Miltochrista andamana (Moore, 1877)

Miltochrista andamana (Moore, 1877) View in CoL

( Figs 83–85 View FIGURES 83–94 , 131 View FIGURES 131–134 , 151 View FIGURES 151–153 )

Sesapa andamana Moore, 1877 , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1877 (3): 597 (Type locality: “S. Andamans (Port Blair)”)

Type material examined. Lectotype (designated herein) ( Fig. 83 View FIGURES 83–94 ): ♀, “ Andamans | 77–6” / “ Sesapa | andamana. | Type Moore” / red ring “Type” label / QR-code label with unique ID “ NHMUK010604629 About NHMUK ” ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined. INDIA: Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 2 ♂, North Andaman, 6 km S Mayabunder, Karmatany , rainforest, 12°50’61’’N 92°56’’E, 17–21.XI.2000, J.-P. Rudloff leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 342/2017 ♂ ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Middle Andaman , 3 km S Tugapure, 12.4889° 92.4929°, 14– 16.VIII.2001, Jan-Peter Rudloff leg., Coll. Dr R. Brechlin , gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 343/2017 ♀ ( MWM / ZSM); 3 ♂, Middle Andaman, Tugapure (rainforest), 12°50’72’’N 92°49’29’’E, 22–26.XI.2000, J.-P. Rudloff leg. ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♀, Middle Andaman , 2.5 km S Rangat, 12.2761° 92.5623°, 12–13.VIII.2001, Jan-Peter Rudloff leg., Coll. Dr R. Brechlin ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♀, Middle Andaman , 1.5 km E Karmatang, 12.5072° 92.5610°, 17–22.VIII.2001, Jan-Peter Rudloff leg., Coll. Dr R. Brechlin ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♀, [South Andaman] Mt. Harriet National Park, Port Blair , 200m, 4–6.III.1998, A. Kamenev & V. Sinyaev leg. ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, North Andaman, Stevard Island , 13–18.III.1998, E. Grigoryev & V. Sinyaev leg. ( MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, Andaman Isles, Moore Coll. 94-106, unique ID: NHMUK010604621 About NHMUK , gen. prep. No. : NHMUK010313289 About NHMUK (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK); 1 ♂, Betapur [Middle Andaman], 4.i.2018, S. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI, 12628/ H 10).

Note. Moore (1877) described the species without the sex and number of specimens being mentioned. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, the female syntype labelled as “Type” and preserved in NHMUK is hereby designated as the lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.5–7.5 mm in males and 7.0–8.0 mm in females. Miltochrista andamana is readily distinct from the other members of the species-group due to its ochreous forewing ground colour (it is yellow in the related congeners), the medial line medially convex outwards, and the shorter dashes of the postmedial line touching each other. The male genital capsule of the species is similar to M. quadrata but is distinguished by the considerably shorter and medially narrower uncus, the longer vinculum, and the somewhat broader valva with a shorter and narrower distal section of the valva having a more rounded dorsal corner. The phallus of M. andamana is shorter and narrower than in the similar congener, and with a markedly more elongate, thumb-shaped coecum. Compared to M. quadrata , the vesica of the current species is broader (in proportion to the genital capsule size), having a narrower and conical terminal diverticulum (it is semiglobular in the congener), and bearing three cornuti (vs. two cornuti in M. quadrata ). In the female genitalia, M. andamana differs from M. quadrata in the somewhat shorter antrum, and the smaller spines in the posterior clusters in the corpus bursae.

Distribution. Endemic to the Andaman Archipelago ( India) (Moore 1877).