Nigilgia anactis Diakonoff, 1982

Kallies, Axel, 2013, New and little known Brachodidae from tropical Asia and Papua New Guinea (Lepidoptera, Cossoidea), Zootaxa 3641 (3), pp. 241-259 : 254

Nigilgia anactis Diakonoff, 1982

( Figs 20–22, 27 , 31 , 33, 34 )

Material examined. China, Hong Kong 13 “Mai Po Peter Scott F.S.C., N.T. Hong Kong, UTM 50Q JV 963 907, 14 Aug 1994, 125W MBF, coll. R.C. Kendrick” (CAK); 13 “Po Leung Kuk Camp, Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung C.P., N.T. Hong Kong, utm 50Q KK 231792 alt 5m, 19 Oct 1998 / 4, 125W MBF, leg. R.C. Kendrick” (genitalia examined by A. Kallies, on slide #AK601, CAK); 1Ƥ “Sha Lo Tung, Hong Kong NT, MV 600ft, 7. 9. [20]05, M.J. Sterling” (CAK); 1Ƥ “Tai Po Kau, Hong Kong NT, MV, 6. 5. [20]06, M.J. Sterling” (Gen. prep. AK607, CAK); 1Ƥ “ Hong Kong, BF. 21. 7. [18]96 / Meyrick Coll. B.M. 1938-290. / Phycodes adjectella Walk. [sic] 3/5, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. (BMNH); 1Ƥ “[ India] Ganesh Gudi, Kanara, RM. 11.5.[19]12 / Meyrick Coll. B.M. 1938- 290. / Phycodes adjectella Walk. [sic] 5/4, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. (BMNH); 1Ƥ, same data as previous, but … 5/1, E. Meyrick det. … (Gen. prep. AK602, BMNH); 13 “Trincomali, Ceylon, EEG..11.ab / Meyrick Coll. B.M. 1938-290. / Phycodes adjectella Walk. [sic] 5/2, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. (BMNH).

Additional material (not examined). 2Ex, [ India, Karnataka] Dibidi, N. Coorg (BMNH); Hong Kong: 1Ex, Po Toi Island, Cheung Shek Pai, 25 m, coastal abandoned orchard, 22.163N 114.254E, 10. x. 2008, at light; 1Ex, Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre, Shek Kong, 200m, secondary forest, 22.428N 114.114E, 8. ix. 2010, at light; 1Ex, Fung Yuen, Tai Po, 60 m, fung shui wood, 22.464N 114.184E, 4.viii.2011, at light; 1Ex, Mai Po Peter Scott Centre, 3 m, reedbed, 22.496N 114.048E 14.viii.1994, at light; 1Ex, Po Leung Kuk Camp, Pak Tam Chung, 10 m, tall shrub, 22.393N 114.320E, 19. x. 1998, at light; 2Ex, Tung Chung on Lantau Island, coastal, 11. viii. 2006 and 5. viii. 2007, diurnal; 1Ex, NT, Tai Po Kau Headland, 4. ix. 2010, at light; 1Ex, NT, Kadoorie Institute, 8. ix. 2010, at light (all CMS).

This taxon was described from Sri Lanka as a subspecies of Nigilgia limata Diakonoff & Arita, 1979 (type locality Taiwan). Diakonoff (1982) based his decision to place N. anactis as a subspecies of N. limata on the fact that despite the striking external differences, he could not find major differences in the genitalia morphology of anactis and limata . Interestingly, in his later study Diakonoff (1986) did not mention anactis as a subspecies of N. limata and did not list Sri Lanka as part of the range of the latter, suggesting that he himself considered this taxon distinct. Examination of Nigilgia specimens from various parts of southern Asia and Papua New Guinea supported this view and indicated that several species related to N. limata exist. Thus, N. anactis was treated as a valid species subsequently (Kallies 2004).

Nigilgia limata together with N. anactis , N. cuprea Kallies, 1998 and N. atribractea sp. nov. form the N. limata species-group. The species in this group share the constitution of the individual forewing scales (each with a white spot in the centre) and show very similar structures of the male and female genitalia.

Genitalia. Male (Gen. Prep. AK601, Fig. 31 ). Valva relatively narrow and long, baso-ventral sclerotization of valva with distinct brush of setae; saccus relatively long and narrow. Female (Gen. Prep. AK607 and AK702 / BMNH32399, Figs 33, 34 ). Ovipositor long, very narrow; ostium round, situated in an evenly curved indentation at posterior edge of last sternite; ductus bursae very long and narrow, with a distinct internal coil-like structure towards bursa; bursa globular, with large crescent-shaped signum with a triangular extension in middle.

Diagnosis. N. anactis is similar to N. cuprea and N. atribractea sp. nov., from both of which it differs in details of the forewing markings (inner black transverse fascia with white speckles near posterior margin, arrow, Fig. 22 ). N. cuprea can further be distinguished from N. anactis by the broader and relatively straight signum of the female genitalia. N. limata can be distinguished by the simple outer fascia (not Y-shaped) and the presence of metallic streaks near the termen. N. anactis is also similar to Nigilgia venerea (Meyrick, 1921) ; however, the latter can be distinguished by its wing markings (distal arm of the Y-shaped mark in the outer half of the forewing bordered with gold on both sides) and its distinctly different female genitalia (with a small round signum).

Remarks. N. anactis is currently known from Sri Lanka, southern India, and Hong Kong. It can be assumed that it ranges more widely through much of the southern Asian mainland. A record of Nigilgia from ‘Tonkin’ ( Vietnam) (Diakonoff 1986) could not be validated, but it may also represent this species. In Hong Kong N. anactis has two distinct flight periods, the first in April and the second in July to October. The species was found at light but also flying in hot afternoon sunshine in secondary woodland. There are also records of specimens visiting flowers diurnally (Kendrick and Sterling, pers. comm.). The hostplant is unknown but likely is a species of Ficus .

Figures

FIGURES 18 – 27. Phycodinae. Adults. 18. Paranigilgia brandti sp. nov., male, paratype, West Papua (Indonesia), alar expanse 19.0 mm (CAK). 19. Paranigilgia mariannae sp. nov., male, paratype, Sulawesi (Indonesia), alar expanse 20.0 mm (ANIC). Figs 20 – 22. Nigilgia anactis Diankonoff, 1982. 20. male, China, alar expanse 12.5 mm (CAK). 21. female, China, alar expanse 14.0 mm (CAK). 22. female, India, alar expanse 14.5 mm (BMNH) (arrow indicates inner black transverse fascia with white speckles near posterior margin). 23. Nigilgia atribractea sp. nov., female, paratype, Papua New Guinea, alar expanse 15.0 mm (USNM) (arrow indicates inner black transverse fascia without white speckles near posterior margin). Figs 24 – 25. Nigilgia browni sp. nov., males, Christmas Isl (Australia) (BMNH). 24. Paratype, alar expanse 9.5 mm. 25. Holotype, alar expanse 10.0 mm. 26. Nigilgia sp., female, West Papua (Indonesia), alar expanse 16.5 mm (USNM). 27. N. anactis, live specimen, Hong Kong (image Mark Sterling).

FIGURES 31 – 32. Nigilgia spp., male genitalia, a. Uncus-tegumen, b. valva, c. saccus, d. juxta, e. phallus. 31. N. anactis, China, Gen. prep. AK 601 (CAK). 32. N. browni sp. nov., paratype, Christmas Isl (Australian Territory), Gen. prep. AK 725 / BM 32394 (BMNH).

FIGURES 33 – 36. Phycodinae. Nigilgia spp., female genitalia. 33. N. anactis, India, Gen. prep. AK 702 / BM 32399 (BMNH). 34. N. anactis, China, Gen. prep. AK 607 (CAK). 35. N. atribractea sp. nov., Papua New Guinea, Gen. prep. AK 444 (USNM). 36. Nigilgia sp., female, West Papua (Indonesia), Gen. prep. AK 28 (USNM).