Cernyia Bucsek, 2012

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 : 15

Genus Cernyia Bucsek, 2012

Cernyia Bucsek, 2012 , Erebidae , Arctiinae of Malay Peninsula – Malaysia: 125.

Type species: “ Eilema ” pseudocretacea Holloway, 2001 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Species of the genus ( Figs 57, 58 ) are externally very similar to certain Tarika taxa but males can be distinguished by the less elongate forewing. In cases of sympatric occurrence of the two genera, generic assignment of females requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genitalia of Cernyia ( Figs 114, 115 ) differ from Tarika in the structure of the costa, which is band-shaped, displaced medially and fused with the large lamella centralis whereas in Tarika it stretches along the dorsal margin of the valva. The lamella centralis of Cernyia is folded, strongly setose, and partly covers the pocket-like setose depression in the middle of the valvula; this structure is herein considered as an autapomorphic feature of the genus. Additionally, the male genital capsule of Cernyia differs from Tarika in the larger and proximally swollen uncus (except for T. paradoxa sp. n.), the longer and broader valvula, and the broad and postmedially narrowed sacculus, which bears a uni- or bilobate distal process curved inwards whereas in Tarika the process is upcurved. The vesica of Cernyia is S-shaped and medially twisted, with a thin spike-like terminal cornutus in the distal diverticulum, which is robust and claw-shaped in Tarika . The female genitalia of Cernyia ( Figs 145, 146 ) differ from Tarika in the membranous corpus bursae with a ductus seminalis situated on its lateral wall whereas in Tarika the posterior section of the corpus bursae is gelatinous and in many species is additionally covered with fine graniculi or bears areas of sclerotisation, and the ductus seminalis originates from the anterior end of the corpus bursae or, in certain species, arises from the appendix bursae displaced anterio-laterally. Additionally, unlike in most Tarika (except for T. paradoxa sp. n.), Cernyia has an asymmetrical ostium bursae opening between the postvaginal plate and the fold-like postero-lateral sclerotised plate of the ductus bursae partially covering it.

Note. The genus is under revision by Volynkin & Černý (in prep.).

Figures

Figures 57–68. Adults of Cernyia (57, 58), Hollowayosia gen. n. (59–62), Churingosia (63–66) and Manulea (67, 68) spp. Depositories of the specimens: 57, 67 and 68 in MfN; 58, 61 and 66 in MWM/ZSM (61: ex CKC); 59, 60 and 62 in CKC; 63–65 in NHMUK.

Figures 112–115. Male genitalia of Tarika paradoxa sp. n. (112, 113) and Cernyia pseudocretacea (114, 115). The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM. 115: magnified left valva.

Figures 143–146. Female genitalia of Tarika spp. (143, 144) and Cernyia pseudocretacea (145, 146). 143, 144 and 146: ductus bursae and 8th abdominal segment magnified. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 143, 145 and 146 in MWM/ZSM; 144 in NHMUK.