Mahasena inornata Beaver, 2025

Mahasena inornata Beaver View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figs 2A–B View FIGURE 2 ; 3A, C, D–E View FIGURE 3 )

Type data. Holotype. ♂ “ Rocky Point , approx. 4 km NE Weipa, QLD, AUST., -12.619, 141.890, 12 July 2023, to MV light, D. Funnell ”, “ ANIC Database No. 31-084759”. In ANIC. GoogleMaps

Type locality: Rocky Point, Weipa, Queensland, Australia.

Paratypes. 6 ♂: 1 ♂ data as for holotype except date as “ 28 Jan 2022 ” GoogleMaps . 1 ♂ “ 16°06’08.53”S, 145°27’04.68”E, James Cook University Rainforest Site , 26–30 Sept. 2022, 28m, DCF Rentz, S Yuchen, S Fernando, J Loo, S Runeiman, LH Ran, Stop 21, Grassland/Forest edge” GoogleMaps . 1 ♂ “ 12.43S, 143.17E, Quinn Park , Claudie Riv., Q, 14 Feb 1985, E.D. Edwards, B. Hacobian ”, “ Genitalia prep. no. EPB-238, ANIC NULS752178 ”, “ ANIC Database No. 31- 084641” GoogleMaps . 1 ♂ “16°48”S, 145°38’E (GPS), Qld , Kuranda ( 335 m) ( Top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr, 16–31 January 2022, DCF Rentz”, “Genitalia prep. no. EPB-237, ANIC NULS753016 ”, “ ANIC Database No. 31-084640” . 2 ♂ “ AUSTRALIA, 11°41’S 142°43’E, 2 km E Captain Billy Landing T /O, Qld, 155m, 23 May 2015, Zwick, Cocking, Edwards” GoogleMaps , one specimen with “Genitalia prep. no. EPB-236, ANIC NULS751993 ”, “ ANIC Database No. 31- 084639”. All in ANIC .

Diagnosis. Mahasena inornata sp. nov. is externally similar to M. ekeikei , with a slight difference in wing pattern being that the hindwing of M. inornata sp. nov. is subtly darker than the forewing ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ), whereas in M. ekeikei the fore- and hindwing appear to be of the same colour ( Fig. 2C, 2E View FIGURE 2 ). This feature is difficult to discern in worn material. Robust diagnostic differences exist in the structure of the fringe scales, and in the male genitalia. The fringe scales of the forewing of M. ekeikei are weakly dentate ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 ), whereas those of M inornata sp. nov. are more deeply dentate ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Although the hindwing fringe scales are similar in dentition between the two species, those of M. inornata sp. nov. are 2/3 rd shorter than those of M. ekeikei ( Fig. 3F–G View FIGURE 3 , grey bar denotes margin). In the hindwing, M 2 +M 3 of M. inornata sp. nov. arise from the same point on the discal cell, whereas in M. ekeikei these veins are stalked. The interocular indexes of the two species differ, in M. inornata sp. nov. it is 0.90–0.92, whereas in M. ekeikei it is 1–1.8. The valvae are diagnostic, with the ventral lobe of M. inornata sp. nov. shorter and less hooked ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ) as compared with M. ekeikei ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ); further, the basal costal lobe of M. inornata sp. nov. is flattened and rounded, whereas in M. ekeikei it is depressed medially and subtriangular. The tegumen of M. inornata sp. nov. is broader, and the flared portion of the vinculum is more distinctive. Mahasena inornata sp. nov. differs from M. corbetti by wing colouration and genitalia ( Kamarudin et al. 1994: fig. 17, Firake et al. 2018: fig. 13). The fore- and hindwings of M. inornata sp. nov. are only slightly different shades of brown, whereas in M. corbetti the forewing is a richer reddish-brown, and the hindwing a distinctive dark brown to fuscous brown. Again, this quality is difficult to discern in worn specimens, however examination of the genitalia is diagnostic. The saccus of M. inornata sp. nov. is narrower, especially anteriorly, and overall longer than that of M. corbetti , and the valvae of M. inornata sp. nov. are distinctly narrower. All three species are separable by phylogenetic analysis of barcode data ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ).

Description. Male. ( Figs 2A–B View FIGURE 2 ; 3A, C, D–E View FIGURE 3 ). Eye index: 0.90–0.92. Forewing Length: 13–14 mm. Wingspan 27–28 mm.

Head. Antennae dark brown, bipectinate, 22 flagellomeres, apical flagellomere filiform, rami with single row of black scales dorsally, setae laterally and ventrally, rami 7x width of flagellomere at widest point. Frons and vertex dark brown piliform scales.

Thorax. Densely clothed with dark brown piliform scales on dorsal and ventral surfaces. Scales with distinct purple iridescent quality when viewed at angle under bright white light. Legs dark brown, distal half of tarsi light brown. Foreleg with elongate epiphysis on proximal 1/3 rd of tibia; tarsi with apical spurs on tarsomeres. Forewing broad, triangular; costa nearly straight, convex toward pointed apex; termen slightly convex, subtle concavity at CuA 2, inner margin straight. Hindwing costa convex; apex rounded, termen subtly convex, margin convex after An 3. Wing venation typical for Mahasena ; forewing with four Rs veins, three M veins with M 2 and M 3 stalked; Hindwing with three An veins, An 1 atrophied. Forewing dorsal colour mid cinnamon brown. Hindwing coloured similarly except slightly darker, area between costa and R 2 khaki brown from basal area to apex, inner margin with dark brown piliform scales. Both fore- and hindwings dark cinnamon brown ventrally, khaki brown fringe scales and in area between inner margin up to and just beyond vein An+CuP, from basal area to margin. Wings with faint iridescent purple quality when viewed at lateral angle. Wing ground scales oval, pointed apex, medial ridge. Fringe scales broad, with four to five points, with deep and broad gaps between points on both fore- and hindwings.

Abdomen dorsally and ventrally dark brown, piliform scales attached to transparent membrane posterior and lateral to otherwise naked but highly sclerotised sternites and tergites.

Genitalia. ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Saccus narrow, finely drawn to a point at apex, approx. ½ total length of genitalia complex; rest of vinculum flared laterally, with medial depression.Tegumen sclerotised laterally, fused with vinculum medially, posteriorly broad, postero-lateral corners convex towards blunt apex, setose on dorsal aspect. Valva elongate; apex bifurcate to two lobes, ventral lobe shorter than dorsal, recurved, with three short spines at apex; dorsal lobe broader, longer, rounded, setose dorsally; inner margin weakly convex, setose dorsally; basal costal lobe broad, sub-ovoid, flattened. Phallus very long, greater than entire length of genitalia; sinuate, ductus ejaculatorius smooth, and vesica sub-triangular at phallus apex, densely covered with numerous long, highly sclerotised cornuti over entire length.

Etymology. This species is named inornata, Latin : unadorned, for the unremarkable plain appearance, lacking distinctive patterning. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Biology. The larval life history of this species is unrecorded, and further study is needed to understand the host preferences and breadth in Australia. Mahasena -like larval bags that have been observed in northern Queensland may be attributed to this species ( Table S1), however, rearing of larval specimens or DNA sequencing is required to confirm this suspicion. The adult males of Mahasena inornata sp. nov. are infrequently collected at mercury vapor and UV light traps at night, sporadically throughout the year from January, February, May, July, November, and September.

Habitat. This species is known from high rainfall environments, such as near-coastal lowland and low-montane tropical rainforest, monsoon rainforest, and forest edge, from sea level to an elevation of 335 meters. One specimen, from near Cape Tribulation, Queensland, is labelled as having been collected from a grassland and forest edge site, in a predominately lowland tropical rainforest area. Mahasena species in Asia are often found in very disturbed, semi-urban sites (see Roh & Byun 2015, Sulaiman & Talip 2021) though it is unclear if Mahasena inornata sp. nov. is similar in this respect, indeed most of the known collection localities do not fit this category.

Distribution. Mahasena inornata sp. nov. is endemic to far northern Queensland, Australia where it is known from several sites from Cape York Peninsula: from near Weipa, Claudie River, and Heathlands Regional Reserve, as well as further south in the Wet Tropics bioregion, from near Cape Tribulation, and Kuranda.