Vamuna suoya, Volynkin, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, On the taxonomy of the genus Vamuna Moore with description of a new species from Taiwan (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini: Lithosiina), Ecologica Montenegrina 48, pp. 1-8 : 2-6

Vamuna suoya sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2B1CA0CA-FF16-4136-AE30-49096168D5A8

( Figs 1, 2 , 9, 10 , 15 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 9 ): male, “ Taiwan, Prov. Taitung, above Liyuan , 1950m, upper forest zone, 15.VI.1997, leg. B. Herczig & L. Ronkay ” / “Slide ZSM Arct. 2021-012 ♂ A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. TAIWAN: 67 specimens of both sexes, the same data as in the holotype ; 200 specimens of both sexes, Taitung County, 5 km NW of Lirao , 23°13'N, 120°59'E, 1760m, 28. V.1995, M. Hreblay & P. Steger leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-111 (male), ZSM Arct. 2021-112 (female) (prepared by Volynkin); 8 males, 11 females, Taitung County, Hsiangyang , 2200m, 13–14. VI.1997, B. Herczig & L. Ronkay leg.; 1 male, Taitung County, 2 km E Hsiangyang , 2200m, 20. V.1997, Gy.M. László & G. László leg.; 1 male, Hualien County, 6 km SE Juisui , 200m, 22. V.1997, Gy.M. László & G. László leg.; 19 males, 9 females, Taitung County, Mutien, 1500m, 21. V.1997, Gy.M. László & G. László leg.; 2 males, 1 female, Ilan County, 1550m, Suyuan, near Pinan at the Road 7/1, 6. VI.1997, B. Herczig & L. Ronkay leg. (all in MWM / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The new species externally differs from V. subnigra and V. gynaegrapha in the pale brown thorax and forewing colouration whereas it is yellow-ochreous in V. subnigra and pale yellow in V. gynaegrapha . The male genital capsule of V. suoya sp. n. is similar to that of V. subnigra but distinguished by the narrower uncus, the narrower costal plate with a smoother dorso-proximal protrusion, and the thinner distal saccular process bearing smaller spinules. The phalli of the two species are almost identical and display no remarkable differences. The vesica of V. suoya sp. n. is somewhat broader than in V. subnigra and has a broader ventral diverticulum. The male genital capsule of the new species clearly differs from that of V. gynaegrapha in the broader and medially curved uncus, the wider arms of the tegumen, the wider valva with a conspicuously longer and wider costal plate, the sacculus lacking a short dorsal protrusion at the base of the distal process, and the thicker and distally rectangular distal saccular process bearing more numerous spinules apically, whereas the distal saccular process of V. gynaegrapha is apically tapered and bears a short but robust spine apically and a few smaller spinules subapically. The phallus of V. suoya sp. n. is proximally broader than in V. gynaegrapha and bears a basally broader dorsal carinal thorn. Compared to V. gynaegrapha , the vesica of V. suoya sp. n. is broader, has a longer and broader long ventral diverticulum, and weaker graniculi on the distal diverticulum. The female genitalia of the new species are similar to those of V. subnigra but distinguished by the somewhat longer and anteriorly narrower ductus bursae, the narrower corpus bursae with a smaller signum bursae, and the broader appendix bursae. Compared to V. gynaegrapha , the female genitalia of V. suoya sp. n. have a markedly longer ductus bursae, broader corpus and appendix bursae, and a smaller signum bursae.

Description. Adult ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length 16.0–17.0 mm in males and 17.0–18.0 mm in females. Sexual dimorphism limited: female slightly larger than male and having somewhat narrower forewing and paler hindwing. Antenna pale ochreous basally and brown medially and distally, weakly ciliate in male and filiform in female. Head ochreous-brown. Thorax monotonous pale brown. Forewing elongate with subapically convex costal margin. Forewing pale brown with ochreous suffusion along costa subbasally and medially. Costa edged with black scales basally and subbasally. Medial area with more or less triangular spot at costal margin and smaller rounded spot between Cu 2 and A 1. Cilia pale brown with admixture of black scales at apex. Hindwing pale ochreous-creamy with ochreous suffusion along outer margin. Cilia pale ochreous-creamy. Male genitalia ( Figs 9, 10 ). Uncus elongate and slender, laterally flattened, medially curved and dilated, distally tapered with tiny claw-shaped tip. Tegumen short with arms dilated anteriorly. Tuba analis broad and membranous. Vinculum equal in length to tegumen, with thin and weakly sclerotised arms, more or less U-shaped anteriorly. Valva lobular, dilated medially and distally. Costa forming long and broad plate with proximally convex dorsal margin. Distal membranous lobe very short, rounded. Sacculus narrow. Distal saccular process robust, slightly up curved distally, apically rectangular and bearing numerous short but robust spinules. Juxta weakly sclerotised, X-shaped with broader posterior branches. Phallus tubular, proximally dilated, with short and apically rounded coecum and short triangular subapical carinal thorn directed dorsally. Vesica broad, sack-like; dorsal diverticulum short and membranous; longer ventral diverticulum subapically curved, membranous; shorter ventral diverticulum semiglobular; distal diverticulum broad, semiglobular, bearing granulation. Vesica ejaculatorius originating from distal end of vesica, directed ventro-distally. Female genitalia ( Fig.15 ). Papilla analis broad, trapezoid with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, more or less equal in length. Ostium bursae moderately broad. Ductus bursae elongate, laterally flattened, dilated anteriorly, moderately sclerotised medially and anteriorly and membranous posteriorly; ventral margin of ostium with two short weakly sclerotised posterior protrusions medially. Corpus bursae pyriform, membranous with weakly sclerotised posterior end and small elliptical and granulate signum latero-anteriorly. Appendix bursae membranous, positioned postero-laterally, broad, clavate.

Distribution. Endemic to Taiwan Island.

Etymology. Suo Ya is a character of the Taiwanese Legend of Muddy River.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Vamuna spp.: adults. Depository of the specimens: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 in MWM/ZSM; 3 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 6 in MNHN (©MNHN).

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

Figures 13–16. Vamuna spp.: male (13) and female (14–16) genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.