Andraca paradisea Zolotuhin

Zolotuhin, Vadim V., 2012, Taxonomic remarks on Andraca Walker, 1865 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) with descriptions of five new species, Zootaxa 3262, pp. 22-34 : 30-31

Andraca paradisea Zolotuhin , sp. nov.

Figs. 17, 18

Type material. Holotype: ď, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Dalongdong, Talakag, 40 km NW Maramag, 1200 m, 9–17.IX 1999 (MWM). Paratypes: ď, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Dalongdong, Talakag, 40 km NW Maramag, 1200 m, 9–17.IX 1999 (GU 8765); ď, the same, 15–16.I 1999, leg. Dr. R. Brechlin; ď, the same, 1300m, 2–7.XI 1999, leg. Dr. R. Brechlin. 3 ďď, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Dalongdong, Talakag, 40–45 km NW Maramag, 1200 m, 1–3.X 1988, 800– 1200 m, 7°53’N, 124°40’E, leg. Cerny & Schintlmeister. 2 ďď, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Kitanglad, S–Seite, Intavas, Primärurwald, 1650 m, 5.VIII 1993, 8°07’N, 124°55’E, leg. A. Schintlmeister & V.Siniaev. ď, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Kitanglad, S-Seite, Intavas, Primärurwald, 1200 m, 2.VIII 1993, 8°07’N, 124°55’E, leg. A. Schintlmeister & V.Siniaev. 5 ďď, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Kitanglad, S-Seite, Intavas, Primärurwald, 2200 m, 15.VIII–15.IX 1993, 8°07’N, 124°55’E, leg. V. Siniaev. 42 ďď, Ψ, Philippines, Mindanao, Prov. Davao del Sur, Mt. Apo, SE-route via Kapatagan, 10–12.VII 1996, 1570 m, im prim. Wald, leg. Dr. R. Brechlin. 9 ďď, Ψ, Philippines, Mindanao, Mt. Apo, SE-route via Kapatagan, 8.VII 1996, 2230 m, leg. Dr. R. Brechlin. ď, Philippines, Mindanao, Mt. Apo, Westflanke, Sekundärwald, 6°57’N, 125°16’E, leg. Siniaev & Schintlmeister (all in MWM); ď, Mindanao, Bukidnon, Mt. Caliasan, 1.400 m, 8.II 2000, coll. Treadaway ( SMFL). 2 ďď, Mindanao, Davao, Mt. Apo, 2000 m, 2. III. 1990, coll. Treadaway ( SMFL); 1 ď, Mindanao, S. Mindanao, S. Cotabato, Mt. Matutum, 15. VI. 1996, coll. Treadaway ( SMFL).

Description. Wingspan males 34–41 mm, females 46–48 mm, forewing length— 18–21 in males and 25.5– 26 in females. In males, wings with smooth outer margin, forewings with pointed apex, with indistinct or without any cut under the top. Ground colour of both wings chestnut, with darker triangular shadows in external fields of the fore wings. Dark brown wavy transversal fasciae are typical. Discal spot very small, point-like, blackish, in some specimens missing. Hind wings with lighter basal and medial zones. Distinct suffusion of the bluish scales through the fore wings is very typical giving for the moth very peculiar, contrast coloration. Flagellum white, end part of the antenna covered with reddish-brown scales. Females lighter, with more distinct pointed apices of the fore wings, dull yellow, with distinct reddish-brown transversal fasciae and vague discal dot. No bluish scales typical; very few of them can be found as a border of external line. Male genitalia (Fig. 32). Uncus is short triangular, a bit flattened, without basal narrowing. Branches of gnathos infused, distinct, but short and rather wide. Valva narrowed and tapered apically; costa bears near the apex a very short up to almost undeveloped pyramidal process situated almost on the same vertical line with protruded papilla-like harpe. Both valvae are symmetrical. Aedeagus short, strongly curved at a middle under right angle, with broadened funnel-shaped caudal end, with short bagshaped vesica bearing very small thorn-shaped cornuti situated in a row.

Diagnosis. Similar to A. apodecta Swinhoe, 1907 in external characters but distinguished easily by lighter coloration with distinct suffusion of bluish scales. Male genitalia are also characteristic, with the presence of cornuti on the vesica. The only species of the genus native to Mindanao.

Bionomics. Flight period July to mid January; probably with two generations per year. Inhabits altitudes from 800 to 2400 m. Preimaginal stages and host plants unknown.

Distribution. Philippines. So far only from Mindanao,. possibly endemic.

Comments. The species is the brightest coloured one among all its congeners, and therefore the name alludes to the Bird-of-Paradise.