Eudemopsis hunliensis sp. nov.

(Figs. 1A–B, 2A, 2C–E, 3A, 3C–F, 4A–E, 5A–C)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F4093DF9-8B7F-401E-B07B-024727B55DE9

Type Material. Holotype: ♂, [INDIA]: Arunachal Pradesh, Lower Dibang Valley, Hunli, 15°36ˊ47˝N, 75°12ˊ40˝E, alt. 1240 m, 07 Aug 2024, LepiLED & MVL collection, Santhosh & Nandhini (genitalia slide no. L00051360). Paratypes: 2♂, 1♀, [same collection data as holotype, (genitalia slide no. L00051361 (♀)]. 2♂, Upper Siang, Jengging, 28°40ˊ31˝N, 94°57ˊ53˝E, alt. 477 m, 03 Aug 2024, LepiLED & MVL collection, Santhosh & Nandhini. 2♂, Upper Siang, Gobuk, 28°56ˊ18˝N, 95°10ˊ46˝E, alt. 1200 m, 01–04 Aug 2024, LepiLED & MVL collection, Santhosh & Nandhini. 1♂, Upper Sian, Ramsing, 28°38ˊ01˝N, 94°57ˊ24˝E, alt. 630 m, 02 Aug 2024, LepiLED & MVL collection, Santhosh & Nandhini. All specimens are deposited in INPC.

Diagnosis. Eudemopsis hunliensis sp. nov., has a forewing pattern that superficially resembles that of Eudemopsis tamdaoensis (Heppner & Bae, 2016), but it can be distinguished by the brown coloration mixed with dark brown scales on the frons, labial palpi, tegulae, and mesonotum, interspersed with purple scales. In contrast, E. tamdaoensis has grey-cream labial palpi, tegulae, and mesonotum. The male genitalia of E. hunliensis sp. nov., similar to that of E. brevis Liu & Bai, 1982, but can be differentiated by the following characters: in E. hunliensis sp. nov., the uncus is relatively larger, sub-rectangular with a rounded apex; the juxta is pitchershaped; and the valva is relatively smaller. In contrast, E. brevis has a small, rounded-knoblike uncus, an oval-shaped juxta, and a relatively larger valva. The female genitalia of Eudemopsis hunliensis sp. nov. superficially resemble those of E. squamapanna and Eudemopsis fansipana, but differ in having a wider ostium bursa and a pair of larger, curved signa. In E. squamapanna, the ostium bursae is relatively narrower and the signa are medium-sized and bladeshaped, whereas in E. fansipana, the ductus bursae are relatively longer and the signa consist of a narrower pair of blade-shaped structures.

Description. Head (Fig. 2A) brown; frons brown mixed purple; antennae brown with small cilia, each segment with row dark scales; labial palpus porrect, first segment brown interspersed with purple, second segment upward, brown with purple, third segment small, light brown. Thorax: pronotal collar dark brown interspersed with purple; tegulae light brown with purple mixed with dark brown basally; posterior crest light brown. Forewing sub-rectangular, length 5.5 –7.0 mm in males (n = 8) (Fig. 1A), 6.5 mm in female (n = 1) (Fig. 1B); costal margin evenly curved, with a rather small pterostigma on costa between Sc and R 1 in male (distinct after removing scales) (Fig. 3C); termen round, base of M2 close to M3 than M1, M3 curved downward basally, CuA1 curved downward medially, distal end of M1, M2, M3, and CuA1 equidistant; brown ground colour, with scattered brown to dark brown yellowish spots, with irregular silvery patches; basal patch yellowish brown bordered by dark brown irregular band; sub-basal dark purplish brown patch; two post median light yellowish brown patch separated by irregular band to near middle of dorsum, brown mixed with dark brown, lower path touched to anal angle; preterminal silvery fascia narrow and sinuate, running slightly obliquely from the costa to the termen at M3; beyond the preterminal fascia, an oblique, moderately wide band extends from the costa to the termen between M2 and M3; a small, dark brown tornal patch lies between M2 and the tornus. Fringe scales are dark brown, except between CuA1 and the tornus, where they are light brown. Modified group of dark black scent scales at base of fore wings present in males (Fig. 2C). Hindwing sub-triangular; costal margin more convex in male than in female without coastal spot (Fig. 3D); ground colour greyish brown, slightly paler toward wing base; wing apex with a distinct pale brown mark between the costa and Sc+R1; fringe scales greyish brown, slightly paler toward anal angle with brown at the apex; underside light brown, slightly paler toward the wing base, with a large longitudinal patch extending from the wing base to the apex and from the costa to M1, yellowish white with a patch of light purple scales in the median third. Abdomen (Fig. 3A): Valva exposed from abdominal segment VIII (paratype) with modified short scales; exceptionally long modified scales located on the membranous lobe, Segment IV bears two small anterolateral membranous lobes, each densely covered with scale sockets. The membrane posterior to abdominal segment VIII is notably expanded.

Male genitalia (Figs. 4A–E) tegumen moderately broad, oblong, sub-triangular apex; uncus sub-rectangular, rather small, with short sparse setae; socii reduced; gnathos arising near lateral midpoint of tegumen, completely fused medially as strongly sclerotized band, densely microtrichiate; vinculum membranous, moderately wide; juxta (Fig. 4C) pitcher shape, rather medium; caulis moderately long; anellus surrounding basal 1/2 of phallus; phallus (Fig. 4B) sub-rectangular, rather short and moderately wide, uniform width, slightly narrower towards apex; cornuti absent; valva simple, without neck, dorsal margin rather straight, basal 2/3 broadened, margins rather parallel, apical 1/3 with ventral margin slightly narrowed towards apex, apex rather wide and round, posterior surface with a small group of dense setae basally, medially with a widened group of short, sparsely setose, apical 2/3 clothed with short setae, ventromedially with a cluster of moderately dense and long, strong spiniform setae, anterior surface at basal 1/4 with a large membranous lobe of dense, very long setae (Fig. 4E), white in pinned specimens (Fig. 2E 1), apical 3/4 with a large patch of very dense, rather short, with modified scales (Fig. 2E2).

Female genitalia (Figs. 5A–C) with papillae anales moderately broad, densely setose; tergum VIII moderately sclerotized, without scale socket, sub-triangular lateral extension densely microtrichiate; sternum VII moderately sclerotized, with dense scale sockets, more dense posteriorly, posterior margin shallowly concave, slightly sinuate; ostium bursae ovate, beyond posterior margin of sternum VII, surrounded with large, sclerotized, subcircular sterigma, covered with dense microtrichia, posteromedially with a moderately large patch, densely microtrichiate (Fig. 5B); ductus bursae 1/2 length of corpus bursae, anterior 1/3 narrowed, posterior 2/3 widened, colliculum ill-defined; ductus seminalis arising from anterior 1/3 of ductus bursae; corpus bursae large, ovate, with two moderately large, curved, bladeshaped signa (Fig. 5C).

Distribution. India (Arunachal Pradesh: Present study).

Etymology. The species epithet hunliensis is derived from “Hunli,” the type locality in Arunachal Pradesh, India, where the holotype was collected. The name is formed by adding the Latin suffix -ensis, meaning “originating from” or “pertaining to,” indicating the geographic origin of the species.

Remarks. These specimens were collected on rainy days in Mishmi hills region, Arunachal Pradesh surrounded by evergreen forests.