Tarika incerta, Volynkin & Černý, 2025

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2025, On the taxonomy of the genera Katha Moore, Tarika Moore, Cernyia Bucsek and Churingosia Volynkin & Černý, stat. n. with the description of a new genus and thirteen new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini: Lithosiina), Ecologica Montenegrina 87, pp. 1-45 : 7-8

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2025.87.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7E42C152-705D-4084-A80C-89A946B68738
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03887542-9570-1839-FF5F-FC5EE45EF04D
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Tarika incerta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Tarika incerta View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:21F101B8-40E4-451B-AB53-8D05E38CAFD5

( Figs 17–22 View Figures 15–24 , 86–91 View Figures 85–88 View Figures 89–92 , 128, 129 View Figures 126–132 )

Lithosia conformis Wkr. ssp. nigrifrons Moore : Daniel (1954): 94 (partim.).

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 17 View Figures 15–24 , 86 View Figures 85–88 ): male, “ China: Yunnan prov. | Tsekou [ Yanmen ] env. | 28°01'59''N 98°54'17''E | 8.VI. 2007 [,] 2000 m | lgt. M. Kalabza ” / “Slide | AV8320 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM, ex CKC). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. BHUTAN: 2 males, Mo Chu River , 27°43'N 89°45'E, 19–20.X.2008, 1500m, leg./coll. Viktor Sinyaev, gen. slide Nos.: AV8322 GoogleMaps ♂, AV8323 ♂ ( CKC) ; CHINA: 1 male, same data as in holotype, gen. slide No.: AV8321 ♂ ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, Li-kiang (China), Provinz Nord- Yuennan , 7.viii.1934, H. Höne / Sammlung Daniel, gen. slide Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 632♂, 2021- 633♀ (prepared by Volynkin ) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, 1 female, Yunnan, vic. of Dulong, 60 km SE of Wen Shan, 10 km SE Maguan , 2400m, 30.III.1999, G. Müller leg., gen. slide Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 548♂, 2021- 555♀ (prepared by A. Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) ; VIETNAM: 1 male, Lao Cai Province, Sa Pa District, near Sa Pa , 1600m, local collectors leg., gen. slide No.: AV1594 ♂ ( CAV) .

Note. Different populations of the species vary in the degree of the development of the distal-medial diverticulum, ranging from well-developed, utricular and bearing a cluster of spines apically ( Fig. 86 View Figures 85–88 ) to reduced, semiglobular and lacking the ornamentation ( Figs 88–91 View Figures 85–88 View Figures 89–92 ). As there is a transitional variety with a shorter diverticulum still having a few spinules ( Fig. 87 View Figures 85–88 ), all those populations are herein considered as belonging to the same polymorphic species.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.5–18.5 mm in males and 18.0 mm in females. Tarika incerta sp. n. is externally very similar to T. nigrifrons , T. nankunshanica and T. mangraii sp. n., and can be distinguished only thorough the examination of the genitalia structures. In the male genitalia, T. incerta sp. n. is most similar to T. nigrifrons but has a broader main chamber of the vesica, a more proximally situated and distally tapered distal-medial diverticulum, which is in most cases shorter than in T. nigrifrons , and a longer and narrower proximal utricular diverticulum. Compared to another similar species, T. mangraii sp. n., T. incerta sp. n. has a markedly shorter distal-medial diverticulum. The female genitalia of the new species are very similar to T. nigrifrons but differ in the corpus bursae having a shorter gelatinous and rugose posterior area.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from Bhutan, Southwest China (Yunnan Province), and Northern Vietnam (Lao Cai Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘incertus’ meaning ‘uncertain’ and refers to the confusing variability of the male genitalia of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.