Miltochrista asphida, Volynkin & Černý & Huang & Saldaitis, 2023

Miltochrista asphida View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

( Figs 34, 35 View Figures 27–38 , 72, 73 View Figures 70–73 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 34 View Figures 27–38 , 72 View Figures 70–73 ): male, “ 10–20.VIII.2014, | South Laos, | 27 km ENE of Pakse, | near Tad Fane waterfall, | 15°11'01.1''N 106°07'40.5''E, | 950m, local collector leg. / “Slide | AV6193 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( WIGJ, ex CAV). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. VIETNAM: 1 male, Bao Loc , Rung Cat Tien, 11.32'N 107.48'E [ 11°32'N 107°48'E], 1500m, 10–20.XII.1992, sec. forest, Sinyaev & Simonov leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM GoogleMaps Arct. 293/2017 ♂ ( MWM / ZSM) ; 1 male, Đà L ạt, Datan La , 1380m, 11°54'10.6''N 108°26'[59].59''E, 29.IX.2013, K. Černý leg., gen. prep. No.: AV2614 ♂ ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.5–9.0 mm in males. Miltochrista asphida sp. n. has two forms, the typical one with intense blackish suffusion between the antemedial and subterminal streaks ( Fig. 34 View Figures 27–38 ), and the form with thin and distinct streaks ( Fig. 35 View Figures 27–38 ). The latter one is very similar to M. tenuiprocessa sp. n. ( Figs 39–44 View Figures 39–49 ) and the identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Figs 72, 73 View Figures 70–73 ) is clearly different from other similar congeners due to the shield-like dilated proximal section of the uncus (reminiscent of the externally dissimilar M. uncalis Kirti & Gill, 2009 ( Figs 36 View Figures 27–38 , 74 View Figures 74–77 ) from South India), and the narrow and strongly elongate valva. The vesica configuration of M. asphida sp. n. is most similar to M. tenuiprocessa sp. n. ( Figs 77 View Figures 74–77 , 78 View Figures 78–81 ) but in the new species, the main chamber is somewhat broader, the lateral cornutus is longer, and the apical diverticulum is slightly larger.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Laos ( Champasak Province) and Vietnam (Lâm Đồng Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘ασπίδα’ meaning ‘a shield’ and refers to the shield-like dilated proximal section of the uncus. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition to the generic name.