Multisigna, Varga, Zoltan, Ronkay, Gabor & Ronkay, Laszlo, 2017

Varga, Zoltan, Ronkay, Gabor & Ronkay, Laszlo, 2017, Revised taxonomic check list of the Eurasiatic species of the subtribe Poliina (Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Hadenini), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 64 (2), pp. 133-160 : 137

Multisigna gen. n.

Type-species.

Polia costirufa Draudt, 1950, Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 40: 28, pl. 2, fig. 9, here designated.

Diagnosis.

The two species of this new genus show some external similarity with the larger Polia species (as e.g. P. vesperugo ) but they also resemble the larger Sideridis species (as e.g. S. egena , S. turbida ) but also Apamea species according the robust body, dark brownish-greyish colouration and pattern of fore wing with regular maculation and crenulate or zigzag-shaped crosslines. The most important differential characters are in the genitalia of both sexes. In male genitalia the saccular part of valvae is not extended, no any trend of asymmetrisation and/or presence of specialised saccular brushes can be observed. Free „clasper” of the harpe-ampulla complex - which is usually present in Polia - is reduced. Vesica is not elongate-tubular as in Polia , but it shows the modified form of the T-shaped vesica of the Sideridis -clade of the Mamestrina while it is more saccate with subbasal diverticulum and the subterminal field of cornuti is transformed to a single huge cornutus, unusual for other related genera. The female genitalia are also strikingly different from Polia but also from the genera of the subtribe Mamestrina (e.g. Sideridis , Conisania which seem to be most closely related) by the presence of very numerous pearl-shaped signa and by the conical appendages of ductus bursae. Based on these characters we place this genus near to the also habitually similar genera Kollariana and Irene .

Etymology.

The generic name refers to the most peculiar character of the female genitalia.