Tarika danieli, Volynkin & Saldaitis & Černý & Huang, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas, Černý, Karel & Huang, Si-Yao, 2023, Taxonomic review of the genus Tarika Moore with descriptions of six new species from Nepal, China and Indochina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 5258 (3), pp. 285-300 : 289-290

Tarika danieli sp. n.

( Figs 9, 10 , 24–28 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 9 , 24 ): male, [ China, Yunnan, Lijiang ] “Li-kiang ca. 2000m | Prov. Nord-Yuennan | 1.8. 1934 H. Höne ” / “♁” / “Tarica va- | rana Moore” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021-268♁ | A. Volynkin” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes: CHINA: 1 male, 2 females, same locality and collector as holotype, but 5.VIII.1934 (male), 31.VII.1934, 14.VII.1934 (females), gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-266 (male), ZSM Arct. 2021-267, ZSM Arct. 2021-269 (females) (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM); 24 males, 17 females, same locality and collector as holotype, but 31.VII.1934 (1 male, 1 female), 1.VIII.1934 (1 male), 2.VIII.1934 (2 males, 1 female), 4.VIII.1934 (1 male, 1 female), 5.VIII.1934 (8 males, 2 females), 6.VIII.1934 (3 males, 3 females), 7.VIII.1934 (2 males, 1 female), 8.VIII.1934 (1 male, 2 females), 9.VIII.1934 (1 male), 10.VIII.1934 (1 female), 12.VIII.1934 (1 female), 13.VIII.1934 (1 male, 1 female), 14.VIII.1934 (2 males), 15.VIII.1934 (1 male, 1 female), 18.VIII.1934 (2 females) ( ZFMK); 7 males, 2 females, S Sichuan, Mts 20 km S Xichang, 3000m, 20–22.VII.2005, S. Murzin leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021-233 (male), ZSM Arct. 2021-234 (female) ( MWM / ZSM); 1 male, [Fujian Prov., ca. 10 Km NNE of Shaowu] Kuatun , Prov. Fukien , 18.IX. Höne, ZFMK Lep153493 , gen. prep. by Huang ( ZFMK); 1 female, [Jiangsu Prov.] Lungtan b.[ei] Nanking , Prov. Kiangsu , 19.VI.[19]32, H. Höne, ZFMK Lep153492 , gen. prep. by Huang ( ZFMK) .

Additional material examined: CHINA: 1 male, [Shandong Prov.] Tai-Shan (Pr. Shantung), Gipfelhöhe [summit elevation] ca. 1550m, 14.V.1934, H. Höne, ZFMK Lep153491, gen. prep. by Huang ( ZFMK).

Note. The single male specimen from Shandong Province of China has the male genital capsule structure ( Fig. 28 ) very similar to specimens from other populations but displays some differences in the phallus vesica. Compared to other specimens examined ( Figs 24–27 ), it has shorter spiniform cornuti in the subbasal cluster, and a shorter distal diverticulum. The taxonomic value of these differences is unclear due to the lack of additional material from the north of East China therefore we tentatively assign this specimen with T. danieli sp. n. but do not include it in the type series.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 16.5–17.0 mm in males and 19.0–20.0 mm in females. The new species is superficially indistinguishable from T. erlanga sp. n. and T. kinha sp. n., which also occur in South-West China. The male genital capsule of T. danieli sp. n. differs clearly from T. erlanga sp. n. in the robust, hook-shaped distal saccular process whereas it is basally swollen with a thin claw-shaped distal section in the congener. The vesica structure of T. danieli sp. n. differs from T. erlanga sp. n. in the markedly shorter spiniform cornuti in the subbasal cluster, and the bilobate medial diverticulum bearing a thorn-like cornutus on one of the lobes. The female genitalia of the new species are most similar to T. kinha sp. n., the detailed comparison of the genitalia of both sexes of these species is provided below in the diagnosis of T. kinha sp. n.

Distribution. China (Yunnan, Sichuan, Fujian, Jiangsu and Shandong Provinces) ( Daniel 1954, as T. varana ).

Etymology. The new species is named after Franz Daniel, a prominent German lepidopterist, who first reported and illustrated it from China as T. varana . The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Tarika spp. (9–14) and Katha depressa (15, 16): adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9–14 in MWM/ZSM; 15 and 16 in CAV.

FIGURES 23–25. Tarika spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

FIGURES 26–28. Tarika danieli sp. n.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 26 in MWM/ZSM; 27 and 28 in ZFMK.

FIGURES 36–39. Tarika spp.: female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.