Squamosa anchorata Irungbam & Solovyev, 2025

Irungbam, Jatishwor S. & Solovyev, Alexey V., 2025, A new species of genus Squamosa Bethune-Baker, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) from India, Zootaxa 5646 (4), pp. 586-592 : 587

Squamosa anchorata Irungbam & Solovyev , sp. nov.

( Figures 1 , 5 )

Holotype: ♂, India, Arunachal Pradesh, Myodia Pass, Old Heliport , 1970 m, 31.III.2023, 28°18’20” N, 95°55’17” E, coll. local collector (IJ3605, gen. prep. 813).

Paratype. None.

Diagnosis. This newly identified species, S. anchorata sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 ), is related to S. monosa ( Fig. 3 ) and S. wungchanngamii ( Fig. 2 ). It can be distinguished by differences in the male genitalia, particularly the juxta, which is large and features a single lateral process, similar to S. monosa ( Fig. 7 ) and S. wungchanngamii ( Fig. 6 ). However, in S. anchorata sp. nov., the junction between the lateral process and the juxta forms an anchor-shaped structure with a thick base, a tapering shank, and thick, pointed arms of unequal length. In contrast, this structure is sclerotized and shorter in S. monosa and S. wungchanngamii .

Description. Adult ( Fig. 1 ). Forewing length ca. 17 mm and wingspan 33 mm in male. Head yellowish brown. Male antennae long, broadly bipectinate in basal half. Body pale yellowish brown. Thorax and anterior two segments of abdomen with a longitudinal row of black tufts. Anal tuft black. Forewing pale yellowish brown, mixed with fine black dots, lighter towards outer margin; on outside of cell, a lustrous rounded patch bluish black inside and reddishbrown outside, crossed by a light transverse line; a black dot at middle of 1A, sometimes indistinct or absent; subterminal fascia fine, black, deeply indented at R 2 toward base. Hindwing yellowish brown to dark brown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 5 ). Uncus slender, slightly bifid apically. Gnathos finger-shaped, shorter than uncus, apex blunt. Valva triangular, tapering, apex rounded; costa straight; saccular process absent. Juxta sclerotized, asymmetrical, with single lateral process; left lateral process anchor-shaped, base thick, shank tapering, arms thick and pointed, of unequal length. Aedeagus thick, apically constricted, apical spine absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 9 ): India (Arunachal Pradesh).

Etymology. The name “ anchorata ” is derived from the Latin word “anchora” meaning “anchor”, referring to the anchor-shaped lateral process in the juxta of the male genitalia.

Bionomics. We collected a single specimen in March at altitude about 1970 m a.s.l., with a light trap close to a broad-leaved forest with rhododendrons.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Map showing the distribution records of the Indian Squamosa spp.—S. anchorata, sp. nov. (yellow star), S. undulophallus (blue triangle), S. chalcites (red circle), S. wungchanngamii (blue hexagone), and S. ocellata (green square).

FIGURES 1–4. Adults of Squamosa spp. 1. S. anchorata sp. nov., male, holotype, Arunachal Pradesh, India (IJ3605); 2. S. wungchanngamii, male, paratype, Manipur, India (IJ1985); 3. S. monosa, male, Xizang, China (Wu et al. 2022); 4. S. undulophallus, male, Arunachal Pradesh, India (IJ3655). Scale—10mm.

FIGURES 5–8. Male genitalia of Squamosa spp. 5. S. anchorata sp. nov., male, holotype, Arunachal Pradesh, India (gen. prep. 813); 6. S. wungchanngamii, male, paratype, Manipur, India (gen. prep. 255); 7. S. monosa, male, Xizang, China (Wu et al. 2022); 8. S. undulophallus, male, Arunachal Pradesh, India (gen. prep. 824). Scale—1mm.