Porcellanola sukhothai László, Ronkay & Witt, 2006

Joshi, Rahul, Singh, Navneet, László, Gyula M. & Kuni, Nikhil, 2020, First record of the genus Porcellanola László, Ronkay & Witt, 2006 (Lepidoptera Nolidae, Nolinae) from India with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4810 (1), pp. 110-116 : 112

Porcellanola sukhothai László, Ronkay & Witt, 2006

( Figs 4, 5 , 14, 15, 18 )

Porcellanola sukhothai László, Ronkay & Witt, 2006 ; Entomofauna, 27 (21): 273.

Material examined. India, East Sikkim, Rumtek , N27°18.297’, E088°34.194’, 1293 m, 08.x.2019, 6 males; East Sikkim, Rumtek, N27°18.297’, E088°34.194’, 1293 m, 09.x.2019, 01 female; East Sikkim, Rumtek, N27°18.297’, E088°34.194’, 1293 m, 10.x.2019, 7 males, leg. N. Kuni, (Slide: Nol.—5 (RJ) and 5a (RJ)), coll. NZCZSI/ GPRC .

Diagnosis. Forewing length: 7mm. P. sukhothai is closely related to P. thai László, Ronkay & Witt, 2006 both described from North Thailand. In the original description, the authors claim P. sukhothai having less sharply defined and finer crosslines and considerably paler outer third of forewings than those of P. thai . The newly collected fresh specimens from Sikkim however, display almost identical forewing pattern compared to that of P. thai . The reason of this discrepancy might be that the type specimens of P. sukhothai serving as basis of description of the taxon were rather worn, with their darker hair scales partly rubbed off. Having P. thai compared with the fresh specimens of P. sukhothai from Sikkim, the only significant external difference between the two species is expressed by the shape and colour of the medio-costal patch of forewing: that is rather quadrangular and filled by pale brown hair-scales in P. sukhothai , whereas it is elongate-trigonal filled by creamy white hair-scales in P. thai . P. sukhothai is undoubtedly characterized by its male genitalia by having a single, slightly curved harpe and simple quadrangular shield-like fultura inferior (juxta), whereas the harpe of P. thai is bifid with two well developed claw-like processes, in addition the fultura inferior (juxta) of P. thai is widely incised medio-dorsally with a conspicuous, acute ventromedial process.

During the recent sampling carried out in Sikkim, female specimens of P. sukhothai have been collected for the first time. The external habitus of the female of P. sukhothai is similar to that of the males, displaying no significant sexual dimorphism, except in the configuration of antennae which are densely ciliate in males, while those of females are filiform with sparse, short ciliation.

Description of the female genitalia ( Fig. 18 ). Ovipositor short, papillae anales narrow, elongate, conical; apophyses posteriors medium-long. Eighth tergite very short; eight sternite relatively large, heavily sclerotized; apophyses anteriores very short, thorn-like. Ostium bursae broad, medium-long, infundibular, heavily sclerotized. Ductus bursae medium-long, membranous; cervix bursae broad, sack-like. Corpus bursae medium large, posteriorly tubular, anteriorly broad-ovoid; Signum bursae absent.

The configuration of the female genitalia of P. sukhothai supports the species close relationship to P. thai with the following distinctive features: P. sukhothai has slightly longer apophyses posterior and anterior, considerably longer ductus bursae, more elongated tubular posterior part and somewhat smaller, less elongate anterior part of corpus bursae compared to those of P. thai , in addition P. sukhothai lacks Signum bursae, whereas the related species has a pair of finely scobinate elongate plates on corpus bursae.

Distribution. India (Sikkim), Thailand.

Figures

FIGURES 1– 6. Porcellanola spp., Adults. 1, P. sikkima sp. nov., Holotype, male, East Sikkim, Rumtek (NZCZSI/GPRC) (FW length: 8mm); 2, P. sikkima sp. nov., Paratype male, East Sikkim, Rumtek (NZCZSI/GPRC) (FW length: 8mm); 3, P. gaofengensis, male, China, North Yuennan (ZFMK); 4, P. sukhothai, Male, East Sikkim, Rumtek (NZCZSI/GPRC)(FW length: 7mm); 5, P. sukhothai, female, East Sikkim, Rumtek (NZCZSI/GPRC)(FW length: 7mm); 6, P. langtangi, Male, East Sikkim, Rumtek (NZCZSI/GPRC)(FW length: 6mm).

FIGURES 14–18. Porcellanola spp., Male and female genitalia. 14,15, P. sukhothai, male, Slide- Nol.—5 (RJ); 16, 17, P. langtangi, Male, Slide- Nol.—8 (RJ); 18, P. sukhothai, female, Slide- Nol.—5a (RJ).