Miltochrista jarawa N. Singh, Volynkin, Kirti & Datta, 2020

Singh, Navneet, Volynkin, Anton V., Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Datta, Harvinder Singh, 2020, Miltochrista jarawa (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini), a new species from the Andaman Islands, India, Zootaxa 4895 (3), pp. 445-450 : 446-447

Miltochrista jarawa N. Singh, Volynkin, Kirti & Datta , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 , 10, 11 , 14 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 10 ): male, India, [The Andaman Islands], S[outh] Andaman , Havelock, 10.I.2018, leg. H. S. Datta ( NZCZSI, H10 /7114), genital preparation by H.S. Datta.

Paratypes. INDIA, THE ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS: 4 ♂, South Andaman , Chidiya Tapu, 29.XII.2017, leg. H. S. Datta ( NZCZSI, H10 /7117) ; 2 ♂, North Andaman , Baratang, 8.I.2018, leg. H. S. Datta ( NZCZSI, H10 /7115) ; 13 ♂, South Andaman , Havelock, 10.I.2018, leg. H. S. Datta ( NZCZSI, H10 /7118) ; 3 ♂, South Andaman , Havelock, 11.I.2018, leg. H. S. Datta ( NZCZSI, H10 /7116) ; 4 ♂, 5 ♀, North Andaman , Mayabunder , 6 km S, Karmatany, Rainforest, 12°50’61’’N, 092°56’06’’, 17–21.XI.2000, leg. J. P. Rudloff (MWM/ ZSM) ; 18 ♂, 23 ♀, M. Andaman, Tugapure, 3 km S, 12.4889°N, 94.4929°E, 14–16.VIII.2001, leg. J. P. Rudloff, Coll. Dr. R. Brechlin, slide ZSM Arct.2019-404 Volynkin (male) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 17 ♂, 14 ♀, Middle Andaman , Tagapure, Rainforest, 12°50’72’’N, 092°49’29’’E, 22–26.XI.2000 ,

leg. J. P. Rudloff (MWM/ ZSM); 7 ♂, 4 ♀, M. Andaman , Karmatang, 1.5 km E, 12.5072°N, 95.5610°E, 17–22.VIII.2001 , leg. J. P. Rudloff, Coll. Dr. R. Brechlin ( MWM / ZSM); 3 ♂, 4 ♀, M. Andaman, Rangat , 2.5 km S, 12.2761°N, 92.5623°E, 12–13.VIII.2001 , leg. J. P. Rudloff, Coll. Dr. R. Brechlin (MWM/ ZSM), slide ZSM Arct. 2019-405 Volynkin (female) (MWM/ ZSM); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Little Andaman , Huck Bay, Quarry Hilus, 10.3552°N, 93.3016°N, 26–27.VIII.2001 , leg. J. P. Rudloff, Coll. Dr. R. Brechlin (MWM/ ZSM); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, S. Andaman , Port Blair, Mt. Harriet, 11.4321°N, 92.4403°E, 23–24.VIII.2001 , leg. J. P. Rudloff, Coll. Dr. R. Brechlin (MWM/ ZSM) .

Diagnosis. Morphologically, Miltochrista jarawa , sp. nov. ( Figs 1–3 ) is similar to M. lutara ( Figs 4–9 ), but is distinguishable externally by its smaller size, the less sinuous antemedial line, the irregularly sinuous medial line interrupted on the vein R (that is continuous and smoothly arcuate in M. lutara ), and the less zigzagged postmedial line. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Figs 10, 11 ) is closely similar to that of M. lutara ( Figs 12, 13 ), but differs by the more elongate valva with the more elongate and broader distal lobe, the straight dorsal margin of sacculus (in M. lutara , that bears a broad but short triangular protrusion medially), and the slightly curved distal saccular process (in M. lutara , the saccular process is conspicuously more sinuate). The vesica of M. jarawa sp. nov. is much broader than that of M. lutara , the subbasal diverticulum is broader, the distal diverticulum is much broader, and the cornutus is conspicuously longer and more robust in comparison with those structures of M. lutara . The female genitalia of the new species ( Fig. 14 ) differ from those of M. lutara ( Fig. 15 ) by the slightly shorter apophyses posteriores, the conspicuously shorter apophyses anteriores having rounded tips (those are apically pointed in M. lutara ), the sclerotized anterior section of the ductus bursae (that is membranous in M. lutara ), the broader sclerotized band of the posterior section of the corpus bursae bearing smaller denticles anteriorly, the larger right lateral protrusion of the corpus bursae, the broader anterior section of the corpus bursae with a longer area of a larger spinulose scobination having a triangular medial posterior extension (that is absent in M. lutara ), and the slightly broader appendix bursae.

Description. External morphology of adults. Male ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length 7.5–8 mm. Antenna ciliate. Head and thorax maize yellow. Anterior half of abdomen maize yellow, posterior half of abdomen blackish. Forewing with ground color maize yellow; costa curved opposite distal end of cell; patterning blackish; subbasal spot large, circular; subbasal area with two spots along a convex, slightly wavy antemedial line; medial line strongly sinuous medially and posteriorly, disappearing anteriorly and represented by a dot on vein R; postmedial line strongly and irregularly dentate; subterminal line represented by a series of large, variously sized spots on veins; terminal line absent; cilia concolourous with ground color. Hindwing pale yellowish, with blackish suffusion at apex. Female ( Fig. 3 ). Forewing length 8–8.5 mm. Antenna filiform. Forewing with ground color maize yellow, pattern blackish; subbasal spot circular; subbasal area with two large spots along the convex, slightly wavy antemedial line; medial line strongly sinuous; postmedial line irregularly dentate; subterminal line represented by a series of large, various sized spots on veins; terminal line absent; cilia as ground color. Hindwing pale yellowish, with blackish suffusion at apex.

Male genitalia ( Figs 10, 11 ): Uncus narrow and elongate, slightly curved, narrowed distally and apically pointed; tuba analis moderately broad, scaphium thin and weakly sclerotized; tegumen moderately short and narrow; vinculum short, broadly v-shaped with rounded tip; juxta weakly sclerotised, trapezoid. Valva elongate, narrow, slightly curved; costa narrow, ending at end of distal lobe and lacking any processes; sacculus long and narrow, its distal process narrow, slightly curved dorsally, pointed apically; aedeagus cylindrical, with short and slightly broadened coecum; vesica with short but broad subbasal ventral diverticulum, granulated outer surface of the medial section, with large bilobate and granulate distal diverticulum and robust, blade shape distal cornutus on a narrow and elongate base.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 14 ). Papilla analis broadly rectangular with round corners, weakly setosed; apophyses elon-gate and thin, apophyses posteriores slightly narrower than apophyses anteriores; ostium bursae narrow, with membra-nous margins; ductus bursae tubular and relatively narrow, its posterior half membranous; anterior half of ductus bursae and posterior end of corpus bursae with rugose sclerotization; posterior section of corpus bursae dilated, thick-walled, with broad semiglobular lateral protrusion on its right side and short posterior protrusion on its left side; medial part of posterior section of corpus bursae bearing long, narrow, strongly curved and heavily sclerotized band covered with numerous short but robust spines; anterior section of corpus bursae sac-like, densely covered in numerous spinules on broad bases, this area of scobination protruding to medial part of corpus bursae; appendix bursae short but broad, thick-walled, situated on left side of posterior section of corpus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is known from the Andaman Islands only.

Etymology. The Jarawa people are a nation living in Middle and South Andaman Islands. The specific name is a noun in nominative case.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Miltochrista spp., adults. Depositories of specimens: 1 in NZCZSI; 2, 3 and 7 in MWM/ZSM; 4 in NHMUK (©); 5, 6, 8 and 9 in CKC.

FIGURES 10–13. Miltochrista spp., male genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 10 in NZCZSI; 11 and 13 in MWM/ZSM; 12 in NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 14–15. Miltochrista spp., female genitalia. Specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.