Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) mailungana, Kiss, 2025

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 : 23-25

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5640.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A887E65-2B6E-4F61-A0C8-33F019F397E0
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15563223
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DDA77A-FFC2-FFDD-FF0E-3B78F6951411
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) mailungana
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) mailungana sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8AA04A1D-E979-4CD7-89E4-DE4AF3F3FBEB

( Figs 26 View FIGURES 21–30 , 98 View FIGURES 96–106 , 137 View FIGURES 130–139 )

Holotype. Female , Nepal, Ganesh Himal, Mailungkhala [Mailung Khola], 1100 m, 25–26.ix.1995, leg. P. Gyulai & A. Garai, slide No.: KA2529f ( PG).

Diagnosis. The single known female of C. (N.) mailungana ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 21–30 ) is externally very similar to C. (N.) delattini ( Fig. 29 View FIGURES 21–30 ), C. (N.) pallidobrunnea ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 41–50 ) and C. (N.) dierli ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 31–40 ), and especially to C. (N.) versicolor ( Figs 27, 28 View FIGURES 21–30 ) and C. (N.) senjelungma ( Figs 33, 34 View FIGURES 31–40 ), however, it has a much lighter greyish-ochre forewing, and a more oval orbicular stigma than those species. It can be distinguished from C. (N.) delattini , C. (N.) pallidobrunnea and C. (N.) dierli by the more reduced, indistinct basal streak; the more greyish-ochre basal angle; the lack of the blackish spot of the antemedial line at the inner margin of the forewing; the conspicuously whitish inner part of the medial field; from C. (N.) delattini and C. (N.) pallidobrunnea by the outwardly less curved medial line; from C. (N.) senjelungma by the on average more indistinct basal streak; the lighter greyish-ochre basal angle; the inwardly indistinct, double, more curved antemedial line; from C. (N.) versicolor and C. (N.) senjelungma by the more lightly coloured outer part of the medial field.

The female genitalia of C. (N.) mailungana ( Fig. 98 View FIGURES 96–106 ) can be distinguished from those of its relatives by the conspicuous lobe-like distal extension of the posterior apophysis; the narrower, longer ductus bursae; and the wider, somewhat more angularly curved appendix bursae; from those of C. (N.) versicolor ( Fig. 97 View FIGURES 96–106 ) by the somewhat narrower terminal twist of the appendix bursae; from those of C. (N.) lobophorus ( Fig. 96 View FIGURES 96–106 ) and C. (N.) delattini ( Fig. 99 View FIGURES 96–106 ) by the larger size of the entire organ; and the straighter, slightly outwardly curved terminal twist of the appendix bursae.

In the female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 137 View FIGURES 130–139 ), compared to the species of the group, the sternite has laterally slightly more convex, parallel and wavier lateral sides; and the semi-circular distal band of sternite is narrower and less sclerotized.

Description. Imago ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 21–30 ). Wingspan 30 mm. Head. Relatively large; 2 nd segment of palpus longer than 3 rd; antennae filiform. Thorax. Moderately wide, greyish-white; patagia concolorous with thorax; tegulae concolorous with thorax. Abdomen. Whitish-grey with some darker middorsal scale tufts. Wing. Forewing moderately wide, elongate, apically obtuse, light greyish-ochre; basal spot blackish, relatively large, roughly semi-circular; basal streak blackish, moderately long, reduced, stripe-like; tornal streak blackish, thin, long, between medial and postmedial lines reduced, obscure, between postmedial and terminal lines wider, indistinct; apical dash blackish, short, indistinct, more or less spot-like; basal line blackish, double, outer line conspicuously wider than inner line, filled with whitish-grey-ochre; antemedial line reduced, marked only with three indistinct, blackish spots at costal area and reduced section of blackish scales with whitish at inner margin; medial line blackish, thin, zigzag; medial fascia wide, blackish, outwardly fading; postmedial line double, thin, crenulate, inner line greyish, reduced, outer line blackish, more prominent, filled with whitish; subterminal line whitish, indistinct, wavy; terminal line whitish, interrupted by black on veins; basal field whitish-grey-ochre, narrow, fused with suprabasal patch, antemedial field and interior of basal line and joined to subbasal patch; subbasal patch whitish, wide and long; suprabasal patch greyish-ochre, obscure; antemedial field light greyish-ochre, narrow at costa with obscure blackish patch; medial field inwardly whitish suffused with greyish-ochre scales in costal area, outwardly dark greyish-ochre, inner part narrow; subterminal field darker greyish-ochre with large, blackish-grey, squarish patches in costal area, between veins M1 and M2 and around tornal streak; terminal field greyish-black, narrow, indistinct, with large spot apically; orbicular stigma reduced, marked with whitish, oval spot and some greyish-ochre scales inwardly; reniform stigma moderately large, reduced, inwardly ochreous-grey, outwardly whitish-ochre, outlined with series of tiny blackish spots and curved lines; four whitish spots at costa between medial fascia and terminal line, the first two roughly rectangular, the third and fourth line-like; tornal patch blackish, small; fringe whitish with greyish patches. Hindwing rounded, apically slightly pointed; fully greyish-ochre; marginal band slightly darker greyish-ochre; postdiscal line absent; discal spot faint, slightly darker greyish-ochre; tornal patch faint, slightly darker greyish-ochre; fringe whitish with greyish patches.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 98 View FIGURES 96–106 ). Ovipositor rounded, slightly longer than wide, tapering posteriorly. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, oval, densely hairy. Anterior and posterior apophysis equal in length, weakly sclerotized, rod-like; anterior apophysis with oval, lobe-like distal extension; posterior apophysis with oval distal extension. Ostium longitudinally ribbed, moderately sclerotized. Antrum short, moderately sclerotized, more or less funnel-shaped. Ductus bursae short, moderately sclerotized, ribbed. Corpus bursae large, bulbous, weakly sclerotized with two opposing distal signa. Appendix bursae long, coiled, moderately sclerotized, ribbed except in distal third, terminal twist straight and short; junction with corpus bursae long and narrow.

Female 7 th abdominal segments ( Fig. 137 View FIGURES 130–139 ). 7 th sternite quadrangular, as long as wide, uniformly weakly sclerotized with narrow, barely sclerotized semi-circular distal band; proximal edge straight; lateral sides slightly convex, parallel and wavy with pointed distal corner and somewhat contrasting margin; distal edge concave. 7 th tergite roughly trapezoidal, as long as wide, uniformly weakly sclerotized with slightly more sclerotized semi-circular distal band, and in middle with narrow, indistinct window; proximal edge more or less straight with two curved, somewhat sclerotized rods; lateral sides slightly concave with slightly contrasting margin; distal edge slightly concave.

Distribution. Himalayan. Cranionycta (Nefrendinycta) mailungana is known only from its type locality, close to the distribution areas of C. (N.) gorkhalii (Gandaki Province) and C. (N.) delattini , C. (N.) warreni , C. (N.) dierli , C. (N.) pallidobrunnea (all from Godavari, Kathmandu valley).

Etymology. The name “ mailungana ” refers to the type locality, where the species was collected and the place of worship of Mailung.