Monosyntaxis hollowayi, Volynkin, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, Monosyntaxis hollowayi, a new species from southern Borneo (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 62, pp. 101-106 : 102-105

Monosyntaxis hollowayi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B907C8C2-1335-42D0-B1C4-8ACF0C09E33F

( Figs 1, 2 , 9 , 13 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 9 ): male, [ Indonesia, South Kalimantan Province] “ Borneo Kalimantan | Selatan, 1100m, 30kmE | Kandagan , Regenwald [rainforest] | 15km NE Loksado, 3.– | 22.9.1997, leg. Jakl | 2’52’’S / 115’38’’E [2°52'S 115°38'E]” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 291♂ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. INDONESIA: 49 males, 31 females, the same data as holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-335 (male) and ZSM Arct. 2021-299 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM).

Diagnosis. The male of the new species ( Fig. 1 ) is externally greatly reminiscent of M. trimaculata ( Fig. 3 ) and can be distinguished from it only by the somewhat narrower antemedial spot. The reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. Compared to two other similar species of the genus occurring in Sundaland and having clearly distinct genitalia of both sexes, M. holmanhunti ( Figs 5, 6 , 11 , 15 ) and M. affinis ( Figs 7, 8 , 12 , 16 ), M. hollowayi sp. n. has an orange patagia (it is blackish-brown in both the similar species) and an orange, elongate and narrow teardrop-shaped antemedial spot whereas it is brick red and markedly shorter and broader in M. holmanhunti , and deep scarlet and considerably shorter and triangular in M. affinis . The female of M. hollowayi sp. n. ( Fig. 2 ) is readily distinct from those of M. trimaculata ( Fig. 4 ) and M. holmanhunti ( Fig. 6 ) due to its forewing having three elliptical yellow spots fused with each other and forming a longitudinal yellow stripe with irregular margins (they are separated in M. trimaculata and M. holmanhunti ), and a uniform yellow outer margin and anal margin at tornus as well (they are blackish-brown in the aforementioned congeners). The female of the new species is most similar to M. affinis ( Fig. 8 ) but differs in the yellow head and patagia (they are orange yellow in the congener), the paler longitudinal yellow stripe with markedly broader and elliptical proximal and medial sections, and a uniform yellow outer margin and anal margin at tornus (they are blackish-brown in M. affinis ). The male genital capsule of M. hollowayi sp. n. ( Fig. 9 ) is most similar to M. trimaculata ( Fig. 10 ) but is distinguished by the longer and broader uncus, the apically pointed vinculum (it is apically rounded in the congener), the medially narrower valva with a less convex dorsal margin, and the narrower distal saccular process bearing denser setae. The phallus of the new species is somewhat longer and distally narrower than in M. trimaculata . Compared to M. trimaculata , the vesica of M. hollowayi sp. n. is broader, lacking medial diverticula, and having a somewhat shorter and proximally broader distal diverticulum. The female genitalia of the two species ( Fig. 13 ) are very similar but in M. hollowayi sp. n. ( Fig. 14 ), the ductus bursae is somewhat narrower and the corpus bursae is slightly longer than the corresponding structures of M. trimaculata .

Description. Sexual dimorphism substantial. Male ( Fig. 1 ). Antenna blackish, serrulate. Head blackish-brown. Thorax blackish-brown, patagia orange, tegula blackish-brown. Forewing elongate and narrow, with almost parallel margins. Forewing ground colour blackish-brown with greenish metallic shine. Antemedial area between veins M and A2 with elongate, narrow teardrop-shaped orange spot. Hindwing broadly triangular, uniform dark brown. Abdomen dark brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). Uncus short, dorso-ventrally flattened, elliptical. Tegumen short, with narrow and weakly sclerotised arms. Vinculum ca. twice longer than tegumen, with V-shaped, subapically rounded and apically pointed saccus. Valvae broad, lobular, with almost parallel margins, fuse with juxta by commissure. Dorsal section of valva with slightly convex dorsal margin and distally rounded. Sacculus broad, its dorsal part covered with long setae. Distal saccular process short but broad, lobular, apically upcurved, with outer margin densely covered with robust setae. Juxta X-shaped, weakly sclerotised, membranous anterio-medially. Phallus broad and heavily sclerotised, somewhat dilated sub-distally, with short and rounded coecum. Vesica membranous, globular with finger-shaped distal diverticulum directed distally-ventrally. Vesica ejaculatorius situated subbasally.

Female ( Fig. 2 ). Larger than male and with narrower hindwing having rounded anal angle. Antenna filiform, blackish-brown. Head yellow. Thorax brown. Tegula yellow. Forewing costa with blackish-brown narrow stripe antemedially and medially. Anterior half of forewing with longitudinal yellow stripe consisting of three elliptical spots fused with each other, with distal one occupying apical area. Posterior half of forewing blackish-brown except for yellow subtornal area fused with longitudinal yellow stripe along outer margin. Cilia uniform yellow. Hindwing uniform pale yellow. Abdomen with brown upperside and yellow underside. Female genitalia ( Fig. 13 ). Papilla analis trapezoidal with rounded corners, densely setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, apophysis posterioris somewhat longer than apophysis anterioris. Ostium bursae narrow. Ductus bursae short, dorso-ventrally flattened, sclerotised and rugose. Corpus bursae strongly elongate, its posterior section narrow, elliptical; medial section of corpus bursae tubular, shorter and narrower than posterior one; anterior section of corpus bursae dilated, teardrop-shaped, with small round signum. Appendix bursae very short, conical, situated postero-ventrally at junction with ductus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in the southern Borneo Island (South Kalimantan Province of Indonesia).

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr Jeremy Holloway, author of the fundamental book series ‘The Moths of Borneo’.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Monosyntaxis spp.: adults. The specimens are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 9–12. Monosyntaxis spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 13–16. Monosyntaxis spp.: female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.