Miltochrista nuranang N. Singh, Volynkin, Cerny, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Volynkin, Anton V.
name: Singh, Santosh
name: Černý, Karel
name: Kirti, Jagbir Singh
name: Datta, Harvinder Singh
name: Singh, Navneet
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Erebidae
Miltochrista
Miltochrista nuranang

description: Miltochrista nuranang N. Singh, Volynkin, Černý, Kirti, Datta & S. Singh, sp. nov.
(Figs 77–82, 129, 130, 150)
Type material. Holotype (Figs 77, 129): ♂, [India, Arunachal Pradesh] “L. Zang [Jang] | Doc. 1.7..[20]18 | Coll.[ected by]: Santosh [Singh]” / handwritten orange label “HT” / printed red label “Holotype” / printed “ ZSI | 1267”, gen. prep. in glycerol by S. Singh (NZCZSI).
Paratypes. INDIA. Arunachal Pradesh: 1 ♂, Bomdila, 2427m, 27.vi. [20]18, S. Singh leg. (NZCZSI); Sikkim: 2 ♂, Pangthang, 1650m, 2.vii.2019, S. Singh leg. (NZCZSI); 1 ♂, Golitar, 2080 m, 20.ix.2014, H. Singh leg. (NZCZSI); 1 ♂, Pemayangtse, 22.VII.1995, 1900m, E. Afonin & V. Sinyaev leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1041♂ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); West Bengal: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Darjeeling, 2000m, 12–20.VIII.1985, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1003♂, ZSM Arct. 2019-1004♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, 2000m, Darjeeling, Himafalls, 8.VII.1986, W. Thomas leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1005♂ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1700m, Kalimpong Algarah, 5–6.VII.1986, W. Thomas leg. (MWM / ZSM); NEPAL: 1 ♂, Ganesh Himal, 1700m, 3 km W Gogne, 28°05.5’N 85°12’E, 23.IX.1995, B. Herczig & Gy.M. László leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1060♂ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Surke Danda, 1 km W of Kesawa, 2000m, 16–17.VI.1998, Márton Hreblay & Balázs Benedek leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-1063♂, ZSM Arct. 2019-1064♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM).
Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11.0– 11.5 mm in males and 12.0– 12.5 mm in females. Miltochrista nuranang sp. nov. is superficially largely reminiscent of M. neoseriata and M. terminata and the reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of M. nuranang sp. nov. is similar to M. vidlickai but distinguished by the uncus bearing a basal spur dorsally, and the posteriorly tapered tegumen forming two short and apically rounded subuncal lobes. Compared to M. vidlickai, the phallus of the new species is shorter, markedly narrower (in proportion to the genitalia capsule size), and almost straight whereas it is medially upcurved in the congener. In the vesica of M. nuranang sp. nov., both the cornuti are shorter than in M. vidlickai. The female genitalia of M. nuranang sp. nov. differ from M. vidlickai by the considerably longer antrum bearing a basally broader but markedly shorter ventral crest, and the shorter corpus bursae. Additionally, the lateral pockets of the 7 th abdominal sternite of the new species are longer than in the similar congener. The detailed comparison with another similar species, M. terminata is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species.
Distribution. The new species is known from Northeast India (Sikkim, north of West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh) and Nepal.
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the 100 meters high Nuranang Falls situated near the type locality in Tawang District of Arunachal Pradesh. The name is a noun in nominative singular in apposition.
description: Published as part of Volynkin, Anton V., Singh, Santosh, Černý, Karel, Kirti, Jagbir Singh, Datta, Harvinder Singh & Singh, Navneet, 2025, On the taxonomy of the genus Miltochrista Hübner with descriptions of six new species from the Oriental Realm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), pp. 401-445 in Zootaxa 5566 (3) on page 424, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5566.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14703099