Miltochrista obliqua ( Hampson, 1891 )

Volynkin, Anton V. & Huang, Si-Yao, 2022, On the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner with descriptions of five new species from India and China and notes on the genus Arctelene Kirti & Gill (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 58, pp. 86-108 : 89

Miltochrista obliqua ( Hampson, 1891) , stat. n.

( Figs 7–10 , 45 , 61 )

Asura obliqua Hampson, 1891 , Illustrations of typical specimens of Lepidoptera Heterocera in the collection of the British Museum, 8: 51, pl. 139, fig. 25 (Type locality: “the Nilgiri District of Southern India... The plateau, 6000 feet ” ( Hampson 1891: Preface and page 5)).

= Lyclene fuscalis Hampson, 1891 , Illustrations of typical specimens of Lepidoptera Heterocera in the collection of the British Museum, 8: 50, pl. 139, fig. 9 (Type locality: “the Nilgiri District of Southern India... The plateau, 6700 feet ” ( Hampson 1891: Preface and page 5)), syn. n.

Type material examined. Lectotype of Lyclene obliqua (hereby designated) ( Fig. 7 ): male, “Nilgiris | HampsonColl. | 89–129.” / “869 | C.” / Lyclene | obliqua | Hampson | type ♂ ” / red ring “Type” label / QRcode label with unique number: “ NHMUK010598187 ” ( NHMUK) . Lectotype of Lyclene fuscalis (hereby designated) ( Fig. 8 ): male, “Nilgiris | HampsonColl. | 89–129.” / “577 | B.” / Lyclene | fuscalis | Hampson | type ♂ ” / red ring “Type” label / QR-code label with unique number: “ NHMUK010598192 ” ( NHMUK) .

Additional material examined. INDIA: TAMIL NADU: 1 male, Nilgiris, Hampson Coll, 89–129 / 577 A, unique number: NHMUK010604548 ( NHMUK) ; 2 males, Ootacamund, Nilgiris / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique numbers: NHMUK010604545 , NHMUK010604546 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010313249 (prepared by Volynkin ) ( NHMUK) ; 1 female, Nilgiris, A.G. Cardew, 97–228. Ooty [ Udhagamandalam ], unique number: NHMUK010604547 ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, Ooty [Udhagamandalam] / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1 / Collectio H.J. Elwes, unique number: NHMUK010604716 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010314221 (prepared by Volynkin ) ( NHMUK) ; 1 female, Nilgiris / 459 / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1 / unique number: NHMUK010604717 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010314222 (prepared by Volynkin ) ( NHMUK).

Notes. (1) The species is hereby revived from the synonymy with M. inconspicua . (2) The species is polymorphic, and Lyclene fuscalis was described from the melanistic, probably rarer form whereas the pale form described as Asura obliqua is more numerous in the NHMUK collection. As First Revisers (see the ICZN (1999) Article 24.2), we determine the precedence of Asura obliqua over Lyclene fuscalis . (3) In the original description of Lyclene fuscalis, Hampson (1891) did not mention the number of specimens but subsequently ( Hampson 1900) cited 3 males as “type”. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, we hereby designate the male syntype labeled as “Type” and preserved in the NHMUK collection as lectotype. (3) In the original description of Asura obliqua, Hampson (1891) did not mention the number of specimens but subsequently ( Hampson 1900) cited 3 males and 2 females as “type obliqua ”. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, we hereby designate the male syntype labeled as “Type” and preserved in the NHMUK collection as lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.0– 13.5 mm in males and 13.0–14.0 mm in females. Miltochrista obliqua is vaguely reminiscent of M. ochracea but differs in the more elongate forewing with a more elongate apex, and the broader and more diffuse outer shade of the forewing. The male genital capsule differs clearly from M. ochracea in the shorter uncus, the shorter and lobular distal section of the valva lacking the distal costal process, and the more upcurved distal saccular process. The phallus of M. obliqua is somewhat longer and broader than in M. ochracea , and has a longer coecum. The vesica of M. obliqua broader than in the similar congener, has a longer and broader distal diverticulum, and markedly more robust cornuti. The female genitalia of M. obliqua differ from M. ochracea in the anteriorly broader antrum, the posteriorly broader corpus bursae having a broad posterior sclerotised plate (absent in M. ochracea ) surrounded by two well-separated elongate clusters of spines ( M. ochracea has a single but longer cluster), the posterior of which consists of markedly larger spines than in M. ochracea . Additionally, the 7 th abdominal sternite of M. obliqua has longer and more heavily sclerotised subostial lobes, and markedly longer lateral pockets.

Distribution. South India (Tamil Nadu).

Figures

Figures 1–12. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2, and 4 in MWM/ZSM; 3, 5–10 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 11 and 12 in OUMNH.

Figures 43–46. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 43 and 44 in MWM/ZSM; 45 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 46 in OUMNH.

Figures 59–62. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 59 in MWM/ZSM; 60 and 61 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 62 in OUMNH.