Andraca lawa Zolotuhin

Zolotuhin, Vadim V., 2012, Taxonomic remarks on Andraca Walker, 1865 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) with descriptions of five new species, Zootaxa 3262, pp. 22-34 : 30

Andraca lawa Zolotuhin , sp. nov.

Figs. 19, 20

Type material. Holotype: ď, Palawan, Mt. Mantalingajan, 600–800 m, 2–12.VII 2000, leg. D. Mohagan (MWM). Paratypes: ď, Ψ, Palawan, Mt. Magcasaw, Mainit, Brooke’s Point, 600–900 m, 3–6.X 1996, leg. Bal; 4 ďď, Palawan, Mt. Mantalingajan, 600–800 m, 2–12.VII 2000, leg. D. Mohagan; 2 ďď, S. Palawan, Mt. Lolwagan, Brooke’s Point, 600–900 m, 15–26.XI 1998, leg. D. Mohagan (GU 8766) (all in MWM). ď, S. Palawan, Mt. Mantalingajan, 1.700 m, 1.VIII 2000, coll. Treadaway ( SMFL); ď, S. Palawan, Mt. Gantung, 1.300 m, III 2002, coll. Treadaway ( SMFL).

Description. Wingspan males 39–48 mm, a single female known 60 mm, forewing length— 21–27 in males and 32 in a female. In males, ground colour and wing pattern is very similar to A. apodecta Swinhoe, 1907 , but wing shape is very characteristic. Fore wings with acutely sharpened tops and hind wings distinctly acute in Cu-zone. Except this, the outer margin is not festooned but smooth. Fore wings reddish-brown with narrow slightly concave transversal lines, small, point-like, blackish distal dot, distinct yellow external spots in M-zone and with bluish suffusion, more deep in medial field on the wing. Hind wing slightly lighter, with posmedia deeply lunate in anal field.Female larger as pointed out above, with outer margin of both wings not acute or only slightly so. Its ground colour lighter, oblique grey fascia coming from apex and pointed apically by bluish-grey scales is typical; other pattern elements vague and presented mainly as indistinct shadows. Male genitalia (Fig. 31). Uncus is oar-shaped, with semicircular apical cut and with distinct basal narrowing. Branches of gnathos infused, distinct, long, slender, almost parallel-sided, strongly bent at a middle and weakly swollen there. Valva narrowed and rounded apically; costa concave, bears near the apex a distinct pyramidal process situated a bit inside and therefore closed with distinct papilla-like harpe. Both valvae are symmetrical. Aedeagus short, strongly curved at basal third, with weakly broadened caudal end, with short bag-shaped vesica bearing short but strong thorn-like cornuti situated in a single row.

Diagnosis. In external characters can be easily recognized from related species by fore wings with acutely sharpened tops and hind wings distinctly acute. In doubtful cases, genitalic preparation is useful, the shape of aedeagus and vesica with short strong cornuti being characteristic. The only species of Andraca known so far from Palawan.

Bionomics. Flight period March, July, August, October and November; develops probably two or more generations per year. Inhabits altitudes from 600 to 1700 m. Immature stages and host plants unknown.

Distribution. Apparently endemic to Palawan.

Comments. The name has a toponymic origin as “Pa-LAWA-n”.

Subgenus Chrypathemola Zolotuhin, subgen. nov. in Andraca Walker, 1865

Type species: Andraca apodecta Swinhoe, 1907 , The Annales and Magazine of natural History (7) 19: 49, here designated.

Diagnosis. Species of smaller and middle size. Both wings are usually of light reddish-brown or bright-yellow coloration depending of species with darker pattern and sometimes with silver shadows near by apex; external field usually of the same coloration that ground colour. Outer margin of forewing usually smooth, rounded, rarely scalloped or slightly angled. In male genitalia shape of uncus is characteristic: short and broad without basal narrowing, conical and very massive basad, pointed apically. In others characters similar to the members of the nominate subgenus. Eight species are included, 3 of them are described as new ones. The subgenus ranges to China including Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Mindanao and Luzon. All members of this group seem to be multivoltine. The name of the subgenus is an anagram of the initial letters of names of all species included. The highly modified shape of uncus is an autapomorphy of this subgenus. Although the new name is introduced at a subgeneric rank, it may prove to warrant generic status.