Anacronicta albicans, Irungbam & Fric, 2025

3. Anacronicta albicans sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5E9029C5-7115-467D-A409-00FB29D51E32

( Figs. 7, 8 View FIGURES 7–12 , 16 View FIGURES 13–16 )

Holotype. ♂, INDIA, Manipur, Shirui Hills ( Site 3 ), 25.11715°N 94.44560°E, 2190m, 23/ 24.VII.2019, coll. JS Irungbam / IJ2773 / HK15-12. The holotype is deposited in the collections of NZC, ZSI. GoogleMaps

The BOLD Process ID. NMJI 008-23, BIN: AFD4683.

Paratypes (7 ♂♂): INDIA, Manipur: 6♂♂, Manipur, Shirui Hills ( Site 3 ), 25.11715°N 94.44560°E, 2190m, 23/24.VII,2019, coll. JS Irungbam / IJ2770 / HK15-9 / IJ2775 / Genitalia slide: 266 / HK15-14 / IJ2511 / HK15- 7 / IJ2510 / HK15-6 / IJ2772 / Genitalia slide: 264 / HK15-11 / IJ2772 / Genitalia slide: 265 / HK15-13 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Shirui Hills ( Site 3 ), 25.11715°N 94.44560°E, 2190m, 13.IX.2019, coll. JS Irungbam / IJ2771. The paratypes were deposited in the collections of NZC, ZSI. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. The new species, A. albicans sp. nov. ( Figs. 7, 8 View FIGURES 7–12 ), is similar to A. infausta ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7–12 ) and A. obscura ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 7–12 ) in the general coloration and pattern of the forewing, particularly in the presence of dark grey ground coloration, a darker area near the reniform, a slightly curved, darker, and zigzag postmedial line. Externally, it differs clearly from A. infausta ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7–12 ) and A. obscura ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 7–12 ) by the more contrasting dark elements of the wing pattern and the ochre-yellowish coloration of the inner part of the hindwings. In the structure of male genitalia, A. albicans sp. nov. ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–16 ) differs from A. infausta ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–20 ) and A. obscura ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17–20 ) by the shape of the valva, the shape of the aedeagus, and the position and size of the basal cornuti field of the vesica.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 7, 8 View FIGURES 7–12 ). Forewing length— 19–21mm in males. Holotype — 20mm. Head, thorax black scales, black tegulae. Palpi short, blackish gray, gray irrorated.Antennae long.Abdomen black, brown, gray irrorated scales. Forewing warm gray with brown tints. Subbasal line black. Antemedial line double, black, straight, costa to dorsum. Postmedial line double, black, incurved below vein 4, continuous to dorsum. Reniform stigmata kidney-shaped, lighter, encircled with black. Orbicular stigmata brown-gray, black outline, connected by black streak. Subterminal area lighter, defined by black dentate marks, angled at veins 7, 6, excurved at middle. Terminal line thin yellowish outline. Cilia mottled. Hindwing cream in basal 2/3, greyish-brown terminal band, cilia greyish-brown, black opposite veins. Male genitalia ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–16 ). Uncus massive, straight, wide at base, narrower at apex. Tegumen with two short sclerotized penicular extensions, shorter than vinculum. Vinculum V-shaped. Juxta hexagonal, shieldlike. Valva large, lobe-like, constricted distally, narrower at apex. Sacculus robust, thin hairs. Saccular process sclerotized, thin, curved, distal half of valva, extends slightly beyond apex. Aedeagus large, massive, thicker at apex, straight. Carina crescent-shaped, highly sclerotized. Vesica large, ventrally everted, with basal, medial, apical diverticula covered in pin-like cornuti.

Female unknown

Genetic information ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21 ). Seven specimens including holotype of A. albicans sp. nov. has been sequenced and two of the sequences (holotype and one paratype) has been assigned the BIN BOLD:AFD4683. The intraspecific divergence ranges between 0.00–1.21%. The nearest neighbor of the species is the unidentified Anacronicta sp. (BIN BOLD: AAN7313) from Pakistan (MAMOT556-10| Anacronicta |COI-5P| HQ991245 View Materials and MAMOT2258- 12| Anacronicta |COI-5P| KX862581 View Materials ) with pairwise distances in the range of 1.75%.

Etymology. The specific name is originated from Latin word “ albicans ” meaning “light yellowish white” colour of the hindwing upperside.

Distribution. India — Manipur.