Ethmia trifida, Kun, 2004

Kun, A., 2004, A Review Of The Ethmia Lineatonotella Species Group, With Description Of Two New Species (Lepidoptera, Ethmiidae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50 (4), pp. 337-351 : 340-343

Ethmia trifida sp. n.

( Figs 1 , 6–7 )

Ethmia palawana sensu DIAKONOFF, 1967, p. 253 –254, nec SCHULTZE, 1925

Ethmia palawana sensu ROBINSON et al., 1994, p. 67 , nec SCHULTZE, 1925

Ethmia palawana sensu KUN & SZABÓKY, 2000, p. 55 , nec SCHULTZE, 1925

Holotype: male, “ Malaysia, Pahang state, Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata , 21.III.-2.IV.1995, leg. G. Csorba, O. Merkl & I. Szikossy. ” KUN Gen. No. 43. The holotype is deposited in the HNHM.

Paratypes. 61 specimens from the following localities: India: Kerala, 6 km N of Munnar, 1700 m, Kodalar Tea Estate , 10°06’N, 77°04’E, 14–15.IV.1997, leg. SCHINTLMEISTER & SINJAEV . Burma: Tenasserim , 800 m, 20.IV.1995, leg. STEINKE . Indonesia. Sumatra: 80 km SSW of Medan, Berantagi , 1000 m, 4. VI .1973, leg. E. DIEHL; Siantar, 1200m, 6.IX. 1969, 1050m, 24.VI.1968, 10.XI.1969, leg. E. DIEHL ; Dolok Melangir, 250 m, 6.X. 1969, 180 m, 10.I.1970, IX. 1970 – I.1971, leg. E. DIEHL ; Ksbon Balok, NNW from Medan , 24.XI.1968, leg. DIEHL ; Pasar Manduge, Pematang Siantar , 30.VIII.1979, leg. ERBER ; Prov. S. Borat, Air Sirah, Telephone station , 1200 m, 25 km E of Padong, leg. R . U. ROESLER. Borneo: Kalimantan, Prov. Selatan, 30 km E of Kandangan, 800 m, 15 km NE Loksado , XI.1997, 1–20.XII.1997, I.1998, leg. JÄKL ; Mt. Trus Madi , 1150–1200 m, 1–7.IV.1997, IV.1998, leg. B. & K. MARTINI ; Philippines: Tawi Tawi, Tarawakan, north of Batu Batu , 20.X.1961, Noona, Dan Exp. 61–21. The paratypes are deposited in the collections of SMTK, ZSM, ZMUC and HNHM .

Slides. Altogether 8 male and 4 female genitalia preparations of E. trifida were made by A. KUN Slide Nos 43, 86, 87, 97, 98, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, respectively.

Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to Ethmia lineatonotella , E. palawana , E. thomaswitti sp. n. and to E. galactarcha . At the first sight, E. trifida differs from its close relatives by the presence of three characteristically long parallel striae on the fore wing ( Fig. 1 ). Ethmia lineatonotella has four striae in the ( Fig. 4 ) same area of the fore wing, while E. palawana has only one ( Fig. 3 ); in the case of E. thomaswitti these striae are absent ( Fig. 2 ). The fore wing colour and pattern of E. galactarcha ( Fig. 5 ) show greater differences compared with those of the other species. The hind wing of E. thomaswitti is much brighter yellow than those of all other species of the group.

The basic structure of the male genitalia is homogeneous within the species-group, even in the externally conspicuously different taxa, showing only slight but constant differences in the shape of the labis and sclerotization of the valva (see Figs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 ). The labis of E. palawana is not so long and slender as that of E. thomaswitti sp. n. (digitiform) or in E. lineatonotella where the labis is very narrow, rather as in E. trifida . The most interesting and usable character for the separation of the species by their male genitalia is the shape of the valva and the pattern of more and less sclerotised areas between the costal, saccular and cucullar parts of the valva ( Fig 6 ).

The female genitalia of the members of the species-group are very similar (Figs

7, 9, 11, 13, 15), the main differences lie in the shape of the apophyses anteriores.

Description ( Fig. 1 ). Wingspan 42–43 mm. Fore wing ornamented by seven spots at basal part and five additional spots (“apical spots”); three characteristic comparatively long black striae running parallel with costa; one spot at middle of wing. Hind wing black, yellow at base. Valva wide, bean-shaped, with slight concave curve on distal edge covered with bristles, cucullus with a short but strong, acute and curved process ( Fig. 6 ). Labis wide and short. The apophyses anteriores of the female genitalia ( Fig. 7 ) are cuneiform, acute.

Distribution. The species occurs in the southern part of South-East Asia, it is known from: India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo ( Brunei, Sabah), the Philippines, and Indonesia (Sumatra).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the three parallel striae of the fore wing. genitalia, KUN Gen. No. 266

Remarks. Based on the original description of E. palawana where SCHULTZE stated (1925) “in the middle along the subcosta an elongate black streak” (illustrated in a colour plate 1, figure 6), and on the fact that during my study more than 75 specimens were examined and I could not find any specimen originating from Palawan island, and only one from the Philippines (the same specimen which DIAKONOFF figured in his paper from Tawi Tawi with three striae), this circumstance was confirmed that E. palawana was constantly misidentified. The night collectings on several localities and periods of recent years resulted in the capture of E. palawana only from Palawan island (see below).

Figures

Figs 1–5. Ethmia imagoes:1= E. trifida sp. n., 2 = E. thomaswitti sp. n., 3 = E.palawana SCHULTZE, 1925, 4 = E. lineatonotella MOORE, 1867, 5 = E. galactarcha MEYRICK, 1928

Figs 6–7. Ethmia trifida sp. n., genitalia: 6 = male, KUN Gen. No. 264. The arrows show the differently sclerotized elements between the costal, saccular and cucullar parts of the valva, 7 = female

Figs 8–9. Ethmia thomaswitti sp. n., genitalia: 8 = male, KUN Gen. No. 274, 9 = female, BMNH Microlep. Slide No. 29711

Figs 10–11. Ethmia palawana SCHULTZE, 1925, genitalia: 10 = male, KUN Gen. No. 271, 11 = female, KUN Gen. No. 272

Figs 12–13. Ethmia lineatonotella MOORE, 1867, genitalia: 12 = male, KUN Gen. No. 263, 13 = female, KUN Gen. No. 251

Figs 14–15. Ethmia galactarcha MEYRICK, 1928, genitalia: 14 = male, KUN Gen. No. 250, 15 = female, KUN Gen. No. 253