Donda Moore, 1882

Han, H. L., Behounek, G. & Kononenko, V. S., 2020, New species of Donda Moore, 1882 and new data on Pantheinae species. Revision of Pantheinae, contribution XIV (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae), Zootaxa 4731 (2), pp. 279-286 : 279-280

Donda Moore, 1882

Donda Moore, 1882 , in Hewitson & Moore, Description of new Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the Collection of the Late Mr W.S. Atkinson: 161. Type-species: Dandaca eurychlora Walker, 1858 , List of the Specimens of lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum 15: 1670, by original designation. Type: male, [ India]: Hindustan, Canara (BMNH).

Reference: Behounek, Han, Kononenko 2012a.

The genus Donda (sensu auctorum) ( Noctuidae , subfamily Pantheinae ) was recently revised by Behounek et al. (2012a). The genus diagnosis, history and taxonomic composition Donda spp. have been discussed in details in the revision.

The genus Donda includes superficially similar species; reliable determination of specimens requires comparative study of the genitalia. In the course of revision by Behounek et al. (2012a) six species belonging to Donda were recognized: D. eurychlora ( Walker, 1858) , D. continentalis Behounek, Han, Kononenko, 2012 , D. sundana Behounek, Han, Kononenko, 2012 , D. sailendra Kobes, 1983 , D. ornata Moore, 1883 and D. lichenoides Hampson, 1894 (among them the status of the last two species remains unclear). Two species, ‘ D. ’ thoracica Moore, 1882 and ‘ D.’ striatovirens Moore, 1883, were transferred to the newly described genus Viridistria Behounek & Kononenko 2012b and ‘ D. ’ kala Prout, 1924 was placed in the newly described genus Anabelcia Behounek & Kononenko 2012a .

D iagnosis. Species of genera Donda and Belciana Walker, 1862 are similar externally, but differ in several characters of the male genitalia. Medium sized moths, wingspan 39–45 mm. Frons smooth, scaled, labial palps relatively long, exceeded frons; male antennae filiform; eyes hairy, with minute hairs clearly visible under stereo scanning (Kobes 1992); all leg segments ringed with white; venation quadrifine, M2 on hindwing present; abdomen with dorsal tufts of scales. Forewing colouration and pattern characteristic for the genus with pale green ground colour and three brown patches in subcostal, tornal and apical areas; hindwing yellow with broad fuscous terminal band. In the skelet of the male abdomen the eighth sternite has lateral rods, and vestigial coremata; the tergite I is triangular, broader posteriorly, without apodemes ( Holloway 2009). In the male genitalia, all structures compared with Belciana are heavily sclerotised (weakly sclerotised in Belciana ); basal coremata of valva lacking (presents in Belciana ); uncus simple, moderate in length, apically hooked; subscaphium sclerotised; tegumen with penicular lobes; paratergal sclerite broad, flat, juxta broad, with medial bar or rip and lateral flaps; valva tapered apically; sacculus elongated, with pointed apical process and finger-like ventro-apical process or short extension; harpe vestigial or developed, cucullus narrow, covered with dense hairs. (In Belciana valva broad, rounded, usually weakly sclerotised, except its central and dorsal parts along costa; the base of valva in most cases membranous, bearing a broad coremata; sacculus small; harpe short, sometimes spine-like). Aedeagus medium-long, carina often with one or two spines, vesica tubular, with subapical diverticula; cornuti small, aggregated into a common patch. (In Belciana aedeagus with vesica globular basally, bears moderate to small cornuti). In the female genitalia, papillae anales quadrangular, antrum sclerotised caudally, membranous in joining with ductus bursae; ductus bursae with heavily sclerotised patch separated by membrane; corpus bursae rounded or elongated. (In the female genitalia of Belciana ductus bursae short, membranous or with sclerotised patches; corpus bursae sack-like, with variable sclerotised patches in junction with ductus bursae).

Most Donda species are distributed in the Oriental region from Himalaya to Sundaland and Philippines. Until now, only one Donda species, D. continentalis is known from South China. A second Chinese species of Donda , D. hunana sp. n. described from central Chna (Hunan Province) below.