Miltochrista carcharias Volynkin, Černý, N. Singh, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, 2025

Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Santosh, Černý, Karel, Kirti, Jagbir Singh, Datta, Harvinder Singh & Singh, Navneet, 2025, On the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner with descriptions of six new species from the Oriental Realm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5566 (3), pp. 401-445 : 412

Miltochrista carcharias Volynkin, Černý, N. Singh, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh , sp. nov.

( Figs 25–27 , 107, 108 , 138 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 25 , 107 ): ♂, “ Indien-Sikkim | Pemayangtse , 1200m | unterhalb Rimbi | Lf. 26.VIII.1988 | leg. Dr. W. Thomas | Museum Witt” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. 341/2017♂ | A. Volynkin” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. INDIA: Sikkim: 1 ♀, Pemayangtse , 22.VII.1996, 1900m, E. Afonin & V. Sinyaev leg., ex coll. A. Schintlmeister, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1042♀ ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, Pemayangtse , 2000m, 23–28.VII.1990, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5398 ( CKC); West Bengal: 1 ♂, 650m, Darjeeling, Manjitar , 31.III.1986, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 414/2017♂ (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM); Tamil Nadu: 1 ♂, Palani Hills, Perumalmalay , 1500m, 14.VII.1990, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5397♂ ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11.0– 11.5 mm in males and 12.0 mm in the female. Among the Himalayan species of the genus, M. carcharias sp. nov. is superficially reminiscent of M. neoseriata , M. gopaldhara sp. nov. and M. nuranang sp. nov. but distinguished from them by the more distally convex forewing costal margin, the thinner and more diffuse pattern elements, and the presence of the intense grey suffusion between the longitudinal streaks in the postmedial area (the latter is also present in some specimens of M. nuranang sp. nov. but it is markedly more diffuse). Additionally, compared to M. nuranang sp. nov., the new species has shorter longitudinal streaks in the forewing antemedial area. The male genital capsule of M. carcharias sp. nov. is largely different from other species in the group in the strongly dilated, triangular distal costal process directed dorsally whereas it is elongate, slender and distally directed or downcurved in the similar congeners. The phallus and the vesica shape of the new species are most similar to M. dharma but in M. carcharias sp. nov., the phallus is broader, and having a noticeably broader and longer coecum and a well-developed carinal crest. In the vesica, M. carcharias sp. nov. is distinguished from M. dharma by the presence of the apical diverticulum (at the base of the vesica ejaculatorius) and the distal cornutus situated more laterally. The female genitalia of the new species differ clearly from M. dharma in the markedly shorter and anteriorly tapered antrum (it has almost parallel margins in M. dharma ), the considerably shorter and narrower corpus bursae with a shorter sclerotised posterior area and weaker spinulose scobination anteriorly. In the female genitalia, M. carcharias sp. nov. is most similar to M. neoseriata , from which, however, the new species is distinguished by the markedly smaller corpus bursae lacking the posterior elongate clusters of the robust spines. Additionally, the lateral pockets of the 7 th sternite of M. carcharias sp. nov. are considerably shorter and more weakly sclerotised than in M. neoseriata .

Distribution. The new species is currently known from South and Northeast India (Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Sikkim).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘καρχαρίας’ meaning ‘a shark’ and refers to the distal section of the valva vaguely reminiscent of the shark head outline. The name is a noun in nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 20–27. Adults of Miltochrista spp. Depositories of the specimens: 20–22, 25 and 27 in MWM/ZSM; 23 in NHMUK; 24 in CAV; 26 in CKC.

FIGURES 107–110. Male genitalia of Miltochrista spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 107 in MWM/ZSM; 108 in CKC; 109 in NZCZSI; 110 in NHMUK.

FIGURES 135–138. Female genitalia of Miltochrista spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 135, 136 and 138 in MWM/ ZSM; 137 in ZFMK.