Teulisna munnara, Volynkin, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, On the taxonomy of the genus Teulisna Walker from India with a description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5351 (3), pp. 380-388 : 387

Teulisna munnara sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2E75EB12-CACC-44A2-9A2F-5B4C2A86897A

( Figs 12, 13 , 17 , 21 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 12 , 17 ): male, “ India mer., Kerala | 6km N Munnar , 1700m | Kodalar Tea Estate | 10’06N/77’04E [10°06’N 77°04’E] |14.– 15.4.1997 leg.|Schintlm.[eister] & Siniaev[recte:Sinyaev] |Bergregenwald [mountain rainforest] 14oC [14 °C]” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021-361♁ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratype: INDIA: 1 female, same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-362 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0 mm in the male holotype and 15.0 mm in the female paratype. Teulisna munnara sp. n. is externally reminiscent of T. ruma ( Figs 9–11 ) but distinguished by the smaller size and the more diffuse forewing pattern. Additionally, in the male of the new species, the subbasal dark costal dash is considerably narrower than in the congener. Compared to another similar species, T. inducta ( Figs 5–8 ), the male of T. munnara sp. n. has a dark brown head with an ochreous yellow frons (whereas the head of the congener is unicolorous pale ochreous brown), and an abdomen having blackish scales only subapically whereas in T. inducta , the distal half of the abdomen is covered with blackish scales. In the male genital capsule, the new species differs from T. ruma ( Fig. 16 ) in the distally narrower uncus, the shorter but broader transtillar processes, and the distally narrower distal saccular process. The phallus of T. munnara sp. n. is distally broader than in T. ruma and bears markedly shorter carinal processes. In the vesica, the new species is distinguished from T. ruma by the broader proximal section with a utricular lateral diverticulum, and the shorter terminal cornutus in the distal diverticulum. The female genitalia of T. munnara sp. n. differ from T. ruma ( Fig. 20 ) in the shallower ventral ostial depression, the ductus bursae having shorter pockets corresponding to the carinal processes, the narrower corpus bursae with a broader lateral bandshaped signum, and the narrower appendix bursae lacking the proximal gelatinous area.

Distribution. South India (Kerala).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality situated near Munnar Town in Kerala State of India. A noun in the nominative singular standing in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

FIGURES 9–13. Teulisna spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9 and 10 in OUMNH; 11 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 12 and 13 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 16–17. Teulisna spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 16 in OUMNH; 17 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 18–21. Teulisna spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 18 and 20 in OUMNH; 19 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 21 in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 1–8. Teulisna spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 5, 7 and 8 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2, 3 and 6 in MWM/ZSM; 4 in OUMNH.