Tarika pinratanai, 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 : 12-13

Tarika pinratanai sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CA23C6FB-65CC-49EA-AA9D-3F6AD76DE295

( Figs 42–44 , 104 , 138 )

Eilema cretacea Hampson, 1911 : Černý & Pinratana 2009: 146 (partim.).

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 42 , 104 ): male, “N. Thailand | Lampang – prov. | Chae Son NP, 1496m | 18°51'23''N, 99°22'E | 1.VI.2005 leg. K. Černý ” / “Slide | AV8349 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM, ex CKC).

Paratypes. THAILAND: 4 males, Chiang Mai Prov., Chae Son NP, 1496m, 18°51'22''N 91°22'03''E, 9. VI.2005, K. Černý leg., gen. slide No.: AV8351 ♂ ( CKC) ; 1 male, Chiang Mai Prov., Fang Distr., Doi Pha Hom Pok , 1400m, 20°02'54''N 99°09'49''E, 28–29.XI.2005, K. Černý leg., gen. slide No.: AV8348 ♂ ( CKC) ; 4 males, Chiang Mai Prov., Doi Inthanon NP, 1500m, 18°31'05''N 98°31'50''E, 28–29.IV.2006, K. Černý leg., gen. slide No.: AV8354 ♂ ( CKC) ; 1 female, Chiang Mai Prov., Doi Inthanon NP, 1416m, 18°30'59''N 98°28'13''E, 30.IV.2006, K. Černý leg., gen. slide No.: AV8455 ♀ ( CKC) ; 1 male, Changwat [Province] Chiang Mai, Mt. Doi Phahompok , 18 km NW of Fang, 2100m, 10–11.IX.1999, A. Szabó & Z. Czere leg. ( MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0–16.5 mm in males and 17.5 mm in the female. The male of T. pinratanai sp. n. is externally very similar to the partly sympatric T. inthanona sp. n., from which it differs only in the ochreous suffusion on the head and thorax (pale beige in T. inthanona sp. n.). The female of the new species is distinct from T. inthanona sp. n. in the markedly paler, off-white colouration of both wings (vs. creamy in T. inthanona sp. n.) and the ochreous yellow suffusion on the head and thorax. Externally, the female of T. pinratanai sp. n. is very similar to another partly sympatric species, T. peculiaria sp. n., from which it differs only in the somewhat smaller size. In the male genitalia, T. pinratanai sp. n. is most similar to T. daba sp. n., from which the male genitalia of the former differ in the shorter and distally narrower uncus, the dorsally broader vinculum, and the narrower and more apically tapered valva with a shorter and less upcurved distal saccular process. The phalli of the two species display no remarkable differences. In the vesica, unlike in T. daba sp. n., T. pinratanai sp. n. has a broader main chamber bearing a transverse cluster of spinulose scobination basally, a broader subbasal diverticulum bearing a distally broader cornutus, a longer and broader utricular proximal-medial diverticulum armed with a terminal cornutus (it is semiglobular and lacking the cornutus in the congener), and the broader distal diverticulum lacking the distal-medial diverticulum and directed more or less distally, whereas it is directed dorsally in T. daba sp. n. As the female of T. daba sp. n. is unknown, the female genitalia of T. pinratanai sp. n. were compared with T. peculiaria sp. n. instead. Unlike in the latter species, T. pinratanai sp. n. lacks the sclerotised postvaginal fold, has a sclerotised plate in the ductus bursae, and its corpus bursae lacks the postero-lateral protrusions, has a sclerotised rugose medial area on the right side (vs. left side in the similar congener), and its anterior section is membranous and bears a signum laterally whereas it is granulose in T. peculiaria sp. n. Additionally, the appendix bursae of T. pinratanai sp. n. is narrower than in T. peculiaria sp. n. and directed anterio-laterally whereas it is directed laterally in T. peculiaria sp. n. The 7 th abdominal sternite of T. pinratanai sp. n. lacks the postero-lateral sclerotised plates, which are typical of T. peculiaria sp. n., but the intersegmental membrane between the 7 th and 8 th sternites is gelatinous, which makes the anterior section of the 8 th sternite invaginated into the abdomen.

Distribution. Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Lampang Provinces).

Etymology. The new species is named after Brother Amnuay Pinratana (1929–2017), renowned Thai entomologist and founder of the fundamental book series “Moths of Thailand ”. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 38–48. Adults of Tarika spp. Depositories of the specimens: 38, 39, 42 and 45–48 in MWM/ZSM (42: ex CKC); 40 and 41 in CAV; 43 and 44 in CKC.

Figures 104–107. Male genitalia of Tarika spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM (104: ex CKC).

Figures 133–138. Female genitalia of Tarika spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 133 and 137 in MWM/ZSM; 134, 135 and 138 in CKC; 136 in MfN.