Maikona mayodiana Irungbam & Fric, 2024, n. sp.
Creators: name: Irungbam, Jatishwor Singh
name: Fric, Zdenek Flatynek
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Maikona
Maikona mayodiana

description: Maikona mayodiana n. sp.
https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3EA0B06D-3C06-4673-A7C3-AD748EF4E4F3
(Figures. 1–4, 11, 16, 21, 22)
Holotype. ♂, INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, Old Hotel, 65 km Roing road, 1900 m, 30.III.2023, 28.279717ºN, 95.912541ºE, coll. local collector, IJ3578, genitalia slide. G - 688.—A red holotype label will be added accordingly.
The holotype will be deposited in the collections of NZC, ZSI, Kolkata, India.
Paratypes (in total 5 ♀♀): 3 ♀♀, same locality as holotype, coll. local collector, IJ3578, IJ2580, IJ3581, genitalia slide. G-679, G-682; 2 ♀♀, INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, Mayodia Pass, Heliport, 1970 m, 31.III.2023, 28º18’20”N, 95º55’17”E, coll. local collector, IJ3582, IJ3583, genitalia slide. G-681, G-683.—Blue paratype labels will be added.
The paratypes will be deposited in the collections of NZC, ZSI, Kolkata, India.
Diagnosis. Morphologically, the male of M. mayodiana n. sp. (forewing length 19 mm) is slightly larger than M. yazakii (forewing length 17 mm), but smaller than other congeners. The new species, M. mayodiana n. sp., is similar to M. nanlingensis but differs in the forewing crescent mark, which is creamy white and roundish (Fig. 1) instead of white and small in M. nanlingensis (Fig. 13). The forewing terminal line in M. mayodiana n. sp. is reddish brown interrupted by veins (Fig. 1), whereas in M. nanlingensis it is ochre, shaded internally with dark red (Fig. 13). The hindwing terminal line in M. mayodiana n. sp. is dark red with black linings whereas in M. nanlingensis, ochre, shaded internally with dark red as in forewing. In the male genitalia, M. mayodiana n. sp. closely resembles M. nanlingensis. In M. mayodiana n. sp., the outer membranous margin is slightly curved outward, whereas it is straighter in M. nanlingensis. Additionally, the apex of the costa is pointed in M. mayodiana n. sp. while it is rounder in M. nanlingensis. The harpe is long and broad with a blunt end in M. mayodiana n. sp., compared to an ovate shape with a rounder tip in M. nanlingensis. The surface of the aedeagus in M. mayodiana n. sp. features dorsal minute spines (Fig. 22), whereas in M. nanlingensis, these dorsal minute spines are absent (Fig. 22).
Description of male (Figs. 1, 2). Forewing length 19 mm in male holotype. (Wingspan in 38 mm). Head: Antenna ciliate, dark brown color; labial palpus bluish with whitish scales dorsally, dark brown with whitish scales ventrally; frons dark blue, vertex bluish with whitish long scales near the eye. Thorax: Patagia blue-black; tegula clothed with creamy yellow long scales. Legs: fore legs femur blue-black with long yellowish scales, tibia blue black with long yellowish scales; mid leg femur and tibia blue-black with yellowish scales dorsally, long creamy yellow scales ventrally; hind leg femur and tibia with long creamy yellow scales. Abdomen: First abdominal crest with long shiny black scales (tuft); dorsally, covered with metallic gray scales whereas ventrally with long yellowish orange scales. Forewing: ground colour pale grey, with whitish veins; crescent mark creamy white, roundish; terminal line reddish brown interrupted by veins; Cilia checkered with dark brown and pale yellow. Hindwing: dark brown, inner margin creamy yellow; the discal spot is dark-brown, small, not clearly visible dorsally, clearly visible ventrally, terminal line ochre with black linings; cilia chequered with dark brown and pale yellow. Underside of the forewing greyish brown; crescent mark light yellow, a black orbicular spot visible in the cell; costal margin and terminal area light yellow; cilia as those on the upperside. Hindwing greyish brown; inner margin light yellow, discocellular spot black, terminal line and cilia as those on the upperside.
Description of male genitalia (Fig. 17). Uncus, slender, long, curved with a small, hooked tip; Tegumen broad, well sclerotized; vinculum short; saccus broad; juxta short, weakly sclerotized, inverted Y-shaped. Valva with curved costa, outer margin curved inwards near ventral projection, and slight curved outwards near costal apex, costal apex more pointed; harpe long, broad with blunt end (ovate shape); sacculus well sclerotized, slightly curved; aedeagus short with dorsal minute spines (Fig. 22).
Description of female (paratype, Figs. 3–10). Wing expanse 43 mm, forewing length 22 mm. Very similar in pattern to male: forewing crescent mark larger, creamy white; inner margin of the hindwing is creamy yellow, which is almost absent in some specimens; the discal spot is dark-brown, small; the cilia chequered with dark brown and pale yellow. Underside of the forewing greyish brown; crescent mark light yellow; costal margin and terminal area light yellow; cilia as those on the upperside. Hindwing greyish brown; inner margin and tornal margin light yellow, discocellular spot black, terminal line and cilia as those on the upperside.
Description of female genitalia (Figs. 27, 28). Papillae anales long, broad, apically rounded, with long setae basally; apophyses anteriores and posteriores long and narrow but apophyses anteriores shorter than apophyses posteriores. Ostium bursae wide; Ductus bursae slender and short; corpus bursae narrow and elongated.
Etymology. This new species is named after its type locality, Mayodia Pass in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Distribution & Habitat. Maikona mayodiana n. sp. is currently reported from the lush green mountainous landscape of Mayodia Pass, Dibang Valley district. This mountain pass ranges in elevation from 1800 to 2652 m and are flanked by rhododendrons and other evergreen plants. The primary vegetation type found here is East Himalayan Mixed Coniferous Forest (12/C3a) with occasional bamboo brakes (1B/2S) (Champion & Seth 1968). From November to March, the area is blanketed with snow; snowfall is highest in January and February; monsoon begins in July; and spring continues during March and April. The new species was encountered in March (early spring) when the average temperature varies from 15°C to 30°C with moderate precipitation.
description: Published as part of Irungbam, Jatishwor Singh & Fric, Zdenek Flatynek, 2024, Discovery of the genus Maikona Matsumura, 1928 (Noctuidae: Agaristinae) from India with the description of a new species, pp. 582-590 in Zootaxa 5481 (5) on pages 583-588, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5481.5.7, http://zenodo.org/record/12783087