Manulea (Manulea) nigripuncta (Fang, 2000), comb. n.

(Figs 4, 12)

Eilema nigripuncta Fang, 2000, Fauna Sinica. Insecta, 19: 260, text fig. 180 (male genitalia), pl. 12, fig. 20 (adult). (Type locality: “ Sichuan, Qingcheng Shan, 1000m ”).

Type material examined. Photographs of the holotype: male, “ Ʀ川ŔM山 [Sichuan, Qingchengshan] | 1000m | 中ḄḨṩỄ ” [Chinese Academy of Sciences] / “ 1979-V-18 | ẌÞŮ; Ẫ 平 ” [collector: Ping Gao] / “ Eilema nigripuncta | Fang | ṪŽŮ;ḦƤffi ” [determiner: Fang Cheng-lai] / red label “ Holotype ” / blue label with a unique number “IOZ(E) 209216” / green label with gen. prep. No.: “ L. 146” / “ ♂ ” (IZCAS) .

Additional material examined. MAINLAND CHINA: 3 males, China, Sichuan, Quingchenghoushan Mts, 70 km NW Chengdu, 1400m, 14–15. V.2005, S., V. & M. Murzin leg. , gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-192, ZSM Arct. 2021-193 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0 mm in males. The species (Fig. 4) differs clearly from M. tienmushanica (Figs 1–3) in the pale ochreous body and wings colouration with rusty-brown tegula, patagia, and, cluster of androconial scales in the male forewing cell medially (whereas the forewing is uniform orange and lacks the cluster of androconial scales in the congener). The male genital capsule of M. nigripuncta (Fig. 12) differs from M. tienmushanica (Figs 9–11) in the shorter valva with a markedly shorter distal saccular process (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex length). The vesica of M. nigripuncta is characterised by the strongly dilated medial chamber, the ventral diverticulum lacking the cluster of spinules, and the dorsal diverticulum bearing a bunch-like cluster of spinules directed distally whereas the medial chamber of the vesica of M. tienmushanica is tubular, the dorsal diverticulum bears a cluster of numerous spinules, and the ventral diverticulum bears a broader cluster of spinules curved laterally. The detailed comparison with M. salweena sp. n. is provided below under the diagnosis of the latter species.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Known only from Sichuan Province of mainland China (Fang 2000).