Plutodes pseudocyclaria Kirti & Goyal, 2011: 68

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 : 512

Plutodes pseudocyclaria Kirti & Goyal, 2011: 68

( Figs 18–19 , 46–47 )

TL: Devikulam, Kerala ( India)

Material examined: India, Kerala, Iduki dist. : 1 ♀, Prambikulam, 2.ix.2017, leg. M. Singh (13674/H10, NZCZSI); 1 ♂, Munnar, 30.x.2017 leg. M. Singh (13675/H10, NZCZSI) .

Diagnosis: Forewing length: ♂ 17 mm, ♀ 19 mm. Apart from P. nilgirica , P. pseudocyclaria is another species known only from southern India. Plutodes pseudocyclaria was described on the basis of patterns of rufous patches on both the wings and male genitalia in comparison with those in the allied P. cyclaria Guenée, [1858] ( Holloway 1976: 85) . In fact, both are not closely related, considering all characters. Externally, P. pseudocyclaria differs from the latter mainly in the hindwing having a concavely curved outer border of the basal area and a smaller distal patch which is always separate from the basal patch. Moreover, the distal patches have pointed extensions, situated posteriorly in the forewing and anteriorly in the hindwing. In P. cyclaria , the distal patch on hindwing is larger and the basal areas often extended towards or touching the distal patch. The male genitalia of P. pseudocyclaria differ by having two closely placed claw-like processes distally on the sacculus which are widely separated in P. cyclaria . In addition, there is a rounded process more basally on the sacculus, absent in P. cyclaria . The truncate apex of uncus and cucullus-shaped distal part of valves are also distinctive. The aedeagus vesica in P pseudocyclaria is elongated having a field of 6–7 cornuti at the distal part, that in P. cyclaria is pick-axe shaped with distal row of large cornuti, and a lateral lobe having a separated field of small cornuti.

Distribution: India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu ( Kirti & Goyal 2011, Iyer et al. 2021).

Remarks: With this present record, the species is known only from southern India. So, it may be considered endemic to this region of the country.

Figures

FIGURES 18–23. Habitus of Plutodes spp. 18–19, P. pseudocyclaria, male, Munnar; 20–21, P. discigera, male, Chatakpur; 22–23, P. transmutata, male, Bir. Ventral sides: 19, 21, 23.

FIGURES 44–49. Genitalia of Plutodes spp. 44–45, P. flavescens, male, Singtam: 44, ventral view, 45, aedeagus; 46–47, P. pseudocyclaria, male, Munnar: 46, ventral view, 47, aedeagus (vesica not fully everted); 48–49, P. discigera, male, Chatakpur: 48, ventral view, 49, aedeagus.