Miltochrista hogani, Volynkin & Huang, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V. & Huang, Si-Yao, 2022, On the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner with descriptions of five new species from India and China and notes on the genus Arctelene Kirti & Gill (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 58, pp. 86-108 : 93

Miltochrista hogani sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C69508BA-ED06-416A-9A1E-32A5BA12F9C4

( Figs 11, 12 , 46 , 62 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 46 ): male, “Nilgiri Hills. | H.L. Andrewes. | X.09. 3500 ft. ” / “H L Andrewes | 212-1935” / “See diary | for data” / “Slide | AV6866 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( OUMNH).

Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, the same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV6867 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( OUMNH) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.5 mm in males and 15.0 mm in female. Miltochrista hogani sp. n. is reminiscent of M. curvifascia , the M. pseudoarcuata – M. paraarcuata species pair (illustrated by Kirti & Singh 2016) and certain taxa of the genus Arctelene but is distinguished by its significantly larger size and intense pink suffusion on the hindwing. The male genitalia structure of the new species is most similar to the externally dissimilar M. inconspicua . In the male genital capsule, M. hogani sp. n. differs clearly from M. inconspicua in the medially dilated uncus lacking the basal dorsal spur (it is evenly slender in M. inconspicua ), the narrower vinculum, and the longer and symmetrical distal sections of the valva having lobular apexes and trapezoid ventral (= distal costal) processes whereas in M. inconspicua , the right valva apex is longer than the left one and triangular (whereas the left one is trapezoid), and the ventral processes are thin thorn-shaped. Additionally, compared to M. inconspicua , the sacculus of M. hogani sp. n. has a longer dorsal setose cluster and the somewhat shorter distal process, and the antemedial part of the costa lacks the setose area, which is typical of the congener. The phallus of the new species is somewhat shorter and narrower than in M. inconspicua , and has shorter coecum and dorsal proximal process. Compared to M. inconspicua , the vesica of M. hogani sp. n. is broader, has a shorter and unilobate distal diverticulum (it is bilobate in the congener), lacks the subbasal dorsal diverticulum, and bears two cornuti, the larger of which is thinner than the single cornutus of M. inconspicua . In the female genitalia, M. hogani sp. n. differs from M. inconspicua in the narrower antrum, and the markedly larger spines in the two posterior clusters of the corpus bursae. Additionally, compared to M. inconspicua , the 7 th abdominal sternite of the new species has smaller subostial lobes, and smaller, semiglobular and unilobate lateral pockets, which are bilobate with a semielliptical larger lobe in the congener.

Distribution. South India (Tamil Nadu).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Dr James Hogan (Oxford, UK), Collections Manager, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 1–12. Miltochrista spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2, and 4 in MWM/ZSM; 3, 5–10 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 11 and 12 in OUMNH.

Figures 43–46. Miltochrista spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 43 and 44 in MWM/ZSM; 45 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 46 in OUMNH.

Figures 59–62. Miltochrista spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 59 in MWM/ZSM; 60 and 61 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 62 in OUMNH.