Caliginoptyx, 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 : 63-64

Genus Caliginoptyx gen. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:453B3DA4-573A-4E82-B32E-EF8C2F614596

Type species: Caliginoptyx vientiana sp. n., by present designation.

Note. The first described species of the genus, C. zofera was originally placed in the genus Thysanoplisna ( Volynkin 2023) . Further examination of its morphology as well as that of the second species described below led to the discovery that they represent a distinct lineage having the male forewing structure more similar to Collitoptyx and Medioptyx gen. n. than Thysanoplisna .

Diagnosis. Compared to Collitoptyx ( Figs 1–24 ) and Medioptyx gen. n. ( Figs 25, 26 ), the male forewing of Caliginoptyx gen. n. ( Figs 29, 30 ) has a more rounded apex and a similarly wide distal section of the forewing (between the cell and the outer margin), which is shorter than in Thysanoplisna ( Fig. 32 ) and longer than in Thysanoptyx ( Fig. 27 ). The colouration of the body and both wings of the new genus is pale brownish-grey and the forewing pattern is diffuse and greyish-brown ( Figs 29–31 ) whereas other taxa in the Thysanoptyx generic complex ( Figs 1–28 ) have aposematic ochreous-yellow or ochreous-brown colouration with contrast black spot on the thorax and two or three black spots on the forewing. Unlike the related genera, the forewing pattern of Caliginoptyx gen. n. consists of not only the medial and the costal spots but also diffuse subbasal and terminal patches. The costal spot is displaced medially in the new genus whereas in the related genera it is situated postmedially ( Thysanoplisna ) or subapically ( Thysanoptyx , Collitoptyx and Medioptyx gen. n.).

The male genital capsule of Caliginoptyx gen. n. ( Figs 49, 50 ) is similar to Thysanoplisna ( Fig. 51 ) and Medioptyx gen. n. ( Figs 46, 47 ) but characterised by the combination of (1) the conjuga formed by the equally heavily sclerotised processus momenti and tendon and fused with its counterpart; (2) the juxta consisting of two thin rod-like lateral plates, which are dorsally connected by the thin bridge and fused with two rod-like lobes of the caulis stretching laterally along the anterior (cranial) wall of the juxtal fold; and (3) the membranous anellus. The first character is common with Medioptyx gen. n. whereas in the conjuga of Thysanoplisna the processus momenti is weakly sclerotised while the tendon is thick and heavily sclerotised and performs a skeletal function. The juxta and anellus structures of Caliginoptyx gen. n. are similar to Thysanoplisna whereas in Medioptyx gen. n. the dorsal section of the juxta is conical and well-sclerotised, and the anellus bears two broad ventro-lateral sclerotised plates. The vesica structure of the new genus is unique within the Thysanoptyx generic complex due to the enlarged sub-ejaculatorial section (morphologically situated basally), which bears areas of graniculi and has one or several diverticula. Unlike Caliginoptyx gen. n., the sub-ejaculatorial section of the vesicva of Medioptyx gen. n. is membranous and lacks diverticula, while in Thysanoplisna , Collitoptyx and Thysanoptyx the vesica ejaculatorius originates from the base of the vesica.

The female genitalia of Caliginoptyx gen. n. ( Fig. 63 ) are most similar to Thysanoplisna ( Fig. 64 ) but differ in the less dorso-ventrally flattened ductus bursae having postero-lateral membranous areas (it is flat and evenly sclerotised in Thysanoplisna ), the large, ribbon-like signum bursae (it is small and elliptical or rounded in all known species of Thysanoplisna ), and the appendix bursae situated dorsally whereas it is situated ventrally in Thysanoplisna .

Etymology. The genus name is an aggregate of the Latin adjective ‘caliginosus’ meaning ‘gloomy’ and the genus- group name Thysanoptyx . The name refers to the gloomy, greyish colouration of members of the genus, clearly distinguishing it from all other taxa in the Thysanoptyx generic complex. Gender is feminine.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Adults of Collitoptyx s. str. spp. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2–5, 7 and 8 in MWM/ZSM (5: ex CKC).

Figures 9–16. Adults of Collitoptyx s. str. spp. Depositories of the specimens: 9–12 in CAV; 13 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 14 in OUMNH; 15and 16 in MWM/ZSM.

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 25–33. Adults of Medioptyx kishidai sp. n. (25, 26), Thysanoptyx tetragona (27, 28), Caliginoptyx gen. n. spp. (29–31), and Thysanoplisna brevimacula (32, 33). Depositories of the specimens: 25–30 and 32 in MWM/ZSM (30: ex CKC), 31 in CKC; 33 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 49–51. Male genitalia of Caliginoptyx spp. (49, 50) and Thysanoplisna brevimacula (51). The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM (50: ex CKC).

Figures 46–48. Male genitalia of Medioptyx kishidai (46, 47) and Thysanoptyx tetragona (48). The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 59–64. Female genitalia of the Thysanoptyx generic complex. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 59–61 in MWM/ZSM; 62 and 64in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 63 in CKC.