Manulea lienquan, 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 : 390-393

Manulea lienquan sp. nov.

( Figs 1–6 , 17–19 , 24, 25 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 17 ): male, “N-Vietnam / Tonkin, Mt. Fan-si-pan ( Nord ), Cha-pa, Nebelwald [cloud forest] (22.15ˊN 103.45ˊE) 2.–4.III.1995, 2400m, leg. Dr. R. Brechlin”, gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2020-158 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. VIETNAM: 3 males, 4 females, the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2020- 159 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; CHINA: 2 males, 1 female, W Sichuan, 10 km Tianquan , H- 880m, N30°00.456ˊ E102°45.277ˊ, 23.iv.2005, Floriani & Saldaitis, gen. slide Nos.: AV6410 , AV6411 (males) , AV6412 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( AFM).

Diagnosis. The female of the new species is very similar externally to M. postmaculosa , but the male is distinguished by the somewhat more convex costal margin of the forewing with the diffuse black spots, whereas the costal margin is more smoothly curved and the black spots are distinct in M. postmaculosa . The male genital capsule of M. lienquan is similar to that of M. postmaculosa but differs by the less elongate juxta, the more elongate vinculum, the somewhat less elongate valva with a more rounded costal margin, and the conspicuously less elongate and weaker distal saccular process. The aedeagus of the new species has a smaller coecum than in M. postmaculosa . The vesica of M. lienquan differs from that of M. postmaculosa by the twisted main chamber which is much broader than in M. postmaculosa , lacks a lateral diverticulum (present in M. postmaculosa ) and bears elongate clusters of a shortly spinulose scobination (absent in M. postmaculosa ). Additionally, the terminal cornutus of the new species is much thinner and has a less dilated distal section than that of M. postmaculosa . The female genitalia of M. lienquan are distinguished by the membranous medial and anterior sections of the corpus bursae which are sclerotized in M. postmaculosa . The appendix bursae of the new species is weakly gelatinous and wrinkled whereas that of M. postmaculosa is sclerotized inside and has thick gelatinous outer walls. The posterior section of the corpus bursae of M. lienquan is sclerotized laterally whereas in M. postmaculosa it is evenly weakly gelatinous. The anterior section of the corpus burse of M. lienquan is much wider and lacking a signum whereas it is much smaller and bearing a small round signum in M. postmaculosa .

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–6 ). Forewing length 15–17 mm in males and 16–18 mm in females. Sexual dimorphism moderately expressed: male has longer cilia on antennae and paler forewing with less elongate apex, grey suffusion and an additional diffuse black spot medially while female has monotonous forewing with only one black spot at anal margin. Head and thorax from ochreous brown to deep-brown. Abdomen ochreous brown, with a bunch of ochreous hair-like scales distally in male. Forewing elongate with strongly convex costal margin and elongate apex. Forewing ground colour varies from ochreous brown to deep-brown in males and deep-brown in females; male with two diffuse black spots and grey suffusion medially; female with one distinct black spot at anal margin medially. Hindwing monotonous ochreous yellow. Male genitalia ( Figs 17–19 ). Uncus elongate, narrow and straight basally and curved and dilated distally, with tiny thorn-like pointed tip. Tuba analis broad, narrowed distally; scaphium thin, weakly sclerotized. Tegumen short but broad, with arms fused medially and distally. Vinculum elongate, longer than tegumen, with thin arms connected distally by thinner commissure. Juxta trapezoid with short triangular apical protrusion. Valva relatively broad, with rounded costal margin and apex. Sacculus narrow, dilated distally, with a small dentate tubercle at the base of distal process. Distal saccular process relatively short, not reaching the valva tip, curved dorsally and pointed apically. Aedeagus large, wide, with short rounded coecum. Vesica very broad, twisted, with elongate cluster of shortly spinulose scobination along its axis and elongate subapical diverticulum projected dorsally and bearing a cluster of numerous tiny denticles apically. Terminal cornutus dilated basally, elongate and curved medially, with dilated, arrowhead-shaped tip. Vesica ejaculatorius scobinated basally, projected distally. Female genitalia ( Figs 24, 25 ). Papillae anales broadly trapezoid with rounded corners, weakly setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, equal in length. Ostium bursae wide. Antevaginal plate broadly elliptical. Ductus bursae broadly tubular, somewhat curved medially, elongate, membranous. Posterior section of corpus bursae wide, with sclerotized right side and membranous left side with appendix bursae originating from it. Anterior section of corpus bursae broad, sack-like, membranous. Appendix bursae broadly conical with rounded apex, weakly gelatinous and wrinkled, projecting laterally.

Distribution. The species is known from North Vietnam (Lao Cai Province) and Sichuan Province of China. The records of M. postmaculosa from other provinces of China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong) (Daniel 1953; Fang 2000) probably also belong to M. lienquan but require clarification.

Etymology. In Vietnamese, ‘liên quan’ means ‘related’. The specific epithet refers to the close relationship of the new species and M. postmaculosa .

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 17–19. Manulea spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 17 in MWM/ZSM; 18 and 19 in AFM.

FIGURES 24–26. Manulea spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 24 and 26 in MWM/ZSM; 25 in AFM.