Vamuna subnigra ( Leech, 1899 ) Volynkin, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, On the taxonomy of the genus Vamuna Moore with description of a new species from Taiwan (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini: Lithosiina), Ecologica Montenegrina 48, pp. 1-8 : 6-7

Vamuna subnigra ( Leech, 1899) , comb. n.

( Figs 3–5 , 11, 12 , 16 )

Oenistis subnigra Leech, 1899 , Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1899: 179 (Type locality: [ China, W Sichuan Prov., Wa Shan Mt. ] “Wa- shan”).

Type material examined. Holotype ( Fig. 3 ): male, “Washan, 6000 ft., Pratt coll. July 1889 ” / “ OEonistis subnigra sp. n. Type ♂ ” / red ring “ Type ” label / “Leech Coll.1900-64” / QR- code label with unique number " NHMUK010401923 " ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined. CHINA: 1 male, [Sichuan, Guan Xian] Szetschwan, Kwanhsien , Exp. Stötzner, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-107 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 3 males, 6 females, Sichuan , Quingchenghoushan Mts. , 70 km NW Chengdu, 1400m, 1–7. VI.2005, S., V., M. Murzin leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-959, ZSM Arct. 2021-109 (males), ZSM Arct. 2021-110 (female) (prepared by Volynkin); (all in MWM / ZSM); 1 male, Sichuan, Xiling Xue Shan Mt. , N30°40.087', E103°13.251', 1450m, 11–12.VII.2010, Chen Gun leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6492 (prepared by Volynkin) ( AFM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 16.0–17.5 mm in males and 17.0–18.0 mm in females. The species varies in the shade of the forewing ground colour and the size of the black spots on the forewing. However, the male genitalia of various forms display no differences. Vamuna subnigra is most similar to V. suoya sp. n., the differences are discussed in detail above in the diagnosis of the new species.

Distribution. Known from Southwest China (Sichuan Province) ( Leech 1899; Daniel 1953). The records from Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Yunnan, Zhejiang and Fujiang ( Daniel 1953; Fang 2000) require clarification.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Vamuna spp.: adults. Depository of the specimens: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 in MWM/ZSM; 3 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 6 in MNHN (©MNHN).

Figures 9–12. Vamuna spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 13–16. Vamuna spp.: male (13) and female (14–16) genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.