Nemophora atkinsonii (Moore, 1887)

Kozlov, Mikhail V., 2023, Fairy moths of the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Adelidae) of India and Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 5300 (1), pp. 1-81 : 27

Nemophora atkinsonii (Moore, 1887)

( Figs. 32 , 87 )

Adela atkinsonii: Moore 1887a: 282 .

Holotype ♁: India, West Bengal, Darjeeling (27 o 02′ N, 88 o 16′ E); labelled: 8 × 13 mm, black ink ‘ Adela │ atkinsoni │ Type Moore’; 8 × 19 mm, print ‘Darjeeling │ Coll. Atkinson’; 8 × 8 mm, pink paper, print ‘Origin.’; 12 × 21 mm, black bordered label, black ink ‘Atkinsonii │ Moore’; 6 × 17 mm, black ink ‘Staudinger Coll. │ Kasten 417’; 7 × 18 mm, red paper, print ‘ Holotype ♁ │ Adela atkinsonii │ Moore, 1887 │ teste M. Kozlov, 1999’ (ZMHB) [examined].

Adela atkinsonii: Cotes & Swinhoe 1887: 707 .

Nemotois atkinsonii: Meyrick 1912a: 7, 1912b: 8 .

Nemophora atkinsonii: Das & Singh 2022: 264 .

Diagnosis. Nemophora atkinsonii differs from all other Nemophora species recorded in India and Sri Lanka by the presence of both fascia consisting of the yellow band bordered by silver-grey bands and two transverse silver-grey stripes in the basal part of the forewing.

Description. Male ( Figs. 32 ). FWL 7.7 mm, WLR 0.32. Vertex with raised piliform scales, most of which are ochreous and a few are brown; frons glossy bronze, with violet lustre. PLB 1.2 × vertical eye diameter, yellow. Proboscis light brown. Eyes enlarged, but not touching each other; interocular index 0.9; occipital index 0.7. Antenna 3.3 × FWL; pegs absent. Scape and basal part of flagellum brown, then colour of flagellum gradually changes to light brown. Tegulae and thorax bronze, with violet lustre (at least marginally). Forewing ( Fig. 87 ) from ochreous basally to dark brown apically; base with light yellow longitudinal stripe along costa, which is dorsally bordered by dark brown stripe; both yellow and brown longitudinal stripes reach first transverse silver-grey stripe located at 0.25 × FWL. Second transverse silver-grey stripe located at 0.35 × FWL; these stripes reach 0.35 and 0.50 of forewing width, respectively. Fascia consists of narrow bright yellow band bordered on both sides by narrow glossy silver-grey bands; internal margin of fascia reaches costa at 0.46 × FWL. Apical part of forewing densely scattered with light yellow scales (approx. one yellow scale to two dark brown scales). Fringe brown, glossy violet at costa. Hindwing brown, with R+M1 stalked; costa yellowish-white; fringe light brown to brown. Legs light brown; distal parts of all tibiae and all tarsomeres light yellow. Epiphysis at 0.40, not reaching apex of tibia.

Female unknown.

Distribution. India (West Bengal).

Comments. Abdomen of the holotype is missing; therefore characters of male genitalia are unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 25–32. Adults of Nemophora spp. 25, N. ischnodesma (Meyrick, 1928), male, from Pidaung, Myanmar; 26, ditto, female, holotype, from Guwahati,Assam, India; 27, N. asterodoxa (Meyrick, 1928), male, holotype, from Somwarpet, Karnataka, India; 28, N. chalcomis (Meyrick, 1907), male, from Yala, Sri Lanka; 29, ditto, female, from Hambantota, Sri Lanka; 30, N. phoenicites (Meyrick, 1907), male, from Pune, Maharashtra, India; 31, ditto, female, from Pune, Maharashtra, India; 32, N. atkinsonii (Moore, 1887), male, holotype, from Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Scale: 2 mm.

FIGURES 69–92. Forewing pattern of Nemophora spp. 69, N. sporodesma (Meyrick, 1928); 70, N. phryganeella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 71, N. seraphias (Meyrick, 1907); 72, N. engraptes (Meyrick, 1907), typical form; 73, N. ornamentella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 74, N. fluorites (Meyrick, 1907); 75, N. manipurella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 76, N. mediseorsa Sun et Li, 2023; 77, N. tenuitella Kozlov, sp. nov.; 78, N. assamensis Kozlov, 1997; 79, N. augantha (Meyrick, 1907); 80, N. chionites (Meyrick, 1907); 81, N. cassiterites (Meyrick, 1907); 82, N. griseella (Walsingham, 1880); 83, N. ischnodesma (Meyrick, 1928); 84, N. asterodoxa (Meyrick, 1928); 85, N. chalcomis (Meyrick, 1907); 86, N. phoenicites (Meyrick, 1907); 87, N. atkinsonii (Moore, 1887); 88, N. gemmella (Walsingham, 1880); 89, N. neurias (Meyrick, 1922); 90, N. chrysoprasias (Meyrick, 1907); 91, N. indica (Walker, 1863); 92, N. ceylonella Kozlov, sp. nov. Scale 2 mm.