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Issue: Vol. 5566 No. 3: 9 Jan. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-01-09
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5566.3.1
Page range: 401-445
Abstract views: 143
PDF downloaded: 11

On the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner with descriptions of six new species from the Oriental Realm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini)

Altai State University; Lenina Avenue; 61; RF-656049; Barnaul; Russia
Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences; Punjabi University; Patiala; Punjab
Tiergartenstrasse 27; A-6020 Innsbruck; Austria
Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences; Punjabi University; Patiala; Punjab
Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences; Punjabi University; Patiala; Punjab
Zoological Survey of India; M-Block; New Alipore; Kolkata 700053; West Bengal; India
Lepidoptera India Indonesia intraspecific polymorphism lectotype Myanmar neotype Nepal new record new synonym Nudariina Pakistan Thailand revised status Vietnam

Abstract

The present paper is devoted to the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner, [1819] with a special emphasis to the Indian fauna. Six new species of the genus are described: M. gopaldhara Volynkin, Černý, N. Singh, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, sp. nov. (Northeast India), M. mawphlang N. Singh, Kirti, Datta, S. Singh, Volynkin & Černý, sp. nov. (Northeast India), M. carcharias Volynkin, Černý, N. Singh, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, sp. nov. (Northeast and South India), M. ephimeces Volynkin, Černý, N. Singh, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, sp. nov. (Northeast India and northern Myanmar), M. jatinga N. Singh, Volynkin, Černý, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, sp. nov. (Northeast India, northern Myanmar and Northern Thailand), and M. nuranang N. Singh, Volynkin, Černý, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, sp. nov. (Northeast India and Nepal). One taxon is reassessed to species level: Miltochrista butleri Leech, [1889], stat. rev. Two new synonyms are introduced: M. neoseriata N. Singh & Kirti, 2016 = M. pseudoseriata N. Singh & Kirti, 2016, syn. nov., and M. floccosa (Walker, [1865]) = Asura violacea Reich, 1936, syn. nov. One synonym is revised: M. floccosa (Walker, [1865]) = Nudaria subcervina Walker, [1865], syn. rev. A neotype is designated for Nudaria subcervina Walker, [1865]. Lectotypes are designated for Asura lacteoflava lacteoflava Rothschild, 1913, Asura lacteoflava aureata Rothschild, 1913, Setina dharma Moore, 1879, Miltochrista butleri Leech, [1889], Lyclene discistriga Moore, 1878, and Sesapa andamana Moore, 1877. The male genitalia of M. paraseriata N. Singh & Kirti, 2016 are correctly illustrated and diagnosed for the first time. Polymorphism of M. dharma is illustrated and discussed. Six species are reported for the first time from the following countries: M. dharma (Moore, 1879) and M. floccosa (Walker, [1865]) from Pakistan and Nepal; M. terminata (Moore, 1878) from Myanmar and Thailand; M. vidlickai Bucsek, 2020 from Vietnam and Thailand; M. quadrata (Holloway, 2001) from Indonesia (Sumatra), Thailand and India (Assam); and M. producta (Černý, 2009) from Nepal and Vietnam. Adults as well as male and female genitalia are illustrated.

 

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