Tarika spitzeri, 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 : 9

Tarika spitzeri sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:93AA2950-0B88-46B1-8776-EA5B37090E6D

( Figs 25–27 , 95, 96 , 131, 132 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 25 , 95 ): male, “ Nord-Vietnam | Tam Dao , (Sek. wald [secondary forest]) | 60km NW Hanoi, 1200m | (21.34’N 105.20’E [21°34'N 105°20'E]) | 1.–15.XI.1992 leg. | Sinajev [recte: Sinyaev] & Simonov | Museum Witt” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 625♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. VIETNAM: 1 female, same data as in holotype, gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 629♀ (prepared by Volynkin ) ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, same locality as previous but 23–31.III.1995, Sinyaev leg. ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, same data as previous but IV.1995 ( MWM / ZSM) ; 2 males, same data as previous but 17.X.1994 ( MWM / ZSM) ; 3 males, 1 female, Tam Dao , V.1975, leg. Kubát, gen. slide No.: AV8324 ♂ ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, Tam Dao , 950m, 10.X.1984, K. Spitzer leg., gen. slide. Nos.: AV8326 ♂, AV8327 ♀ ( CKC) ; 1 female, same data as previous but 24. V.1982, gen. slide No.: AV8329 ♀ ( CKC) ; 1 male, same data as previous but 24. V.1982, gen. slide No.: AV8328 ♂ ( CKC) ; 1 male, Tonkin , Mt. Fan-si-pan (north), Cha-pa [Sapa], Nebelwald [cloud forest], 22°15'N 103°45'E, 2– 4.III. 1995, 2240m, Dr. R. Brechlin leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 593♂ (prepared by A. Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.5–16.5 mm in males and 17.0–18.0 mm in females. Tarika spitzeri sp. n. is externally very similar to T. sapa sp. n. and T. kachina sp. n. and identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. In the male genitalia, T. spitzeri sp. n. differs clearly from other congeners in the distal diverticulum structure, which is short, strongly basally dilated and recurved whereas it is distally directed in other members of the T. nigrifrons species-group. Additionally, compared to the similar T. sapa sp. n. and T. kachina sp. n., the vesica of T. spitzeri sp. n. has a distal-medial diverticulum (it is absent in both the congeners), and its proximal-medial diverticulum is shorter and narrower. The female genitalia of T. spitzeri sp. n. are reminiscent of T. sapa sp. n. and the comparison is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to another similar species found in Northern Vietnam, T. incerta sp. n., T. spitzeri sp. n. has a shorter and more anteriorly dilated corpus bursae with a shorter gelatinous and rugose posterior area, and a longer and thicker gelatinous ‘neck’ at the junction with the ductus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from two localities in Northern Vietnam.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the memory of Dr Karel Spitzer (1939–2016), renowned Czech lepidopterist, mentor of the second author of the present paper, and collector of a part of the paratypes. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 25–37. Adults of Tarika spp. Depositories of the specimens: 25–30 and 32–35 in MWM/ZSM (35: ex CKC); 31 in MfN; 36 and 37 in CKC.

Figures 93–96. Male genitalia of Tarika spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 126–132. Female genitalia of Tarika spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 126, 127 and 132 in CKC; 128–131 in MWM/ZSM.