New and little known Brachodidae from tropical Asia and Papua New Guinea (Lepidoptera, Cossoidea)
Author
Kallies, Axel
text
Zootaxa
2013
3641
3
241
259
journal article
43635
10.11646/zootaxa.3641.3.4
cdf2d056-74f2-4567-8aa3-f378a3ba5578
1175-5326
215638
5B6FB515-7A55-4C05-AC71-4867C1F7318B
Nigilgia anactis
Diakonoff, 1982
(
Figs 20–22, 27
,
31
,
33, 34
)
Material examined.
China
,
Hong Kong
13 “Mai Po Peter Scott F.S.C., N.T.
Hong Kong
, UTM 50Q JV 963 907,
14 Aug 1994
, 125W MBF, coll. R.C. Kendrick” (CAK); 13 “Po Leung Kuk Camp, Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung C.P., N.T.
Hong Kong
, utm 50Q KK 231792 alt
5m
,
19 Oct 1998
/ 4, 125W MBF, leg. R.C. Kendrick” (genitalia examined by A. Kallies, on slide #AK601, CAK); 1Ƥ “Sha Lo Tung,
Hong Kong
NT, MV
600ft
, 7. 9. [20]05, M.J. Sterling” (CAK); 1Ƥ “Tai Po Kau,
Hong Kong
NT, MV, 6. 5. [20]06, M.J. Sterling” (Gen. prep. AK607, CAK); 1Ƥ “
Hong Kong
, BF. 21. 7. [18]96 / Meyrick Coll. B.M. 1938-290. /
Phycodes adjectella
Walk.
[sic] 3/5, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. (BMNH); 1Ƥ “[
India
] Ganesh Gudi, Kanara, RM. 11.5.[19]12 / Meyrick Coll. B.M. 1938- 290. /
Phycodes adjectella
Walk.
[sic] 5/4, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. (BMNH); 1Ƥ, same data as previous, but … 5/1, E. Meyrick det. … (Gen. prep. AK602, BMNH); 13 “Trincomali,
Ceylon
, EEG..11.ab / Meyrick Coll. B.M. 1938-290. /
Phycodes adjectella
Walk.
[sic] 5/2, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. (BMNH).
Additional material (not examined). 2Ex, [
India
, Karnataka] Dibidi, N. Coorg (BMNH);
Hong Kong
: 1Ex, Po Toi
Island
, Cheung Shek Pai,
25 m
, coastal abandoned orchard,
22.163N
114.254E
,
10. x. 2008
, at light; 1Ex, Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre, Shek Kong,
200m
, secondary forest,
22.428N
114.114E
,
8. ix. 2010
, at light; 1Ex, Fung Yuen, Tai Po,
60 m
, fung shui wood,
22.464N
114.184E
,
4.viii.2011
, at light; 1Ex, Mai Po Peter Scott Centre,
3 m
, reedbed,
22.496N
114.048E
14.viii.1994
, at light; 1Ex, Po Leung Kuk Camp, Pak Tam Chung,
10 m
, tall shrub,
22.393N
114.320E
,
19. x. 1998
, at light; 2Ex, Tung Chung on Lantau Island, coastal,
11. viii. 2006
and
5. viii. 2007
, diurnal; 1Ex, NT, Tai Po Kau Headland,
4. ix. 2010
, at light; 1Ex, NT, Kadoorie Institute,
8. ix. 2010
, at light (all CMS).
This taxon was described from
Sri Lanka
as a subspecies of
Nigilgia limata
Diakonoff & Arita, 1979
(
type
locality
Taiwan
). Diakonoff (1982) based his decision to place
N
.
anactis
as a subspecies of
N. limata
on the fact that despite the striking external differences, he could not find major differences in the genitalia morphology of
anactis
and
limata
. Interestingly, in his later study Diakonoff (1986) did not mention
anactis
as a subspecies of
N. limata
and did not list
Sri Lanka
as part of the range of the latter, suggesting that he himself considered this taxon distinct. Examination of
Nigilgia
specimens from various parts of southern Asia and
Papua New Guinea
supported this view and indicated that several species related to
N. limata
exist. Thus,
N. anactis
was treated as a valid species subsequently (Kallies 2004).
Nigilgia limata
together with
N. anactis
,
N. cuprea
Kallies, 1998
and
N. atribractea
sp. nov.
form the
N. limata
species-group. The species in this group share the constitution of the individual forewing scales (each with a white spot in the centre) and show very similar structures of the male and female genitalia.
Genitalia.
Male (Gen. Prep. AK601,
Fig. 31
). Valva relatively narrow and long, baso-ventral sclerotization of valva with distinct brush of setae; saccus relatively long and narrow. Female (Gen. Prep. AK607 and AK702 / BMNH32399,
Figs 33, 34
). Ovipositor long, very narrow; ostium round, situated in an evenly curved indentation at posterior edge of last sternite; ductus bursae very long and narrow, with a distinct internal coil-like structure towards bursa; bursa globular, with large crescent-shaped signum with a triangular extension in middle.
Diagnosis.
N. anactis
is similar to
N. cuprea
and
N. atribractea
sp. nov.
, from both of which it differs in details of the forewing markings (inner black transverse fascia with white speckles near posterior margin, arrow,
Fig. 22
).
N. cuprea
can further be distinguished from
N. anactis
by the broader and relatively straight signum of the female genitalia.
N. limata
can be distinguished by the simple outer fascia (not Y-shaped) and the presence of metallic streaks near the termen.
N. anactis
is also similar to
Nigilgia venerea
(Meyrick, 1921)
; however, the latter can be distinguished by its wing markings (distal arm of the Y-shaped mark in the outer half of the forewing bordered with gold on both sides) and its distinctly different female genitalia (with a small round signum).
Remarks.
N. anactis
is currently known from
Sri Lanka
, southern
India
, and
Hong Kong
. It can be assumed that it ranges more widely through much of the southern Asian mainland. A record of
Nigilgia
from ‘Tonkin’ (
Vietnam
) (Diakonoff 1986) could not be validated, but it may also represent this species. In
Hong Kong
N. anactis
has two distinct flight periods, the first in April and the second in July to October. The species was found at light but also flying in hot afternoon sunshine in secondary woodland. There are also records of specimens visiting flowers diurnally (Kendrick and Sterling, pers. comm.). The hostplant is unknown but likely is a species of
Ficus
.