. L. spinisinferma, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Vallakadavu, Kerala, India); 39–40. L. malshejensis, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra, India); 41–42. L. saputarensis, male, dorsal and ventral sides (Saputara, Gujarat, India).

FIGURES 131–142. Genitalia of Lemyra spp. 131–132. L. pseudobimaculata, male: 131, Ventral view, 132, Aedeagus; 133– 134. L. tawaghatensis, male: 133, ventral view, 134, Aedeagus; 135–136. L. bucseki, male: 135, ventral view, 136, Aedeagus; 137–138. L. eximia, male: 137, Ventral view, 138,Aedeagus; 139–140. L. spinisinferma, male: 139, ventral view, 140,Aedeagus; 141–142. L. malshejensis, male: 141, ventral view, 142, Aedeagus.