Plutodes nilgirica Hampson, 1891: 115

Singh, Manpreet, Raha, Angshuman, Mallick, Kaushik, Kirti, Jagbir Singh & Singh, Navneet, 2023, A review of the genus Plutodes Guenée (Geometridae: Ennominae) from India with description of one new species, Zootaxa 5323 (4), pp. 499-523 : 509

Plutodes nilgirica Hampson, 1891: 115

( Figs 10–11 , 37–39 )

TL: Nilgiri district (Tamil Nadu, India)

Material examined: India, Kerala, Idukki dist.: 1 ♂, Munnar , 29.x.2017, leg. M. Singh (13658/H10, NZCZSI) .

Diagnosis: Forewing length: ♂ 17 mm. Externally, P. nilgirica is very similar to the Chinese P. nanlingensis Yazaki and Wang, 2004: 118 (fig. 12) and the Bornean P. unidentata Holloway, 1976: 85 . However, P. nilgirica and P. nanlingensis are distinct from P. unidentata by the even pattern of patches. The basal and the distal patches on the hindwing may be fused or not fused, as in our specimen. Further, P. nilgirica differs from P. nanlingensis by its generally larger size and by the distal patch on the forewing being more or less quadrate in shape and almost extending up to the costal, apical and termen area, whereas the patch is quite roundish in P. nanlingensis . The hindwing, in P. nilgirica , has the basal patch with concave outer border and the distal patch with inner border devoid of any demarcated layer, but with a large, rounded indentation centrally and acute processes anteriorly and posteriorly. In P. nanlingensis , the basal patch of the hindwing also has a concave outer border, but with a distinct small protrusion in the middle. In male genitalia, P. nilgirica differs from the two externally similar species by the broadly rounded apex of the short valva (elongate and acutely-pointed apically in the other two species), stronger and more distally extended sacculus, elongate and more ventrally pronounced saccus and a pick-axe shaped (when everted) vesica endowed strongly with cornuti (Holloway [1994]).

Distribution: India: Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiri district) ( Hampson 1891, Chandra et al. 2020).

Remarks: To date, P. nilgirica is only reported from southern India including our observation. So, its distribution is probably restricted to this part of the country. Herein, we present the first-time illustrated diagnosis of male genitalia of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 10–17. Habitus of Plutodes spp. 10–11, P. nilgirica, male, Kalakad WLS (Image source, Dr. D. Sţning); 12–13, P. subcaudata, male, Darjeeling (Image source, Dr. D. Sţning); 14–15, P. exquisita, female, Singtam; 16–17, P. flavescens, male, Singtam. Ventral sides: 11, 13, 15, 17.

FIGURES 37–43. Genitalia of Plutodes spp. 37–39, P. nilgirica, male, Munnar: 37, ventral view, 38, valva, 39, aedeagus (vesica not everted); 40–41, P. subcaudata, male, Rishop: 40, ventral view, 41, aedeagus; 42, ditto, female, Ravangla; 43, P. exquisita, female, Singtam (corpus bursae torn). (diagnostic characters indicated by black lines).