Theretra makhrovi, Spitsyn & Bolotov, 2020

Spitsyn, Vitaly M. & Bolotov, Ivan N., 2020, Theretra makhrovi sp. nov. from Flores Island, Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 31, pp. 1-5 : 3-4

Theretra makhrovi sp. nov.

Figs 1−3

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:74B4379D-85A7-4E3D-AFE5-DBAF9F708FCF

Type material. Holotype male RMBH Sph 0834: INDONESIA, East Nusa Tenggara Islands, Flores Island , Labuan Bajo , Mbeliling Mountain Ecolodge , mountain monsoon forest, 08º35'21"S, 119º59'12"E, 05−07.ii.2020, E. Spitsyna & V. Spitsyn leg.

Diagnosis. The new species is most similar externally to Theretra rhesus and T. acuta Vaglia & Liyous, 2010 but can be distinguished from these species by the lack of several marking features such as narrow yellow stripes on the tegula, a large, triangular black patch on the underside of the forewing, and a clear zigzag curved band on the underside of the hindwing. Additionally, the new species has clear pink shade on the underside of both wings that is absent in the two other species. It also has narrower and longer wings compared with these two taxa. The new species can also be distinguished from the similar species by the male genitalia structure, i.e. the specific shape of harpe and narrower valve ( Fig. 2 ).

Description. Male morphology: Wingspan 87 mm, forewing length 44 mm. Eye dark olive-green. Antenna creamy. Head dark olive-green, with white stripes laterally. Labial palpus somewhat elongated (1.5 eye’s diameter), green with white base and a white triangular spot at the apex. Thorax dark olive-green, without markings. Patagium and tegula dark olive-green, with white stripes laterally. Legs light olive-green, tibia and tarsus whitish-rose. Forewing upperside light gray; discal spot rounded, small, black; basal patch black, rounded, located near dorsum; broad dark olive-green line along costal margin tapering towards apex; medial lines two, dark olive-green, basal line much stronger, three times wider than distal line, which is narrow and weak; postmedial lines two, dark olive-green, basal line very strong, broad and dark, tapering towards apex and dorsum, distal line weak, area between them slightly darker than ground color; submarginal line weak, running parallel to termen. Forewing underside ochraceous, with a longitudinal black stripe from the base up to postdiscal area; postdiscal area light rose; marginal area light greenish; small black stripes at veins in submarginal area. Hindwing upperside black, with a large ochraceous patch near the anal angle and a broad ochraceous shading along the inner and costal margins. Hindwing underside pinkish, with two parallel distal rows of green spots, and a spread of multiple greenish dots. Abdomen dark olive-green with two longitudinal green stripes dorsally, light olive-green laterally, and pinkish ventrally; an unclear black spot near the base of the abdomen. Male genitalia: Tegumen very broad, strongly sclerotized. Uncus bifurcated apically; uncus and gnathos form a typical macroglossine “bird- beak” structure. Valva slightly elongated, ovate shape, rounded apically. Aedeagus somewhat curved, with a grove with numerous hooks distally.

Female: Unknown.

Distribution. This species was recorded only from its type locality in West Flores. Etymology. This novel species is dedicated to Dr. Alexander A. Makhrov (Moscow), a prominent Russian biologist and our colleague.

Comments. In summary, the Theretra rhesus species complex contains four species: T. rhesus [ Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines], T. acuta [ Philippines], T. insularis (Swinhoe, 1892) with five subspecies [ Moluccas, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Saint-Mathias Archipelago, New Britain, and New Caledonia] ( Vaglia et al. 2010; Kitching 2020), and T. makhrovi sp. nov. [ Flores].

Figures

Figure 1. Holotype male of Theretra makhrovi sp. nov., Flores Island, Indonesia: A) upperside; B) underside. Scale bar = 10 mm. Photos: Vitaly M. Spitsyn.

Figure 2. Holotype male genitalia and aedeagus of Theretra makhrovi sp. nov., Flores Island, Indonesia: A) male genitalia; B) valva; C) harpe; D) aedeagus; E) hooks extracted from a groove at the distal part of the aedeagus. Photos: Vitaly M. Spitsyn.

Figure 3. Type locality of Theretra makhrovi sp. nov. near Labuan Bajo, Flores Island, Indonesia. Photo: Vitaly M. Spitsyn.