Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893

Kumari, Shabnam, Bandyopadhyay, Uttaran, Uniyal, Virendra Prasad, Chandra, Kailash & Hausmann, Axel, 2024, Integrative taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 and its allied genus Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from the Western Himalaya, Zootaxa 5519 (1), pp. 59-89 : 78-79

Genus Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893

Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893 , Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 360.

Type species: Tanaotrichia prasonaria trilineata Warren, 1893 (now a nominotypical subspecies) (TL: Sikkim, India, Alt : 900–1600 m)

Genus Description (Warren 1893; Prout 1913, 1938)

Antenna filiform in female; quadripectinate in male with long ciliated branches shortens towards apex. Frons slightly convex or protruded. Labial palpi short, forwardly or upwardly directed, hardly reaching the frons. Proboscis well developed. Foretibia with single median epiphysis [ Fig. 3b : (i)]; midtibia with a terminal pair of spurs; hindtibia without median spurs or sometime with a Rhodostrophia like ‘pseudospur’ and a single well-developed terminal spur accompanied with a tuft of rather compact and short hairs (looks like a spur at first glance without close inspection); hair-pencil long, concealing all the spurs [( Fig. 3b : (ii)].

Forewing with two areoles like in Rhodostrophia ; veins R2–R4 stalked, R1 beginning close to the apex of the 2 nd areole in front of the origin of R5. Cell nearly half the length of the wing ( Fig. 3b : FW). Costa nearly straight but more curved near the apex; outer margin curved and more oblique towards anal angle; ground color reddish-ochreous or reddish or sometimes ochreous, with scattered minute red irroration; often with three dark fuscous or brownish transverse lines, (similar to those in R. bisinuata subspecies complex, Fig. 29 : Male, Holotype, NHMUK), variations occur in the development and course among the species. Hindwing venation ( Fig. 3b : HW) similar to Rhodostrophia ; outer margin rounded, sometimes slightly protruded at M3; markings similar to forewing but lack antemedial line; anal angle rather marked ( Figs 30–32 ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 40, 47 , 54 ): Uncus sclerotised, setose, somewhat flat, with a broad apex ( Fig. 40 ), often diagnostic at species level. Gnathos triangular, sclerotised, medially elongated with acute tip. Valva shape distinguishing. Posterior margin of the 8 th abdominal sternite bilobed ( Fig. 54 ). Aedeagus thin, elongated and curved ( Fig. 47 ).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 62 ): Corpus bursae with a double-ridged, longitudinal band-like signum with sclerotised scobination.

Immature stages: Larval and pupal stages are unknown.

Distribution: Himalaya and West China ( Prout 1913, 1938).

Differential diagnosis: Discussed in detail under the Rhodostrophia genus.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Diagnostic features of the genus Rhodostrophia (R. tristrigalis) and Tanaotrichia (T. prasonaria trilineata, type species of the genus). 3a. Head and leg features of the male of R. tristrigalis. i) Quadripectinate antennae, eye and labial palpi. ii) Lateral view of the antennae, ventral dentation. iii) Ventral view of the antenna. iv) Foretibia with an epiphysis. v) Hindtibia with a hair pencil arising from the femorotibial joint. 3b. T. prasonaria trilineata, type species of the genus Tanaotrichia. i) Foretibia with an epiphysis. ii) Hindtibial characteristics (hair pencil, a median ‘pseudo spur’ and terminal tibial spur accompanied with a small and compact hair tuft). FW) Forewing venation. HW) Hindwing venation.

FIGURES 29–33. Habitus images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 29. R. bisinuata (29a–29b: Male, Holotype, NHMUK). 30–32. T. prasonaria trilineata (30a–30b: Male, 31a–31b: Female, 32a–32b: Male, Syntype, NHMUK), 33. T. prasonaria prasonaria (33a–33b: Male, Syntype, NHMUK).

FIGURES 34–47. Male genitalia images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 34–41. Male Clasping organ (CLA). 34. R. borealis, 35. R. cinerascens*, 36. R. herbicolens, 37. R. pelloniaria, 38. R. stigmatica, 39. R. tristrigalis, 40. T. prasonaria trilineata. 41–47. Male aedeagus. 41. R. borealis, 42. R. cinerascens*, 43. R. herbicolens, 44. R. pelloniaria, 45. R. stigmatica, 46. R. tristrigalis, 47. T. prasonaria trilineata. *Specimens and genitalia slide at ZSM-SNSB, Munich; slides and photos prepared by Dr Axel Hausmann.

FIGURES 48–62. Male genitalia images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 48–54. Male 8th Abdominal Sternite. 48. R. borealis, 49. R. cinerascens*, 50. R. herbicolens, 51. R. pelloniaria, 52. R. stigmatica, 53. R. tristrigalis, 54. T. prasonaria trilineata. 55–62. Female genitalia images of Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia spp. 55. R. borealis, 56. R. cinerascens*, 57. R. herbicolens, 58. R. pelloniaria, 59. R. stigmatica, 60. R. tristrigalis, 61. R. vinacearia, 62. T. prasonaria trilineata. *Specimens and genitalia slide at ZSM-SNSB, Munich; slides and photos prepared by Dr Axel Hausmann.