Simplicia longivalva Raha & N. Singh, 2025

Raha, Angshuman, Sanyal, Abesh Kumar & Singh, Navneet, 2025, On the taxonomy of genus Simplicia Guenée, with a new species from India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Herminiinae), Zootaxa 5631 (3), pp. 451-474 : 462-463

Simplicia longivalva Raha & N. Singh , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A7F99EE1-3CDA-451C-AC05-EBA69F9629C2

( Figs. 13–15, 43–44)

Material examined: Holotype: India, West Bengal, Kalimpong Dist., Neora Valley NP : 1 ♂, Suntaleykhola Biodiversity Camp (27º00.789'N, 88º47.094'E, Alt. 652 m), 25.ix.2018, P.C. Pathania leg. (Gen. vial no.: Sim. disc. 1_Suntaleykhola_Kalimpong_25.ix.18).

Diagnosis: This is a moderately large species having external resemblance to S. robustalis ( Guenée, 1854) ( Holloway 2008: 112, pl. 5, f. 275; Kononenko & Pinratana 2013: 26, pl. 2, f. 23, 24) and S. discosticta ( Hampson, 1912) ( Holloway 2008: 113, pl. 5, f. 272, 290), of which the former is widely reported from Indo-Australian belt, Sundaland to Papua New Guinea and the latter is distributed in Sri Lanka and Sundaland ( Holloway 2008, Kononenko & Pinratana 2013). The new species is slightly paler and smaller than S. robustalis with much shorter fore tibial hair pencils, but larger in size than S. discosticta . The labial palpi in S. longivalva sp. nov. ( Fig. 15) is distinctly longer and more developed than both the congeners. Also, the forewing markings in the new species is markedly indistinct than both the congeners. In male genitalia, S. longivalva sp. nov. ( Figs. 43, 44) clearly differs from both of its closely similar species by much elongated, apically acute valva with broad sacculus, broad u-shaped vinculum, inverted funnel-like juxta, curved aedeagus and vesica with two distinct patches of spines, one basal patch of smaller spines and another of larger spines on a broad distal diverticulum.

Description: Male. Head: Frons covered with pale ochreous-brown scales; antenna pale brown, ciliate with a bunch of small and fine setae on each segment along the basal one-third part of its length, then forming a small node with long hairs, from there to the tip with two strong setae on each segment; palpi pale brown at the outer side, much paler at the inner side, long, laterally flattened, curved, reflexed over the thorax, reaching more or less to the mesothorax, 1 st segment short, 2 nd segment long, nearly thrice the length of the 1 st segment and broad, curved, rising above the head, 3 rd segment slender, pointed at tip, almost straight, nearly of same length as the 2 nd segment, covered with longer scales. Thorax: covered with pale yellowish-brown scales; legs brown with pale brown prominent tibial hair-pencils, more or less of similar size on all the legs. Wings: Forewing length: ♂ 18 mm. Forewing moderately broad (length: breadth = 1.8:1.1), apex somewhat rectangular, termen more or less straight till vein M3, then inwardly oblique to tornus; ground colour yellowish-brown densely irrorated with darker brown, ante-medial and post-medial lines brown, indistinct, outwardly curved, crenulate; a small, faint blackish spot in the cell; a large, lunular, blackish spot at the end of cell; sub-marginal line straight, inwardly oblique, pale, shaded with dark brown immediately basal to it; marginal series of brown specks at the interspaces between the veins; cilia brown. Hindwing of similar colour and irroration as the forewing, except the costa being paler than the rest of the wing; a prominent, black, lunular spot at the end of cell; faint impression of a darker brown, straight post-medial line; submarginal line similar to that on forewing, but forms an obtuse angle near the anal angle of hindwing. Underside of both wings paler than upper side; forewing with discal spot round, black and more distinct than upper side, post-medial line faint, crenulate and slightly curved, sub-marginal line less distinct than upper side; hindwing paler than forewing, discal spot lunular, black, darker than upper side, post-medial line indistinct, crenulate and curved, sub-marginal line less distinct than upper side. Abdomen: Dorsal side covered with yellowish-brown scales, ventral side paler; tuft of yellowish hairs at the end.

Male genitalia: Uncus curved, elongated, apically acute with a minute hook; tegumen broad, long, slightly curved; valva elongated, narrow, apically acute and slightly curved, sacculus broad with a roughly triangular flap; juxta somewhat inverted funnel-like with slender distal half; vinculum well developed, broad, u-shaped; aedeagus long, slightly curved, vesica sac-like with two patches of spines and tuberose signa, one basal patch of small spines and another patch of larger, coarser spines on a broad distal diverticulum.

Female unknown.

Etymology: The new species is named for its characteristically long valva in the male genitalia.

Distribution: So far known from type locality only.

Remark: The new species is recorded from the low altitude semi-evergreen forest.