Nisitrus rindu Robillard & Tan sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A3AE87F7-8196-4C9B-BDEF-8E9D21B92BE5

Figs 5, 9C–D, 10H, 11H, 12H, 14H, 17N–O; Tables 2, 10

Nisitrus brunnerianus – Robillard & Desutter-Grandcolas 2004a: 276 (morphological phylogeny).

Diagnosis

This species differs from all known congeners by the combination of these characters: dorsum of head cream-coloured with a black band or T-shaped marking; frons completely black; pronotal lateral lobes yellow, their anterior ventral corner black. Female FW dorsal field with cells almost completely black; veins yellow; longitudinal veins on dorsal field with many more cross-veins, creating a net-like mosaic; lateral field with M, R cream-coloured. This species is similar to N. insignis by pattern on head dorsum, but differs by frons completely black (instead of yellow), unique pronotum colouration and female FW lateral field with M and R cream-coloured (instead of dark coloured). This species is also similar to N. brunnerianus, which probably occurs in sympatry, and N. hughtani sp. nov. by dark frons, but differs by the characteristic pattern on dorsum of head and pronotal lateral lobe, and by female FW lateral field hyaline in ventral half. It also differs from the sympatric N. vittatus and N. crucius sp. nov. by the black frons, pronotum lateral lobe and FW colouration.

Etymology

This species name refers to the word ʻrinduʼ, which means ʻloveʼ [verb] in Iban [a group of indigenous people from Borneo] language and ʻhome-sicknessʼ = ʻmissʼ [verb] in Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) and Indonesian. This new species is dedicated to the front-liners fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic who were far from their homes and loved ones during the early phase of the global pandemic (when the speciesʼ name was chosen).

Material examined

Holotype

MALAYSIA – Sarawak • ♀; Mount Murud; 6500 ft a.s.l.; 3°54′28.44″ N, 115°29′12.68″ E; 15 Apr. 1979; identified as Nisitra brunneriana by L. Chopard; MNHN-EO-ENSIF10939.

Paratypes

INDONESIA – Kalimantan • 3 ♀; “ West Borneo, Midden” [borders of Apokajan, Boeloengan and Beraoe]; 1°58′43″ N, 116°6′43″ E; 15–20 Oct. 1925; H.C. Siebers leg.; identified as Nisitrus brunnerianus by T. Robillard 2004; MNHN-EO-ENSIF10940 to ENSIF10942 • 1 ♀; Long Petak; 1°42′6″ N, 116°12′25″ E; 450 m a.s.l.; Sep. 1925; Brugs leg.; identified as Nisitrus brunnerianus by T. Robillard 2004; MNHN-EO-ENSIF10943 .

MALAYSIA – Sabah • 1 ♀; near Long Pasia “Long Pa Sia”; 4°24′22.05″ N, 115°43′40.97″ E; 1020 m a.s.l.; 1–14 Apr. 1987; C. v. Achterberg leg.; RMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; PII: N57; RMNH . – Sarawak • 1 ♀; Mount Tibang; 1°39′ N, 114°34′ E; 1700 m a.s.l.; E.G. Mjöberg leg.; MNHN-EO-ENSIF10944 .

Description

Relatively large for the genus, colouration contrasted (Fig. 9C–D). Vertex cream-coloured with a variable longitudinal black band and one or two faint transverse black bands forming a T- or ʻ+ʼ-shaped black pattern (Fig. 11H). Scapes black, posterior end red brown. Antennae red brown with some segments black. Frons and face part of fastigium completely black, without yellow spots or bands (Fig. 10H). Mouthparts dark red brown to black. Maxillary palpi cream-coloured (Fig. 10H). Head lateral side black, sometimes with a small yellow spot at the ventro-posterior margin of eye (Fig. 12H). Pronotal disk generally black with lateral and posterior margins yellow (Fig. 11H); pronotal lateral lobe yellow, its ventro-anterior corner black (Fig. 12H). Legs red brown. FIIIs dark red brown, their inner basal area black; knees dark brown to black; TIIIs brown with black spines and spurs, dark brown to black near distal end; tarsomeres dark brown to black. Hindwings hyaline brown, with a longitudinal transparent window near external-basal area; longer than FWs, forming a dark brown tail exceeding FWs more than twice as long as pronotum. Abdomen generally black.

Male

Unknown.

Female

FOREWINGS. FW dorsal field with cells almost completely black; veins almost always yellow (Fig. 14H). Lateral field with M and R cream-coloured, sometimes with a cream-coloured patch at base; otherwise transparent or dark. FW venation: longitudinal veins on dorsal field with many cross-veins, creating a thin net-like mosaic.

GENITALIA. Ovipositor distinctly longer than FIII; apex thin. Copulatory papilla conical, smaller and stout; apex folded ventrally, elongated, pointed; dorsal face with a sclerotized area; ventro-anterior end an oblong rim (Fig. 17N–O).

Measurements

See Table 10.

Ecology

Unknown.

Distribution

Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan.

Type locality

Malaysia: Sabah.

Calling song

Unknown.