Miltochrista discistriga ( Moore, 1878 )

Miltochrista discistriga ( Moore, 1878) View in CoL

( Figs 40–43 View FIGURES 40–47 , 114 View FIGURES 111–114 , 142 View FIGURES 139–142 )

Lyclene discistriga Moore, 1878 View in CoL , Proceedings of the general meetings for scientific business of the Zoological Society of London, 1878: 32 (Type locality: [NE India, north of West Bengal, Darjeeling] “ Darjiling ”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (designated herein) ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 40–47 ): ♀, “N. India | ♀” (upper side) “ Lyclene | discistriga ♀ | type) Moore” / “Moore Coll. | 94–106.” / red ring “Type” label / QR-code label with unique ID “ NHMUK010604625 About NHMUK ” ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined. INDIA: Uttarakhand: 1 ♀, Bamiyala , 1451m, 3.viii.2016, S. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI, 14465/H10); Sikkim: 1 ♂, Mt. Kanchenjunga   GoogleMaps SE, 27°30’N 88°20’E, 2000m, 222– 31.VII.1996, Afonin & Sinyaev leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1047 ♂ (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM); West Bengal: 1 ♂, Tukdah, 5000 ft., Darjeeling Distr. , 23.IX.1945, D.G. Sevastopulo / D.G. Sevastopulo, B.M. 1975-385, unique ID: NHMUK010606046 About NHMUK , gen. prep. No. : NHMUK010313529 About NHMUK (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK); 1 ♀, Gopaldhara, Darjeeling , 3440–5800’, H. Stevens / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique ID: NHMUK010604626 About NHMUK , gen. prep. No. : NHMUK010313466 About NHMUK (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK); Arunachal Pradesh: 2 ♂, Bomdila , 27.vi.[20]18, S. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI, 14466/H10); 1 ♀, Dirang , 1560m, 25.vi.[20]18, S. Singh leg. ( NZCZSI, 14467/H10); Tamil Nadu: Palani Hills, Perumalmalay , 1500m, 14.VII.1990, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5396 ♂ ( CKC).

Note. Moore (1878) described the species from the unspecified number of specimens of both sexes. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, the single female syntype labelled as “Type” located in NHMUK is hereby designated as the lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.0 mm in males and 14.5 mm in females. Miltochrista discistriga is similar to M. neoseriata in its forewing markings but distinguished by its larger size. The male genital capsule of the species is clearly different from other similar congeners in the shorter uncus, the relatively short and claw-shaped, and dorsally directed distal costal process, the broad valvula, and the narrow but heavily sclerotised and upcurved distal saccular process. The vesica structure of M. discistriga is similar to those of such species as M. neoseriata , M. aureata , M. mawphlang sp. nov. and M. kravchenkoi but differs in the markedly longer cornuti. The female genitalia of M. discistriga are most reminiscent of M. neoseriata but are distinct due to the shorter and narrower ductus bursae with a sinuous ventral margin of the ostium, and the broader corpus bursae with a narrower but more heavily sclerotised postero-lateral sclerotised area edged with smaller spines and lacking a cluster of denticles at the junction with the ductus bursae. Additionally, the lateral sclerotised plates of the 7 th sternite of M. discistriga are shorter and more weakly sclerotised than in M. neoseriata , and their lateral pockets are vestigial.

Distribution. The species is currently known from South, North and Northeast India (Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh).