Thespea aka N. Singh & Ahmad, 2021

Singh, Navneet, Ahmad, Jalil, Chandra, Kailash & Solovyev, Alexey V., 2021, A new species of the genus Thespea Solovyev and four newly recorded species of Limacodidae from India (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea), Zootaxa 4927 (1), pp. 123-132 : 124-125

Thespea aka N. Singh & Ahmad , sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 , 12, 13 )

Type material. Holotype, male. India, Arunachal Pradesh, W[est] Kameng, Bhalukpong , 21.vi.2018, leg. Rajesh Lenka & Party (E 092035 ’26.2” N 27004 ’18.5” altitude, 168 m) (NZCZSI, Reg. no. 7000/H10).

Paratype. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (NZCZSI, Reg. no. 7001/ H10).

Diagnosis. Morphologically, T. aka , sp. nov. ( Figs 1, 2 ) is similar to T. heringi Solovyev, 2014 ( Fig. 3 ) but is recognizable by the lighter hindwings. In male genitalia, T. aka , sp. nov. ( Figs 12, 13 ) differs from T. heringi ( Fig. 14 ) by the saccular process of valva apically bifurcated and with the ventral edge having series of small teeth (whereas in T. heringi , the apex of saccular process is three-pointed and has smooth edges). Another related species, though distinct externally, is T. siniaevi Solovyev, 2014 ( Figs 4 , 15 ) distributed in Northern Myanmar. However, in T. siniaevi , the saccular process is not bifurcated bearing a distinct and curved spine at the apex of dorsal edge.

Description. Forewing length 13 mm. Male ( Figs 1, 2 ): frons and vertex green, former with a basal dark brown band; labial palpus dark brown, antenna dark brown but with paler rami; thorax green dorsally; forewing green dorsally, paler ventrally, costa and cilia dark brown, submarginal series of dark brown elongated spots, a subbasal patch of brown scales on the paler region of inner area; hindwing dorsally yellowish brown, cilia dark brown, inner area with elongated patch of scattered brown scales, ventrally concolorous; pectus and legs covered with dark brown scales; abdomen yellowish brown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 12, 13 ) with uncus broad, tapering apically, apex with a pointed spur; gnathos upwardly curved, gradually tapering, reaching half the length of uncus; tegumen broad; valva rhomboidal; saccular process broad, approximately rectangular and flap-like, apically bifurcated, bearing a series of small teeth on ventral edge; costal process membranous, narrowing to a rounded apex; aedeagus constricted medially, with a large, subapical process; vesica with a long row of compactly arranged small claw shaped cornuti.

Female unknown.

Distribution. West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Etymology. The name of the new species is derived from a tribe called Aka living in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Figures

FIGURES 1–11. Adults (dorsal view). 1, Thespea aka, sp. nov., holotype ♂; 2, T. aka, sp. nov., paratype ♂; 3, T. heringi, holotype ♂, Myanmar, 25 km E Putao, env. Nan Sa Bon (MWM); 4, T. siniaevi, holotype ♂, Myanmar, 65 km NE Putao (MWM); 5, Melinaria pseudorepanda kalawensis ♂, India, Arunachal Pradesh, lower Subansiri (NZCZSI); 6, M. repanda ♂, India NE, Assam, Kaziranga, Wild Life res., Pan Bari, 26˚45`N, 93˚10`E, 100m, leg, V. Sinyaev (MWM); 7, M. pseudorepanda pseudorepanda ♂, China, Sichuan, Volonong Res., Siguliang Shan, 31˚09`, 103˚20`E, leg. Sinyaev & team (MWM); 8, Parasa julikatis ♂, India, Arunachal Pradesh, Upper Siang (NZCZSI); 9, P. julikatis ♂, Vietnam, Mts. Fan-si-pan, Chapa, holotype (MWM); 10, Thosea lutea ♂, India, A & N Islands, Great Nicobar Island, Laxmi nagar (NZCZSI); 11, Mambarona congrua ♂, India, A & N Islands, Great Nicobar Island, Galathea (NZCZSI). Scale bar: 1 cm.

FIGURES 12–15. Male genitalia (ventral view with aedeagus detached in lateral view). 12, Thespea aka, sp. nov., holotype; 13, T. aka, sp. nov., paratype; 14, T. heringi, holotype; 15, T. siniaevi, holotype.