Murmyshia obscuria, Volynkin, 2024

Volynkin, Anton V., 2024, On the taxonomy of the Oriental genus Paraona Moore with descriptions of a new genus, a new species, and introduction of new synonymies (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 73, pp. 408-420 : 413-416

Murmyshia obscuria sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D6504D2F-926B-4F89-8583-A69C092D89C2

( Figs 10–12 , 21, 22 , 27 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 10 , 21 ): male, “S. Burma | Tenasserim | Khao Yai, 1000m, | 13°14'N 99°30'E [incorrect] | 1995 | leg. Steinke & Lehm. / coll. Schintlmeister ” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 177♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. MYANMAR: 5 males, same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 178♂ (prepared by Volynkin ) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 female, same locality and collectors as previous but Lf [light trap], VII.1995 ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, 6 females, Birma Merid. , Tenasserim, 800m, 20.iv.1995, Lf [light trap], Steinke leg., gen. prep. No.: MWM 17.324 (prepared by Zolotuhin), ZSM Arct. 2021 - 224♀ (prepared by Volynkin ) ( MWM / ZSM) .

Note. The labels of the holotype and paratypes contain incorrect coordinates, which belong to the territory of Thailand. According to the altitudes provided (800–1000m), there is only one place in the Tanintharyi [former Tenasserim] Region of Myanmar matching the rest of the data: Mount Khao Yai on the Myanmar-Thailand border [ca. 12°26'N 99°25'E], which is considered herein as the type locality of the new species .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0–15.0 mm in males and 16.5–18.0 mm in females. Murmyshia obscuria sp. n. externally differs from other congeners in the somewhat smaller size, the brown hindwing (it is pale ochreous yellow in the congeners), the forewing ground colour suffused with brown, and the brown longitudinal stripe of the forewing occupying the whole posterior half of the forewing and distally reaching the cilia in males whereas in M. unifascia and M. micans the stripe is brownish-grey, narrow, stretching medio-posteriorly and not reaching the outer wing margin while the area along the anal margin has the silver white ground colour. Additionally, the abdomen of the new species is brown with only the male genitalia covered with ochreous scales whereas the abdomen of M. unifascia is ochreous yellow and in M. micans it is brownish-grey with ochreous scales basally and distally. The male genital capsule of M. obscuria sp. n. differs clearly from the congeners in the strongly asymmetrical juxta subdivided into two narrow lateral lobes separated by the medial membrane and extended into strongly elongate dorsal processes whereas in M. unifascia and M. micans , the juxta is symmetrical with its lateral lobes fused dorsally. The valva shape of the new species is similar to M. micans but distinguished in the shorter distal setose cluster, the shorter ventral process of the valva apex, the less convex ventral margin and the smaller valvula. The phalli of the two species are similar but in M. obscuria sp. n. the dorsal protrusion is more prominent and the distal section is longer than in M. micans . The vesica of the new species differs from M. micans in the larger and more semiglobular ventral subbasal diverticulum, the smaller lateral cluster of fine spinulose scobination, the finer scobination of the curved distal-dorsal diverticulum, and the shorter distal diverticulum heaving only one proximal subdiverticulum (vs. two subdiverticula in the congener). In the female genitalia, M. obscuria sp. n. is distinguished from M. micans by the broader ductus bursae with a longer sclerotised subostial area lacking the dorsal pocket, and the somewhat longer and narrower corpus bursae bearing a slightly longer signum. Additionally, the 7 th abdominal sternum of the new species is shorter than in M. micans and lacks lateral rugose sclerotisations.

Distribution. Currently known only from the northern part of the Malay Peninsula (Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective ‘obscurus’ meaning ‘dark’ and refers to the new species’ dark colouration. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 9–16. Murmyshia (9–12), Hesudra (13, 14), and Macrobrochis (15, 16) spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 13 and 14 in CKC; 10–12 in MWM/ZSM; 15 and 16 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 21–24. Murmyshia (21, 22), Macrobrochis (23), and Hesudra (24) spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 and 22 in MWM/ZSM; 23 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 24 in CKC.

Figures 25–29. Murmyshia (25–27), Macrobrochis (28), and Hesudra (29) spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25 and 27 in MWM/ZSM; 26 and 29 in CKC; 28 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).