Miltochrista malayproducta ( Bucsek, 2012 )

Volynkin, Anton V., 2020, On the correct identification of Miltochrista jeremyhollowayi (Bucsek, 2014) and Miltochrista malayproducta (Bucsek, 2012) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 38, pp. 114-118 : 118

Miltochrista malayproducta ( Bucsek, 2012)

( Figs 5–6 , 9 , 12 )

Lyclene malayproducta Bucsek, 2012 , Erebidae , Arctiinae of Malay Peninsula – Malaysia: 60, pl. 11, figs 143, 143a and 143b (adults), gen. fig. Mal078 (Type locality: “ Malaysia, Pahang distr., Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata env., 1450–1500m, 4°28’25.3’’N, 101°22’43.7’’E ”).

Type material examined. Holotype ( Figs 5 , 9 ): male, “ Malaysia, Pahang, Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata env., 1,450–1,500m, 4°28'25.3''N, 101°22'43.7''E, 15.III.2011 – 31.III.2011, leg. Karol Bucsek ” / “Museum Witt München” / red label “ Holotypus Lyclene malayproducta ♂ Karol Bucsek 2012 ”, gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-598 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) . Paratype ( Figs 6 , 12 ): female, the same data as the holotype, gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-599 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM).

Remarks. (1) The female with female genitalia illustrated by Bucsek (2012: Mal078 (right)) is conspecific with the male holotype. (2) The male genitalia illustrated by Bucsek (2012: Mal078a) as ‘ Lyclene nubilalis ’ belong to M. malayproducta . (3) The male holotype of M. nubilalis Hampson, 1894 housed in NHMUK remains undissected therefore the species-group belonging of the species within the genus Miltochrista is still unclear.

Diagnosis. Miltochrista malayproducta belongs to the M. terminata (Moore, 1878) species-complex comprising M. terminata ( Figs 4 , 10 ) and M. vidlickai (illustrated by Bucsek 2020). The male genitalia of this species are easily distinguishable from those of the two other species by the uncus structure: in M. malayproducta , the uncus is arrowhead-like dilated apically and lacking a medial dorsal process while in both M. terminata and M. vidlickai the uncus is pointed apically and having a medial dorsal process. The uncus base of M. malayproducta is wide, heavily sclerotized and bearing short but robust lateral thorns, while in M. terminata the uncus base is narrow, weakly sclerotized and bearing triangular lateral processes, and in M. vidlickai it is narrow and without lateral processes. Additionally, the distal costal process of M. malayproducta is short and apically rounded whereas that of M. terminata and M. vidlickai is longer and apically pointed. The female genitalia of M. malayproducta differ from those of M. vidlickai by the wider and deeper ventral subostial depression of the ductus bursae, the narrower and longer anterior section of the ductus bursae, and the longer cluster of larger spines in the corpus bursae laterally.

Distribution. The species is known only from Malay Peninsula ( Malaysia: Pahang) ( Bucsek, 2012).

Figures

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

Figures 7–10. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 7 and 9 in MWM/ZSM; 8 and 10 in NHMUK (©).

Figures 11–12. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.