Katha pratti, Volynkin, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, Two new peculiar species of the genus Katha Moore from China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 59, pp. 92-100 : 93-95

Katha pratti sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2485274B-5B03-42BA-8F10-D4C24048CB22

( Figs 1–3 , 13, 14 , 19 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 13 ): male, “[ China, Hubei Prov., Changyang] Chang Yang | A.E. Pratt Coll. | June 1888 ” / “Leech Coll. | 1900–64” / QR- code label with unique number: “ NHMUK010292497 ” / “Slide | NHMUK014331127 ” ( NHMUK).

Paratypes: CHINA: 1 male, Prov. Hubei, NE Wuhan City, Tapieh Shan, mid VI – early VIII. 1999, 900–1600m, leg. J. Li ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 female, [Hubei Prov., Yichang] Ichang, Mrs. Pratt Coll. , June 1888 / Leech Coll. 19090–64, unique number: NHMUK010292500 , gen. prep. No. : NHMUK014331130 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 20.0–22.0 mm in males and 24.0 mm in the female. The detailed comparison with the similar K. portokaloftera sp. n. is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species. The male of K. pratti sp. n. ( Figs 1, 2 ) has a forewing shape similar to K. suffusa (Leech, 1899) ( Fig. 7 ), K. nigropoda (Bremer & Grey, 1852) ( Fig. 9 ) and K. magnata (Matsumura, 1927) ( Fig. 11 ) but differs clearly in the deep orange colouration of the body and both the wings. The female of the new species ( Fig. 3 ) is reminiscent of K. suffusa ( Fig. 8 ) and K. magnata ( Fig. 12 ) but distinguished by the deep orange body and wings ground colour whereas the female of K. suffusa has ochreous-yellow forewing and pale ochreous-yellow hindwing. In K. magnata , the forewing ground colour is similar to K. pratti sp. n. whereas the hindwing is markedly paler and with contrast orange suffusion on veins. The male genital capsule of K. pratti sp. n. ( Figs 13, 14 ) is most reminiscent of K. suffusa ( Fig. 15 ) and K. nigropoda ( Fig. 16 ) and differs from the former species in the broader valva with the thinner and somewhat more elongate distal saccular process. Compared to K. nigropoda , the male genital capsule of the new species has a somewhat narrower vinculum, and a narrower valva with the shorter distal saccular process. The phallus of K. pratti sp. n. is slightly longer than in the similar congeners. In the vesica structure, the new species differs from K. suffusa in the markedly smaller and more weakly scobinated subbasal diverticulum, the presence of the 1 st medial diverticulum, the larger 2 nd medial diverticulum, the presence of the 3 rd medial diverticulum, the shorter terminal cornutus of the 1 st distal diverticulum, and the lack of the 2 nd distal diverticulum. Compared to K. nigropoda , the vesica of K. pratti sp. n. has three medial diverticula, of which the 1 st one is narrower and more weakly granulose (in K. nigropoda , the 2 nd medial diverticulum is absent), a markedly shorter 1 st distal diverticulum with the significantly smaller terminal cornutus, and a markedly shorter and more weakly scobinated 2 nd distal diverticulum. The female genitalia of K. pratti sp. n. ( Fig. 19 ) differ clearly from both, K. suffusa ( Fig. 20 ) and K. nigropoda ( Fig. 21 ) in the presence of the sclerotised and rugose postero-lateral diverticulum of the corpus bursae situated at the junction with the ductus bursae, the lack of the medial sclerotised and rugose area in the corpus bursae, the vestigial appendix bursae, and the ductus seminalis positioned anteriorly-laterally whereas in the aforementioned congeners, it originates from a larger and curved appendix bursae positioned laterally. The female genitalia configuration of K. pratti sp. n. is most similar to K. magnata ( Fig. 23 ) but distinguished by the lack of the sclerotised swollen antevaginal fascia of the 7 th sternite, the larger postero-lateral sclerotised and rugose diverticulum of the corpus bursae, and the membranous corpus bursae lacking the signum whereas in K. magnata , the corpus bursae is gelatinous with numerous weakly sclerotised wrinkles and a small oval signum situated in the postero-lateral swollen section.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from three localities in Hubei Province of China.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Antwerp Edgar Pratt (1852–1924), a famous naturalist and explorer, who collected not only the holotype of this new species but numerous other animals and plants in China, South-East Asia, New Guinea, Australia and South America.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Katha spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 3–8 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2 in MWM/ZSM

Figures 13–15. Katha spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 13 and 15 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 12 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 19–23. Katha spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 19–22 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 23 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 9–12. Katha spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9 and 10 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 11 and 12 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 16–18. Katha spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 16 and 17 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 18 in MWM/ZSM.