Brunia cucullata ( Moore, 1878 )

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, A review of the genus Brunia Moore from the Andaman Islands (India) with a description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 59, pp. 82-91 : 85-90

Brunia cucullata ( Moore, 1878)

( Figs 11–14 , 20, 21 , 26 )

Katha cucullata Moore, 1878 , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 17 (Type locality: “Andamans”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) ( Fig. 11 ): male, “Andaman | Isles” / red ring “Type” label / “Moore Coll. | 94–106.” / QR- code label with unique number: “ NHMUK010401793 ” ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined. INDIA, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS: 1 male, South Andaman , Port Blair, Mt. Harriet, 11.4321°N 92.4403°E, 23–24.VIII.2001, Jan-Peter Rudloff leg., Coll. Dr. R . Brechlin , gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-006 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 1 male, Middle Andaman , Tugapure, 3km S, 12.4889°N 92.4929°E, 14–16.VIII.2001, Jan-Peter Rudloff leg., Coll. Dr. R . Brechlin , gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-008 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 2 females, Middle Andaman , Tugapure (Rainfor. [est]), 12°50'72''N, 92°49'29''E, 22–26.XI.2000, J.-P. Rudloff leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021- 279 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 1 male, North Andaman , Mayabunder, 6 km S; Karmatany – rainforest, 12°50'6[5]1''N, 092°56'06''E, 17–21.XI.2000, J.-P. Rudloff leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-281 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 1 male, South Andaman , Bambooflat (Rainfor. [est]), 11°42'8[3]2''N 092°42'02''E, 27–28.XI.2000, J.-P. Rudloff leg. (all in MWM / ZSM) .

Note. In the original description, Moore (1878) has not mentioned the number of specimens. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, the male specimen labeled as “Type” and deposited in the NHMUK collection is hereby designated as lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.5–14.0 mm in males and 16.0– 16.5 mm in females. Brunia cucullata ( Figs 11–14 ) is clearly different from the similar and sympatric B. antica ( Figs 15, 16 ) in the larger size and the more distally angular forewing of both sexes. Additionally, the male of B. cucullata differs from B. antica in the darker, more distinct distal shade of the forewing, and the presence of greyish-brown suffusion on the hindwing apically. The male genital capsule of B. cucullata ( Figs 20, 21 ) differs clearly from B. antica ( Fig. 22 ) in the markedly longer and apically pointed dorsal lobe of the valva, and the long and hook-like upcurved distal saccular process, which is short, broad and trapezoidal in the congener. The phallus of B. cucullata is longer and more distally dilated than in B. antica , and bears heavier serrulation distally. The vesica configurations of the two species are fundamentally different. In the female genitalia, B. cucullata ( Fig. 26 ) differs from B. antica ( Fig. 27 ) in the markedly broader ostium and ductus bursae, and the broader posterior section of the corpus bursae lacking the left gelatinous diverticulum but bearing a heavily sclerotised plate on the left side. Additionally, compared to B. antica , the anterior section of the corpus bursae of B. cucullata is broader and bearing markedly smaller signa, and the appendix bursae is shorter and laterally directed whereas it is posteriorly directed in the congener.

Distribution. Endemic to the Andaman Islands ( Moore 1878). The record from Northeast India ( Hampson 1900) belongs to another, externally similar species of the genus and requires clarification.

Figures

Figures 11–16. Brunia spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 11 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 12–16 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 20–22. Brunia spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 23–27. Brunia spp.: female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.