Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) keeskleini Gielis & Kiss, 2022

Kiss, Ádám, 2025, Taxonomic study of the genus Cranionycta de Lattin, 1949 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Acronictinae) with description of a new subgenus and 21 new species, Zootaxa 5640 (1), pp. 1-71 : 36-37

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5640.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A887E65-2B6E-4F61-A0C8-33F019F397E0
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DDA77A-FFF7-FFE1-FF0E-3C20F52E1585
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) keeskleini Gielis & Kiss, 2022
status

Treatment

Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) keeskleini Gielis & Kiss, 2022 View in CoL

( Figs 39, 40 View FIGURES 31–40 , 72 View FIGURES 67–72 , 106 View FIGURES 96–106 )

Cranionycta keeskleini Gielis & Kiss, 2022 in Gielis, Franssen, Groenen & Wangdi GoogleMaps , Moths GoogleMaps of Bhutan: 127, 150, pl. 164, fig. 1752, male genitalia: pl. 189, CG7655; female genitalia: pl. 192, CG7656. Type-locality: Bhutan, Chhukha, 8 km S of Gedu, Darla GoogleMaps , 1750 m, 26.8622°N, 89.5644°E. Holotype: male, in coll. NBC.

Material examined. Bhutan. Holotype, male, Chhukha, 8 km S Gedu, Darla , 1750 m, 26.8622°N, 89.5644°E, 17.v.2017, leg. C. & F.K. Gielis & K. Wangdi, slide No.: CG7655 ( NBC) GoogleMaps . Paratype, female, Trashigang, Wamrong , 2040 m, 27.1263°N, 91.5730°E, 24.v.2017, leg. C. & F.K. Gielis & K. Wangdi, slide No.: CG7656 ( RMNH) GoogleMaps .

Note. The structures of both male and female terminal abdominal segments are unknown (not preserved with the genitalia).

Diagnosis. Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) keeskleini ( Figs 39, 40 View FIGURES 31–40 ) exhibits some sexual dimorphism, including the male forewing colouration which is lighter with less contrasting black transverse lines and medial fascia than that of the female, and with a somewhat wavier medial line. Specimens of both sexes can be distinguished easily from C. (N.) gorkhalii ( Figs 37, 38 View FIGURES 31–40 ), C. (N.) punctifera ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 31–40 ), C. (N.) punakhae ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 41–50 ), C. (N.) fuscothoracica ( Figs 43, 44 View FIGURES 41–50 ), C. (N.) mailungana ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 21–30 ), C. (N.) senjelungma ( Figs 33, 34 View FIGURES 31–40 ) and C. (N.) albothoracica ( Figs 49, 50 View FIGURES 41–50 ) by their more vividly coloured forewings with more contrastingly marked wing pattern elements; and the lighter brownish-grey colouration of the hindwing with a conspicuous, indistinct, greyish marginal band and postdiscal line; additionally from C. (N.) punakhae , C. (N.) mailungana and C. (N.) senjelungma by the wider costal area and narrower basal half of the inner part of the medial field; the more curved, wavier medial line. Wingspan 32–36 mm.

The male genitalia ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 67–72 ) can be distinguished from those of C. (N.) gorkhalii ( Fig. 71 View FIGURES 67–72 ) by the somewhat longer, stronger uncus; the valvae which are narrower and straighter medially, widening apically with a larger, apically curved ventral margin and a somewhat wider apex; and the more angled ventral margin of the sacculus.

The female genitalia ( Fig. 106 View FIGURES 96–106 ) of C. (N.) keeskleini differ from those of its relatives by the narrower, more irregularly shaped junction of the appendix bursae with the corpus bursae; and the angled, shorter sclerotized distal turn of the appendix bursae with an abruptly narrowing terminal twist; from C. (N.) punctifera ( Fig. 105 View FIGURES 96–106 ) by the straighter, uniformly wide and much shorter distal part of the appendix bursae.

Distribution. Himalayan. Bhutan, Chhukha and Trashigang Districts between 1750–2040 m elevations.

The nigralbata species-group

The species of this group are externally quite variable. The ground colour of the forewing varies from light greyish-brown to darker, warm brownish, sometimes with some greenish shading. A larger, whitish spot is often visible at the costa and medial fascia (except in C. (N.) pallidobrunnea ). The postmedial line is crenulate, in certain species strongly tooth-like. In the male genitalia, the uncus is relatively strong, narrowing; the valvae are somewhat parallel with a wider apex; the medial sclerite is moderately sclerotized with a tiny, sclerotized protrusion basally. In the female genitalia, the anterior apophysis is stick-like; the appendix bursae is proportionally shorter relative to corpus bursae; the distal part of the appendix bursae is wide, relatively short; the terminal twist of the appendix bursae is finely outwardly turned. Wingspan 29–35 mm.

The male terminal abdominal segments can be characterised by the following: the 8 th sternite has a more or less quadrangular, laterally slightly concave shape with a more or less semi-circular sclerotized distal patch, with a more or less quadrangular window with wide, lens-shaped sclerotized stripe and a pronounced distal extensions. The 8 th tergite is proximally rather wide, uniformly widening up to the middle; has a more narrowing lateral sides with a triangular spur-like distal end; and a more or less spade-shaped, proximally pointed window.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments there are no mentionable differences.

Distribution. Sino-Himalayan.