Nikara Moore, 1882

Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V., Speidel, Wolfgang & Zahiri, Reza, 2022, A review of the genus Nikara Moore and its transfer to the Stiriinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 5205 (3), pp. 201-219 : 207-208

Genus Nikara Moore, 1882

Nikara Moore, 1882 , Descriptions of new Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the collection of the late Mr. W.S. Atkinson 2: 126

(Type species: Nikara castanea Moore, 1882 , by monotypy).

= Chrysonicara Draudt in Seitz, 1937, Die Grossschmetterlinge der Erde. Supplementum 3: 262

(Type species: Chrysoptera aureus Bang-Haas, 1927 ), syn. nov.

Remarks. The genus Chrysonicara was erected for the species aureus whereas the species plusiodes was described under the genus Nikara . Examination of the type specimens of the two species displayed their conspecificity to each other therefore we hereby synonymize aureus with plusiodes Moreover , C. plusiodes is obviously congeneric with the type species of the genus Nikara sharing all the key generic characters listed below. Thus, we hereby synonymize Chrysonicara with Nikara .

Diagnosis. The members of the genus vary in their wing colouration and patterns but are readilydistinct from most of Stiriinae distributed in North America. Nikara plusiodes is reminiscent of the North American Plagiomimicus Grote whereas N. castanea and N. cupreomicans are only vaguely similar to the West Palaearctic Stilbia Stephens (illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001)) in their forewing shape and pattern, and more reminiscent of the distantly related Amphipyra Ochsenheimer. All three species have a shiny suffusion on their bodies and forewings, the feature also occurring among many North American members of the subfamily. Species of Nikara also have a frontal process typical of Stiriinae ( Poole 1995) but lack a terminal claw on the foretibia typical of the North American genera.

In the male genitalia, species of Nikara share the synapomorphy of the subfamily recognized by Poole (1995), namely the shape and spination of the vesica which is generally ovate and somewhat elongate having a basal row of short, stubby cornuti and a more distal, diffuse patch of elongate and thin cornuti. The male genitalia of Nikara have simplified valvae structure also typical of species in the North American stiriine genera (illustrated by Poole (1995)) but differing in the presence of a scaphium and a well-developed corona of long robust setae, whereas the latter are weak or absent in the North American species and Stilbia (illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001)). The claspers of N. castanea and N. plusiodes lack a harpe (similar to members of Chalcopasta Hampson and Xanthothrix H. Edwards ) whereas a short harpe is present in N. cupreomicans , but positioned in the basal third of the valva, whereas valvae of other Stiriinae bear a harpe in the middle or in the distal third. Additionally, the valvae of Nikara have a well-developed, elongate clavus which is very short in most of the North American stiriines but quite elongate in certain species of Stilbia . The female genitalia of Nikara are characterised by the elongate corpus bursae having a sclerotised plate or rugose area similar to most of the North American members of the subfamily. The female of the type species of the genus has elongate and heavily sclerotized papillae anales which are also common among the North American species (illustrated by Poole (1995)) while N. cupreomicans and N. plusiodes have shorter and weakly sclerotized papillae anales similar to those of Stilbia species (illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001)).

Re-description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1–14 ). Medium-sized moths, forewing length 15–18 mm in males and 15–19 mm in females. Antennae of both sexes filiform. Forewing wide. Ground colour from brown, with golden shine or suffusion of shiny bluish scales. Pattern elements in subbasal and medial areas indistinct. Male genitalia ( Figs 15–18 ). Uncus elongate, narrow, laterally flattened, dorso-ventrally curved, somewhat dilated subapically, apically pointed with tiny claw-like tip. Tuba analis with heavily sclerotised and rugose scaphium. Tegumen without peniculus. Juxta shield-like, with wide rounded apical depression and tiny round basal incision. Vinculum more or less equal in length to tegumen, with pointed tip. Pleurite present, as a curved and apically rounded, plate-like extension of vinculum. Valva elongate and narrow (length to width ratio from 3.8:1 to 5:1). Corona present, consisting of a row of strong setae. Sacculus short (ca. 1/4 of valva length) and narrow (ca. half of valva base width). Clavus finger-like. Harpe absent or present as short (ca. 1/4 of valva width), narrowly triangular process near the ventral margin of valva. Aedeagus elongate, with short (ca. 0.1–0.2 of aedeagus length) and rounded coecum and short (ca. 1/6 of aedeagus length) and apically rounded distal carinal process. Vesica sack-like, may have large (longer than the main chamber) ventral diverticulum, bearing clusters of numerous spine-like or thorn-like cornuti of various sizes. Female genitalia ( Figs 19–23 ). Papillae anales trapezoidal with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses thin, rod-like, more or less equal in length; apophysis posterioris with posterior sclerotised plate protruding to ovipositor. Ostium bursae with membranous margins. Ductus bursae tubular, membranous. Corpus bursae sack-like or elongate, with membranous walls, bearing sclerotised plate posteriorly or sclerotised area medially. Appendix bursae broadly conical with wide and round apex and thick gelatinous walls, positioned in different parts of corpus bursae in different species.

Distribution and bionomics. The genus is known from eastern Himalaya (northeastern India), northern Indochina (northern Thailand and northern Vietnam) and south-western and central China (Yunnan, Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces). The preimaginal stages are unknown. Species of the genus occur at medium altitudes ranging from 1400–2100 m and inhabit mesophilous biotopes ( Figs 24 , 25 ) whereas most of North American Stiriinae and the West Palaearctic Stilbia are xerophilous ( Poole 1995; Ronkay et al. 2001).

Figures

FIGURE 24. China, Shaanxi, North from Foping. Habitat of N. castanea (photo by A. Saldaitis).

FIGURE 25. China, Sichuan, 30 km SE from Ping Wu. Habitat of N. cupreomicans (photo by A. Saldaitis).

FIGURES 1–8. Nikara spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 3 in MHB (photo by B. Tóth); 4 in HNHM (photo by B. Tóth); 5 in ASV; 6 in HSV (photo by H. Seibald); 7 and 8 in ZFMK.

FIGURES 9–14. Nikara aureus: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9 in ASV; 10 in AFM; 11 in MNHN (©MNHN, photo by unknown photographer); 12 in MfN; 13 in ZFMK (photo by V.S. Kononenko); 14 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 15–18. Nikara spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 15 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 16 and 17 in ASV 18 in ZFMK (photo by V.S. Kononenko).

FIGURES 19–23. Nikara spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 19 and 23 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 20 in HSV; 21 in AFM; 22 in MfN.