Tarika nankunshanica ( Dubatolov, Kishida & Wang, 2012 ), 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 : 6

Tarika nankunshanica ( Dubatolov, Kishida & Wang, 2012) , comb. n.

( Figs 9–14 , 78–82 , 124, 125 )

Katha nankunshanica Dubatolov, Kishida & Wang, 2012 , Tinea , 22 (1): 29, figs 7, 58 (Type locality: “ China, Guangdong, Huizhou, Nankunshan ”).

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

Eilema conformis (Walker) : Kishida (2010): 219.

Type material examined. Photograph of the holotype ( Fig. 9 ): male, “ China, Guangdong | Huizhou | Nankunshan | 30. iii. 2006 | Y. Kishida leg.” ( SZMN) .

Additional material examined: series of both sexes from China (Sichuan, Fujian, and Jiangxi Provinces) and Central and Southern Vietnam ( MWM / ZSM, CAV, NHMUK) .

Note. In the paper containing the original description of Katha nankunshanica , the genitalia illustrations of two species were mixed up. The genitalia of the species from the T. nigrifrons species-group and identified as “ Katha conformis ” ( Dubatolov et al. 2012: fig. 57) were erroneously associated with the larger moth belonging to the T. nigropoda species-group ( Dubatolov et al. 2012: fig. 4), while the genitalia of the latter ( Dubatolov et al. 2012: fig. 58) were associated with the smaller moth illustrated as the holotype of Katha nankunshanica and having an external appearance typical of the T. nigrifrons species-group ( Dubatolov et al. 2012: fig. 7). The description of the external characters of Katha nankunshanica ( Dubatolov et al. 2012: 29) clearly refers to the moth illustrated as the holotype of the species therefore the name nankunshanica is applied to it, not the genitalia illustrated by the authors on fig. 58 ( Dubatolov et al. 2012). The latter belong to an unknown species, which is very similar or conspecific to T. daba sp. n. described below.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0–16.5 mm in males and 15.5–18.0 mm in females. Tarika nankunshanica is externally very similar to the Himalayan T. nigrifrons . The male genitalia of the two species are also similar but unlike in T. nigrifrons , T. nankunshanica has a somewhat shorter vinculum and a bilobate medial recurved diverticulum, which is unilobate in the similar species. In the female genitalia, T. nankunshanica differs from T. nigrifrons in the larger right postero-lateral gelatinous protrusion of the corpus bursae situated more posteriorly, and the left postero-lateral gelatinous protrusion of the corpus bursae situated more anteriorly.

Distribution. The species is currently known from continental China (Sichuan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong) ( Daniel 1954, as nigrifrons (partim.); Kishida 2010, as conformis ; Dubatolov et al. 2012), and Central and Southern Vietnam (present study).

Figures

Figures 1–14. Adults of Katha depressa (1, 2) and Tarika spp. (3–14). Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2 and 14 in CAV; 3, 11 and 12 in MWM/ZSM; 4, 10 and 13 in NHMUK; 5 and 6 in CKC; 7 and 8 in MfN; 9 in SZMN (photo by V. Dubatolov).

Figures 77–80. Male genitalia of Tarika spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 77 in MfN; 78 and 79 in CKC; 80 in CAV.

Figures 81–84. Male genitalia of Tarika spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 81–83 in MWM/ZSM (83: ex CKC); 84 in CKC.

Figures 120–125. Female genitalia of Katha depressa (120) and Tarika spp. (121–125). Depositories of the specimens dissected: 120 and 125 in CAV; 121 in NHMUK; 122 in CKC; 123 and 124 in MWM/ZSM.