Manulea labahe, Volynkin & Saldaitis, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V. & Saldaitis, Aidas, 2021, Two new species of Manulea Wallengren, 1863 from southwestern China and northern Vietnam (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4991 (2), pp. 389-397 : 393-397

Manulea labahe sp. nov.

( Figs 7, 8 , 22 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 7 , 22 ): male, “ China, W. Sichuan, road Ya’an / Kangding , near Labahe Nac. park, 20.IV.2010, leg. Chen Gun ”, gen. slide No.: AV6414 (prepared by Volynkin) ( AFM).

Paratype: 1 male, the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide No.: AV6413 (prepared by Volynkin) ( AFM).

Diagnosis. The male of M. labahe is reminiscent superficially of the M. postmaculosa / M. lienquan species pair due to its forewing colouration and the forewing shape. However, it can easily be distinguished by the lack of black medial spots (present in the congeners) and the presence of two sinuous greyish brown transverse lines (absent in the congeners). The male genital capsule of M. labahe differs from those of the congeners by the uncus strongly dilated distally, the vesica having small apico-lateral processes (absent in the congeners), the less convex costal margin of the valva, and the narrower sacculus lacking a dentate tubercle-like process at the base of the distal saccular process (present in the congeners). Additionally, the arms of the vinculum of the new species are distally connected by a membranous commissure, whereas in the congeners the commissure is sclerotized. Compared to those of the congeners, the aedeagus of the new species is markedly narrower, and the vesica is much narrower and lacking a large distal diverticulum with apical sclerotization. The cornutus of M. labahe is nearly straight, uniformly narrow and pointed apically, whereas in the M. postmaculosa / M. lienquan species pair it is robust, broad basally, curved medially and arrowhead-like dilated apically.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 7, 8 ). Forewing length 18–19 mm in males. Male antenna ciliate. Body brown, abdomen with admixture of ochreous hair-like apically. Forewing elongate with strongly convex costal margin and elongate apex. Forewing ground colour brown.Antemedial and postmedial transverse line greyish brown, sinuous, diffuse. Cilia brown with admixture of greyish scales. Hindwing monotonous pale ochreous. Male genitalia ( Fig. 22 ). Uncus elongate, strongly dilated distally, with convex dorsal margin and tiny thorn-like pointed tip. Tuba analis broad, narrowed distally; scaphium very thin, weakly sclerotized. Tegumen short but broad, with arms fused in distal two thirds. Vinculum elongate, of equal length with tegumen, with thin arms connected distally by membranous commissure. Juxta trapezoid with two short narrowly triangular lateral processes apically. Valva moderately broad, with almost parallel margins and somewhat narrowed and rounded apex. Sacculus very narrow basally and strongly dilated distally. Distal saccular process elongate, reaching the valva tip, curved dorsally and pointed apically. Aedeagus elongate and narrow, with short and rounded coecum and slightly convex ventral wall medially. Vesica shorter and ca. 2 times broader than aedeagus, with short bilobate diverticulum laterally and long and narrow almost straight cornutus ventrally. Vesica ejaculatorius scobinated basally, projected distally.

Female is unknown.

Distribution. The new species is known to date from western Sichuan Province of China only.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Manulea spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2, 4 and 5 in MWM/ZSM; 3 and 6–8 in AFM.

FIGURES 20–23. Manulea spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 20, 21 and 23 in MWM/ZSM; 22 in AFM.