Miltochrista auritiformis ( Černý, 2009 )

Volynkin, Anton V., Černý, Karel & Huang, Si-Yao, 2022, Two new species of the Miltochrista modesta (Leech) species group from Northern Vietnam and South China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 59, pp. 60-73 : 65-69

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.37828/em.2022.59.6
publication LSID	urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4D287BCD-5E72-44F7-8E12-3F209FFD9764
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13240747
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D35036-FFA2-FFB8-1EA3-5AF4FDBAFCAB
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Miltochrista auritiformis ( Černý, 2009 )
status

Treatment

Miltochrista auritiformis ( Černý, 2009) View in CoL

( Figs 7–11 View Figures 1–8 View Figures 9–16 , 26 View Figures 23–26 , 35 View Figures 33–37 )

Asura auritiformis Černý in Černý & Pinratana, 2009, Moths of Thailand, 6: 78, pl. 17, figs 153a, 153b (Type locality: “N Thailand, Chiang Mai, Fang, Doi Pha Hom Pok GoogleMaps , 2050 m, 20°07'30''N, 99°08'49''E ”).

Paratypes: THAILAND: 15 males, 1 female, the same data as in holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: AV2496 (male), AV2497 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( CKC) ; 10 males, the same data as previous but 21.IV.2006 ( CKC) .

Additional material examined. VIETNAM: 2 males, 3 females, Mt. Fan-si-pan, Cha-pa, 2400m, NN, 22°15'N 103°46'E, 8–29. V GoogleMaps .1993, Sinyaev & Simonov leg. (MWM/ ZSM); 3 males, 1 female, Mt. Fan-si-pan, N side, Chapa, 22°17'N 103°44'E, 1600m, 20–30.IV.1995, Sinyaev & collector leg., gen. prep. No.: MWM 31.480 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, 1400m, Mai-chau , tropical forest, 40km SE Moc-chau, 20°50'N 104°50'E, 7–15.IV.1995, Sinjaev & local collectors leg. (MWM/ ZSM) GoogleMaps ; CHINA: 1 male, 3. V .2018, 2100m, Mt. Dawei , Pingbian County, Honghe Hani & Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Si-yao Huang & Tian-tian Yu leg., gen. prep. No.: LHSY105 (prepared by Huang) ( SCAU).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13–14 mm in males and 14–16 mm in females. Miltochrista auritiformis ( Figs 7–11 View Figures 1–8 View Figures 9–16 ) is externally reminiscent of M. cornutia sp. n. ( Figs 1–4 View Figures 1–8 ) but distinguished by the broader and less elongate forewing, the antemedial fascia interrupted into four more or less rectangular spots (it is interrupted into two circular spots anteriorly and posteriorly in the congener), the rectangular discal spot (it is semicircular in M. cornutia sp. n.), and narrower and more longitudinally elongate spots of the postmedial fascia. The male genital capsule of M. auritiformis ( Fig. 26 View Figures 23–26 ) is most similar to M. modesta ( Fig. 25 View Figures 23–26 ) but differs clearly in the markedly broader valva with a large subbasal ventral costal lobe with a densely setose ventral margin and a medial ventral crest with a weakly setose ventral margin. The sacculus of M. auritiformis is narrower than in M. modesta , having a weakly setose dorsal margin (it is densely setose in the congener), and a somewhat shorter but markedly more robust distal process. Additionally, compared to M. modesta , the vesica of M. auritiformis has a longer distal diverticulum, and bears a thin and short cornutus laterally. In the female genitalia, M. auritiformis ( Fig. 35 View Figures 33–37 ) differs from M. modesta ( Fig. 34 View Figures 33–37 ) in the shorter, narrower and setose antrum (it is smooth in the congener), the anteriorly narrower ductus bursae, the posterior section of the corpus bursae having an oblique band-like sclerotised plate anteriorly edged with a broad and dense band-like cluster of small spines whereas in M. modesta , it has a sclerotised pocket edged with a narrower and shorter cluster of markedly more robust spines.

Distribution. The species is known from Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai Province) ( Černý & Pinratana 2009), Northern Vietnam (Lào Cai and Hòa Bình Provinces), and Southwest China (Yunnan Province) (new country records).