Collitoptyx (Insolitoptyx) meghalaya, Volynkin & Černý, 2024

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2024, Taxonomic review of the Thysanoptyx Hampson generic complex (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini). I. The genus Collitoptyx Volynkin with descriptions of two new genera, two new subgenera and six new species, Ecologica Montenegrina 77, pp. 44-68 : 61

Collitoptyx (Insolitoptyx) meghalaya sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FAE50C55-9E46-456A-AC15-A105316BFF4E

( Figs 17–20 , 42, 43 , 58 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 17 , 42 ): male, “NE- India, Assam | W. Meghalaya, Garo Hills | Nokrek National Park | 25°40'N, 91°04'E | 1150 m, 2–13. VII. 1997 | leg. Afonin & Sinajev [recte: Sinyaev] | Museum Witt” / “Genitalpräparat | Heterocera | Nr. 35.799 | Museum Witt München” (MWM/ ZSM).

Paratypes. INDIA: 1 male, 6 females, same data as holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: MWM 36.018 (male), MWM 35.800, MWM 36.801 (females) (MWM/ ZSM) ; 1 male, 1 female, Khasis, Nat. Coll. / Collectio H.J. Elwes / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique ID: NHMUK010604520 (♂) , NHMUK010292463 (♀) ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, Khasis, Nat. Coll. / Ex Oberthür Coll., Brit. Mus. 1927– 3., unique ID: NHMUK010292469 ( NHMUK) ; 1 female, Khasis, Nat. Coll. / Joicey Bequest. Brit. Mus. 1934–120., unique ID: NHMUK010604519 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010313296 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.5–17.0 mm in males and 17.5–18.5 mm in females. Collitoptyx meghalaya sp. n. is externally reminiscent of the partially sympatric C. duplex sp. n. but differs in the somewhat smaller size, the presence of the small black subbasal dash on the anal forewing margin in male, and the intense greyish-brown suffusion on the distal half of the hindwing. Compared to C. sordida also known from Northeast India, the new species has a more tapered forewing apex, and a shorter and distally broader medial spot of the forewing. The genital differences between C. meghalaya sp. n. and species from the nominate subgenus are listed above in the diagnosis of the subgenus Insolitoptyx subgen. n.

Distribution. The new species is known from Northeast India (Meghalaya: Garo and Khasi Hills).

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of the Indian state of Meghalaya, where the new species occurs. The name is a noun in nominative case in apposition.

Figures

Figures 17–24. Adults of Collitoptyx (Insolitoptyx) meghalaya sp. n. (17–20) and Collitoptyx (Confusoptyx) duplex sp. n. (21–24). Depositories of the specimens: 17, 18, and 21–24 in MWM/ZSM; 19 and 20 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 42–45. Male genitalia of Collitoptyx (Insolitoptyx) meghalaya (42, 43) and Collitoptyx (Confusoptyx) duplex (44, 45). The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 52–58. Female genitalia of Collitoptyx spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 52, 53, 56 and 58 in MWM/ZSM; 54 and 55 in CAV; 57 in OUMNH.