Tarika bifurcata, 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 : 9-10

Tarika bifurcata sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A5394CF2-44F4-489A-A3CB-BC490A509046

( Figs 29, 30 , 97, 98 , 133 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 29 , 97 ): male, “ China – Shaanxi | Taibaishan Nat. Park | 33°35'N 107°43'E | 1300–1500m 20.viii.–4.ix.1998 | leg. V. Murzin & V. Siniaev [recte: Sinyaev] | ex coll. Dr. A. Schintlmeister ” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 620♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. CHINA: 5 females, same data as in holotype, gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 621♀ ( MWM / ZSM) ; 3 males, Shaanxi Prov., Tapaishan Mts (S) [S Taibai Mt.], Tsinling Mts, Houbenzi , 33°51'N 107°49'E, 1600m, 1–12.VIII.1999, Dr Ronald Brechlin leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 628♂ ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, 1 female, Mien-shan [Mian Mt.] (Prov. Shensi [Shanxi]), Obere Höhe [upper altitude] ca. 2000m, 29–30.VII.1937, H. Höne [leg.] / Sammlung Daniel ( MWM / ZSM) ; 2 males, Gansu Prov., Min Shan, 2350m, 27.VII.–14.VIII.2000, 33°30'N 104°35'E, ca. 50 km W of Wudu, Plutenko & Sinyaev leg. ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, 1 female, Beijing (110 km NW), Mentougou, Xialongmen Forest Stat.[ion], 1.VIII.2000, 1100m, 39°56'N 116°05'E, A. Schintlmeister leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 622♂ ( MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 14.0–15.0 mm in males and 16.0 mm in females. The male of T. bifurcata sp. n. is externally reminiscent of T. pallens and T. inthanona sp. n. but has a somewhat more convex anal margin of the forewing. The female of the new species has deep yellow forewing ground colour whereas in T. pallens and T. inthanona sp. n. the females are pale yellowish and pale beige, respectively. The male genital capsule of the new species is similar to T. pinratanai sp. n., T. daba sp. n. and T. peculiaria sp. n. with their V-shaped vinculum but in T. bifurcata sp. n. it is apically (ventrally) rounded whereas it is pointed in the aforementioned congeners. The distal saccular process of T. bifurcata sp. n. is similar to T. pinratanai sp. n. but in the latter the valva is distally narrower and more tapered. The vesica of T. bifurcata sp. n. differs clearly from similar congeners in the strongly elongate and tubular proximal section of the vesica, the well-developed medial recurved diverticulum, and the medial-distal diverticulum bearing a cornutus and strongly displaced distally. The female genitalia of T. bifurcata sp. n. can be easily distinguished from other species in the species-group by the swollen and gelatinous postvaginal region of the 8 th sternite, the more or less symmetrical corpus bursae with a semiglobular posterior protrusion, and the appendix bursae not separated from the corpus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is found in north Central China (Shaanxi and southern Gansu Provinces, and Beijing).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the fact that in the new species the distal-medial diverticulum is strongly displaced distally making the distal section of the vesica looking bifurcate. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

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 97–100. Male genitalia of Tarika spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM (100: 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.