Thaumatographa aurosa taiwana Heppner & Arita, 2025

Thaumatographa aurosa taiwana Heppner & Arita , new subspecies

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4A472AE9-FC2A-47BB-80C5-E5028A88169C

( Figs 5 View FIGURES 1–6 , 15 View FIGURE 15 )

Type-locality: Taiwan: Lien-Hua-Chih For. Sta., Puli, Nantou Co.

Type material. Holotype. [ Taiwan] ♀ Lien-Hua-Chih For. Sta. (700 m), [nr. Puli], Nantou Co., 7–12 Sep. 1983, J. B. Heppner (adult photo 5572; gen. JBH-4643) ( MGCL) . Paratypes. (n = 2). Taiwan, Nantou Co.: same data as holotype (1♀) (adult photo 16013; gen. JBH-4644) ( MGCL). Taiwan , Ilan Co.: Nanao (5 mi. N) (100 m), 11–13 Oct. 1984 (1♀), J. B. Heppner & H.-Y. Wang (adult photo 16014; gen. JBH-4642) ( MGCL) .

Diagnosis. This new subspecies is very similar to Thaumatographa aurosa Diakonoff & Arita (1976) from southern Japan (Kyushu and Yakushima), and has the following distinctions: on the forewing the basal pair of vertical orange lines are more curved distally from the dorsal margin (straight in nominate T. aurosa ) and the costal angled streaks are white on the costal margin (silvery blue in nominate T. aurosa ). The female genitalia are virtually identical and T. aurosa taiwana has the ovipositor somewhat more slender caudally, especially very narrow papilla anales (slightly wider in the nominate subspecies from Japan). Male genitalia could not be compared, lacking any male specimens from Taiwan.

Description. Wing expanse: male 10.0–14.0 mm ( Japan), female 11.0–13.6 mm (n = 3).

Female ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Head ( Fig. 5a View FIGURES 1–6 ).

Forewing ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–6 ): overall black-brown, with usual geneedric striae pattern, with five thin costal striae white and slightly silvery from margin (more silvery in nominate subspecies), with basal two strongly bent to termen on radius; basal streaks straight and long, with dorsal on orange-yellow and middle streak yellow-white, and at end of forewing cell is a prominent tan-white spot; three curved light yellow-white lines from dorsal margin at middle of forewing, with a 4 th slightly further distad; tornal quarter with four series of interrupted striae curved slightly to termen; forewing apex with a white subapical line convergent and recurved as a loop to similar preapical line, both margined with orange; termen orange, with mid-termen white margin on termen and toward tornus 3 black spots; fringe white; venter dark brown with light yellow in cell and dorsal markings faintly repeated except for distinct white marks on costa, and dorsal margin white; venter brown with dorsal lines repeated as dull light tan lines, with white liens of apex repeated, and likewise the tornal markings but duller.

Hindwing ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–6 ): dark brown with thin orange-yellow streak diffusely margined in cell area, and diffuse tawny orange area on anal sector to base; fringe white; venter bronze-brown, with pale white markings on costa on basal 1/3.

Thorax ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–6 ): like nominate subspecies, dark brown, lacking any longitudinal lines; tegula slightly lighter brown than thorax; venter white; legs white, with dark brown markings dorsally on tibiae like related species, as dorsal spots on tibiae and tarsal segments.

Abdomen ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–6 ): dark brown, with posterior margins of tergites tan; venter cream-white; genital tuft brown.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 15 View FIGURE 15 ): ovipositor short (subequal to length of segment 7) (dorsal flap lacking); papilla anales narrow, with caudal ends semi-acute; apophyses with anterior pair slightly longer; ostium ( Fig. 15a View FIGURE 15 ), a short funnel, narrowed proximally with a sclerotized and scobinate proximal ventral wall (divided into two halves); sterigma membranous, widened from ostial funnel and slightly concave; ductus bursae evenly narrow and long (ca. 4x as long as width of bursa), with slight sclerotization on caudal 1/10, and with small ventral diverticular sac (internally partially spiculate) by antrum; corpus bursae oblong-ovate; ductus seminalis from junction of ductus bursae with bursa; accessory sac elongate-oblong from short and thin tube at ductus bursae junction; signum ( Fig. 15b View FIGURE 15 ), a typical form for genus but in inverted V-shaped spine array.

Male: unknown in Taiwan. The male genitalia for the Japanese nominate subspecies are figured by Diakonoff (1986): uncus short and narrow, very evenly recurved from base to blunt apex; hamus stout and somewhat upwardly curved to acute apex, with small basal process; socius nearly subequal to hamus and relatively straight and setose; gnathos membranous; transtilla quadratic, thin; juxta a small concave plate, dorsally blunt; aedeagus moderate, thin, with short decumbent phallobase; vesica scobinate, with narrow cornutus tube; valva oblong, with costal margin somewhat convex with a slight invagination at middle, and termen very truncated; vinculum with saccus undeveloped.

Etymology. The subspecies is named for the island of Taiwan.

Biology. Unknown. Flight period (n = 3 records): mid-September to mid-October (in Taiwan).

Distribution. The Taiwan subspecies is known only from Taiwan.

Discussion. While some maculation distinctions are evident between the two subspecies, further study is needed once males are found of T. aurosa taiwana to compare the male genitalia of the two subspecies, or to verify if they should be considered distinct species. All available Taiwan specimens are females. The purpose of the small ventral flap (or pouch) external to the base of the ostial funnel near the antrum, is unknown.