Miltochrista dankana Volynkin, N. Singh, Cerny, Kirti & Datta 2022

Miltochrista dankana Volynkin, N. Singh, Černý, Kirti & Datta, 2022

(Figs 11, 12, 29, 30, 42)

Miltochrista dankana Volynkin, N. Singh, Černý, Kirti & Datta, 2022, Zootaxa, 5168 (3): 322 (Type locality: “ India, Nagaland, Kigwema ”).

Type material examined. Holotype: male, “India, Nagaland, Kigwema, 26.iv.2017, H.S. Datta leg.” (NZCZSI). Paratype: MYANMAR: 1 male, Chin Hills, Myohaung Camp, 2060m, 3–5.x.2002, W. Mey leg., LF [light trap] / Natma Taung NP. Area of Mt. Victoria, gen. prep. No.: AV4237 (prepared by Volynkin) (MfN).

Additional material examined. CHINA: 1 male, 29.VII.2021, Yunnan, Gongshan, Qiunatong, HSY [Huang Si-yao leg], unique number & slide: ZFMK Lep 153388 (prepared by Huang) (ZFMK); 1 male, same data and collector, unique number: ZFMK Lep 153389 (ZFMK); 1 female, 29.VII.2021, Yunnan, Nujiang, Qiunatong, HSY [Huang Si-yao] leg., unique number & slide: ZFMK Lep 153390 (prepared by Huang) (ZFMK).

Note. The female illustrated by Volynkin et al. (2021: figs 8, 26) as M. dankana has substantial external differences from the male from the same locality and possibly belongs to an unidentified species of Miltochrista or Pseudobarsine N. Singh & Kirti, 2016.

Diagnosis of the female. The female of M. dankana (Fig. 12) is similar to the male (Fig. 11) but is larger, has a more elongate forewing with somewhat larger subterminal spots, and lacks blackish hair-like scales on the abdomen distally. Compared to the most similar M. straminea (Fig. 13), the female of M. dankana has a narrower dash-shaped discal spot of the forewing, and the somewhat longer waves of the postmedial line. The female genitalia of M. dankana (Fig. 42) differ from M. straminea (Fig. 43) in the markedly longer and heavily sclerotised ductus bursae having a rounded medial ventral depression of the margin of the ostium whereas it is short, membranous and with a rectangular ventral margin of the ostium in the congener. The corpus bursae of M. dankana is broader than in M. straminea and evenly covered with robust spinulose scobination medially and anteriorly whereas it bears two elliptical serrulate plates anteriorly connected by a broad cluster of spinulose scobination in the congener.

Distribution. The species is known from Northeast India, northern Myanmar (Chin State) (Volynkin et al. 2021) and Southwest China (Yunnan Province) (new country record).