Leucobaeta hemiphea ( Hampson, 1905 )

Joshi, Rahul, Singh, Navneet & Kuni, Nikhil, 2020, Introduction of a new generic synonymy and three newly recorded species of Nolinae (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) from India, Zootaxa 4890 (1), pp. 129-134 : 131-133

Leucobaeta hemiphea ( Hampson, 1905)

(Figs 6,7,8)

Zia hemiphea Hampson, 1905: 432

Zia leucobaeta Wileman & West, 1928, Entomologist, 61: 206.

Material examined. 03 males, India, Mizoram, Mamit, Dampha Tiger Reserve , (N23°41.384’, E092°27.035’, 270.2 m), 09–19.III.2020, leg. N. Kuni ( NZC, ZSI, Patna) .

Diagnosis. The monotypic genus Leucobaeta is defined on the basis of a unique male genitalia having a broad, apically truncate valva with short apical costal process and vesica with two robust, unequal short cornuti which separate it from its closely associated genera Barnanola László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 , Leuconola László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 and Alcanola László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 all having elongated valva, gradually tapering distally with rounded apex. Moreover, Barnanola have a single, large cornutus whereas Leuconola and Alcanola both lack cornutus in vesica.

Remarks. László et al. (2010) erroneously mentioned the page number in the first reference for the species as 177 instead of 432.

Distribution. India (Mizoram, Mamit); Java ( Hampson 1905), Philippines ( Wileman & West 1928), Thailand ( László et al. 2010). It is the first record of the species as well as of the genus Leucobaeta from India.