Denteilema Dubatolov, 2012

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, On the taxonomy of the genus Denteilema Dubatolov with a description of the female of Denteilema unicolora Dubatolov and new data on the genus distribution (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 134-139 : 135

Genus Denteilema Dubatolov, 2012

Denteilema Dubatolov, 2012 , Euroasian entomological journal, 11 (6), 511.

Type species: Denteilema unicolora Dubatolov, 2012 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Males of the genus ( Figs 1, 3–7 ) are similar to the genus Cernyia Bucsek, 2012 (illustrated by Bucsek (2012) and Dubatolov & Bucsek (2013)) but differ in the slightly shorter and broader forewing with a less convex anal margin, while the female of the type species ( Fig. 2 ) is reminiscent of females of the genus Brunia Moore, 1878 and the identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures.

The male genital capsule of Denteilema ( Figs 8–11 ) is characterised by the unique combination of the following features clearly separating it from other known genera of Lithosiina . (1) Uncus is robust, clawshaped, strongly swollen proximally, with a swollen and setose ventro-basal protrusion; connected to the tegumen via broad membrane. (2) The tegumen is strongly dilated, heavily sclerotised, hood-like downcurved posteriorly, and has broad but short, heavily sclerotised apical lobes. (3) Valva is narrow and lobular, ca. ¾ of its dorsal and inner surface are connected to the tegumen through a broad membrane. (4) The dorsal section of the costa is very short but its ventral clasper-like plate crosses the valva obliquely and is distally fused with the distal section of the sacculus. (5) The transtilla is well- sclerotised and originates from the medial part of the costa (it was characterised by Dubatolov (2012) as a “harpe-like process on inner surface of valve near the base”). (6) The sacculus has a triangular and dentate proximal process directed dorsally, while its distal section is narrow, reaching the valva apex but lacking the distal process typical of most other Lithosiina genera.

The phallus of Denteilema is characterised by the presence of a thorn-like dorsal carinal process. The vesica is short, more or less globular, has membranous diverticula and lacks ornamentation.

In the female genitalia of the genus ( Fig. 12 ), the structure of the 8 th abdominal segment is hereby considered as characteristic of the genus: it is long and broad, its sternite is markedly longer than the tergite, heavily sclerotised, and has a deep, triangular and membranous postvaginal area.

Distribution. Species of the genus are known from Indochina ( Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and western Malaysia) and Northeast India.

Figures

Figure 12. Denteilema unicolora: female genitalia, South Laos, Champasak Province, slide AV7442. The specimen dissected is deposited in CAV.

Figures 1–7. Denteilema spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in CAV; 3, 6 and 7 in MWM/ZSM; 4 and 5 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 8–11. Denteilema spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 8 in CAV; 9–11 in MWM/ZSM