Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 November 2022 | 14(11): 22184–22189
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7481.14.11.22184-22189
#7481 | Received 01
June 2021 | Final received 24 August 2022 | Finally accepted 22 October 2022
A new species of genus Neocerura Matsumura, 1929 (Notodontidae:
Lepidoptera) from India
Amritpal Singh Kaleka
1 & Rishi Kumar 2
1 Department of Zoology, Punjabi
University, NH 64, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India.
2 Department of Zoology, DAV
College, Mahatma Hans Raj Marg, Jalandhar, Punjab 144008, India.
1 apskaleka@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 jagotarishi@gmail.com
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EA4EBEEE-EA37-45B4-B1DF-64A9041335F1
Editor: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam, Sphingidae Museum, Pribram, Czech
Republic. Date of
publication: 26 November 2022 (online & print)
Citation: Kaleka,
A.S. & R. Kumar (2022). A new species of genus Neocerura Matsumura, 1929 (Notodontidae:
Lepidoptera) from India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 14(11): 22184–22189. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7481.14.11.22184-22189
Copyright: © Kaleka
& Kumar 2022. Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the
authorities of concerned states for providing permission, accommodation and
other facilities during surveys.
Abstract: A new species Neocerura convergata
under the genus Neocerura Matsumura, 1929
has been described and illustrated. This
species is closely related to N. liturata
Walker, 1855 (type species) and completely conforms to the characterization of
the genus. The wing maculation, larger
size, and genitalic features make it distinct. The taxonomic account of N. liturata Walker, 1855 has also been included. The revival of the genus Neocerura
Matsumura, 1929 has also been justified.
Keywords: Neocerura
convergata sp. nov.,
Neocerura liturata, new
species, Notodontidae.
Abbreviations: 1A—First anal vein | 2A—Second
anal vein | AED—Aedeagus | | CU1—First cubital vein | CU2—Second
cubital vein | GN—Gnathos | JX—Juxta | M1—First
Medial vein | M2—Second Medial vein | M3—Third Medial
vein | R1—First Radial vein | R2—Second Radial vein | R3—Third
Radial vein | R4—Fourth Radial vein | R5—Fifth Radial
vein | Rs —Radial sector | Sc —Subcosta
| Sc+R1—Subcosta and first radial vein |
TG—Tegumen | UN—Uncus | VES—Vesica
| VIN—Vinculum | VLV—Valva.
Matsumura (1929) established the
genus Neocerura with liturata
Walker as its type species. Gaede
(1934), Kiriakoff (1964, 1968), Holloway (1983), Schintlmeister & Pinratana
(2007), and Schintlmeister (2008) followed the same
nomenclature. Schintlmeister
(1997, 2001), and Wu & Fang (2002) treated it as subgenus under genus Cerura Shrank, 1802.
Schintlmeister (2008) revived it as a distinct
genus and distinguished it from other two genera i.e., Cerura
Shrank, 1802 and Kamalia Kocak and Kemal, 2006 on the basis of distinct male genitalic features.
The distal end of aedeagus is simple in Cerura
Shrank, 1802 and with sclerotized processes in Kamalia
Kocak & Kemal, 2006 and but in the present
genus, i.e., Neocerura its distal end is
bifurcated. In the present studies, the
same nomenclature has been adopted and N. liturata
Walker, 1855 (the type species) along with a new species, namely, N. convergata has been described and illustrated in
detail under this genus. The new species
is closely related to N. liturata
(Walker, 1855) but can be easily differentiated due to its bigger size and
distinct black markings on wings. The
male genitalia such as less curved uncus, narrower gnathos
and converging distal processes of aedeagus further makes it a distinct species
from other species of this genus. While
dealing with Indonesian Notodontidae, Schintlmeister (2020) also added a new species, i.e., N.
longinquus Schintlmeister,
2020 to the present genus and remarked that this genus is represented by
five species.
Material and Methods
The material examined was collected from different
localities of northeastern India by using vertical sheet method. The collected
specimens were killed, stretched and preserved after proper labeling in
Lepidoptera Lab, Punjabi University, Patiala. The external morphological
characters were studied from the stretched specimens. The dissections were
carried out to explore the male and female genitalic
features (Robinson 1976). The permanent slides of fore and hindwings were
prepared to study wing venation (Zimmerman 1978). The terminology for naming
various genital parts follows Klots (1970).
Results &
Discussion
Genus Neocerura
Matsumura, 1929
Neocerura Matsumura, 1929, Ins. Mats.,
4: 89; Gaede, 1934, Lep. Cat., 59: 60; Kiriakoff, 1964, Genera Insectorum
Fasc., 217a: 65; id., 1968, Genera Insectorum
Fasc., 217C: 113; Schintlmeister & Pinratana, 2007, Moths of Thailand, 5: 108; Schintlmeister, 2008, Palaearctic
Macrolepidoptera, 1: 123.
Neocerura Kiriakoff:
Holloway, 1983, Moths of Borneo, 4.
Type species: Cerura
liturata Walker, 1855
Distribution: India (throughout), Nepal,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Indochina, Malaya, Borneo,
Philippines, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombek, Flores,
Sumba, Sumbawa, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Peleng Island, Salayer Island and as a remote point in Tanimbar (Holloway
1983; Schintlmeister & Pinratana
2007; Schintlmeister 2008, 2020).
Diagnosis: Small- to medium-sized moths;
ground colour white with black markings. Labial palpi porrect. Antennae bipectinate, pectinations
along entire length of the flagellum.
Forewing with black wavy bands; M3 from lower angle of cell;
M2 near middle of discocellulars; M1-R3
well stalked from upper angle of cell; areole present. Hindwing whitish. Legs hairy; fore-tibia with an epiphysis;
mid-tibia and hind-tibia, each with a pair of tibial spurs. Male genitalia with uncus hood-like; gnathos petiolate; tegumen,
vinculum and valvae weakly sclerotized; aedeagus
small with distal end bifurcated.
Neocerura liturata (Walker, 1855)
(Image 1–9)
Cerura liturata Walker, 1855, List. Lep. Het. Br. Mus., 5: 988; Hampson, 1892, Moths
India, 1: 155.
Neocerura liturata Walker: Matsumura, 1929, Ins.
Mats., 4: 89; Gaede, 1934, Lep. Cat.,
59: 60; Kiriakoff, 1964, Genera Insectorum Fasc., 217a: 65; id., 1968, Genera Insectorum Fasc., 217C: 113; Holloway, 1983, Moths
of Borneo, 4; Schintlmeister and Pinratana, 2007, Moths of Thailand, 5: 108; Schintlmeister, 2008, Palaearctic
Macrolepidoptera, 1: 123.
Type locality: Sylhet, Bangladesh
Description: Head with vertex white; frons
black. Labial palpi porrect, dressed
with black scales. Antenna bipectinate, pectinations
along entire length of the flagellum; scape covered with white scales;
flagellum black, pectinations black. Thorax, collar and tegula white, spotted with
black; collar fringed with black scales; underside white. Legs hairy, covered with black and white
scales; fore-tibia with an epiphysis; mid-tibia and hind-tibia, each with a
pair of tibial spurs. Abdomen black
having a whitish patch on distal end; underside white.
Wing maculation: Forewing with ground colour white; basal area with black spots; antemedial wavy
black band; costa with black streaks; medial and postmedial regions with black
wavy lines; a patch of black scales on costa near apex; margin banded with
black and white cilia; underside white.
Hindwing white with few black scales; outer margin banded with black and
white cilia; underside white.
Wing venation: Forewing with discal
cell more than half the length of the wing, closed; 1A from base of wing,
anastomosing with 2A, covering one-third of anal margin; 2A from base of wing,
reaching tornus; 3A absent; Cu2 beyond two-third of cell; Cu1
well before lower angle of cell; M3 from lower angle of cell; M2
above middle of discocellulars; M1-R3
well stalked from upper angle of cell; R2 before upper angle of
cell, sending a bar to common stalk of R5-R3 to form an
areole; R1 from three-fourth of cell, not reaching apex; Sc from
base of wing, not reaching apex. Hindwing with discal
cell more than half the length of wing, closed; 1A from base of wing, running
parallel to anal margin, not reaching tornus; 2A from base of wing, reaching
tornus; 3A absent; Cu2 beyond two-third of cell; Cu1 just
before lower angle of cell; M3 from lower angle of cell; M2
just above middle of discocellulars; M1
and Rs well stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R1
from base of wing, sending a bar to cell before its middle, not reaching apex.
Wing expanse: Male: 38–50 mm; Female: Not
examined.
Body length: Male: 24–26 mm.
Male genitalia: Uncus of moderate size,
moderately sclerotized, setosed, distal half broad,
curved, ventral side with a setosed projection,
making snake-hood like appearance, distal end narrow, rounded; gnathos moderately sclerotized, more than half length of
uncus, both projections robust, leaf-like; tegumen
U-shaped, weakly sclerotized, each arm narrowing towards both ends; vinculum
narrow, weakly sclerotized, without any distinct saccus;
juxta narrow, moderately sclerotized, crown-shaped. Valva simple,
sleeper-shaped, weakly sclerotized, ventral half more setosed. Aedeagus short, well sclerotized; proximal
end with flap-like structures on lateral sides; ductus ejaculatorius
entering directly between these two flaps; distal half having highly
sclerotized almost equal sized projections; vesica
having long flap-like spur representing cornuti.
Material examined: India, Meghalaya:
PUP-NT-29a-b, Umtsor, 15.ix.2014, two males (25.8284°
N, 91.8493° E); Mizoram: PUP-NT-29c, Thenzawl,
06.ix.2015, one male (23.2808° N, 92.7741° E); Sikkim: PUP-NT-29d, Dodak, 06.v.2014, one male (27.1734° N, 88.1708° E).
Distribution: India: Throughout India; Nepal,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Indochina, Malaya, Borneo,
Philippines, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombek, Flores,
Sumba; Sumbawa; Sulawesi; Sumatra, Peleng Island, Salayer Island (Holloway 1983; Schintlmeister
& Pinratana 2007; Schintlmeister
2008, 2020).
Remarks: This species was originally
described by Walker (1855) under genus Cerura
Shrank and Hampson (1892) followed the same nomenclature. Matsumura (1929) established a new genus Neocerura for its proper placement and the same has
been followed in the present studies.
Neocerura convergata sp. nov.
(Image 10–19)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B9E295D8-61EF-4B8E-ACA0-C3333B4FE449
Material examined: Holotype: PUP-NT-28a,
11.v.2013, male, India, Arunachal Pradesh, Sessa (27.1074° N, 92.5254° E).
Paratypes: PUP-NT-28b,
11.v.2013, one male, India, Arunachal Pradesh, Sessa (27.1074° N, 92.5254° E);
PUP-NT-28c-d, 08.ix.2013, three males, Sikkim, Golitar
(27.2299° N, 88.4933° E).
Diagnosis: The wing maculation and genitalic features particularly the shape and size of
uncus, gnathos, aedeagus, and distal processes of
aedeagus makes it distinct from other known species of genus Neocerura. Forewing with 31 mm length,
distinctly marked medial and postmedial fascia, median fascia with costal
streak to postmedial lines and hindwing with costal region having black patches
are the main diagnostic features of the present species. The splendid white colour
of forewing with more prominent medial spot and medial fascia without any
costal streak to postmedial lines differentiates N. thomsai
Schintlmeister from it. The absence of brown filled antemedial fascia
with a black spot near dorsum and discal spot of
forewing differentiates the present species from N. multifasciata
Schintlmeister and N. longinquus
Schintlmeister respectively. Male genitalia is with wedge shaped gnathos which is quite robust in N. liturata Walker and N. longinquus Schintlmeister. The distal bifurcate processes of aedeagus
are of moderate breadth with rounded apices whereas these are broader in N.
longinquus Schintlmeister
and narrower in other species. The
distal processes are quite narrower and longer with pointed apices in N.
multifasciata Schintlmeister
than in all other species.
Description: Head with vertex white; frons
black. Labial palpi porrect, dressed
with black scales. Antenna bipectinate
along entire length of the flagellum; scape covered with white scales;
flagellum black, pectinations black. Thorax, collar and tegula white; thorax and
tegula spotted with black; underside whitish with few black scales. Legs hairy, covered with black and white
scales; fore-tibia with an epiphysis; mid-tibia and hind-tibia, each with a
pair of tibial spurs. Abdomen black with
white median streak; distal end with a white patch having a black ring on it;
underside white.
Wing maculation: Forewing with ground colour white; basal area with small black streaks; costa
with black streaks; a postmedial wavy band; medial and postmedial regions with
black wavy lines; veins black in marginal area; a black patch on costa near
apex; outer margin chequered with black and white
cilia; underside whitish with almost same pattern as on upper side. Hindwing white; costal region having black
patches; anal area with few black scales; outer margin banded with black and
white cilia; underside whitish.
Wing venation: Forewing with discal
cell more than half the length of the wing, closed; 1A from base of wing,
anastomosing with 2A, covering one-third of anal margin; 2A from base of wing,
reaching tornus; 3A absent; Cu2 just beyond three-fourth of cell; Cu1
before lower angle of cell; M3 from lower angle of cell; M2
well above middle of discocellulars; M1
from upper angle of cell; R5 to R3 stalked before upper
angle of cell, their common stalk anastomosing with M1 to form a
small areole; R1 well before upper angle of cell, not reaching apex;
Sc from base of wing, not reaching apex. Hindwing with discal
cell more than half the length of wing, closed; 1A from base of wing running
parallel to anal margin, not reaching tornus; 2A from base of wing, reaching
tornus; 3A absent; Cu2 well before lower angle of cell; Cu1
and M3 minutely stalked from lower angle of cell; M2 from
middle of discocellulars; M1 and Rs well stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R1
from base of wing, conjoined in middle of discal
cell, not reaching apex.
Wing expanse: Male: 66 mm; Female: not
examined.
Body length: Male: 23 mm.
Male genitalia: Uncus of medium size, weakly
sclerotized, setosed, proximal half narrow, distal
half laterally dilated making globular appearance, slightly curved near narrow
and blunt tip; gnathos narrow, wedge-shaped,
moderately sclerotized, dorsally setosed, both
projections narrow, almost half the length of uncus, outer walls corrugated; tegumen broad, U-shaped, weakly sclerotized, narrowing
towards vinculum; vinculum narrow, slightly produced proximally on both sides, saccus absent; juxta oblong in shape, weakly sclerotized,
proximal area with sclerotized triangular projection. Valva simple,
weakly sclerotized, setosed; proximal half narrow,
distal half broad with rounded apex.
Aedeagus small, well sclerotized; ductus ejaculatorius
entering from proximal end; distal end with two finger-like, highly sclerotized
projections with rounded apices; vesica with a large
prominent nail-like sclerotized patch having dentate walls representing cornuti.
Distribution: India: Arunachal Pradesh,
Sikkim
Etymology: The present species has been
named after the converging distal processes of aedeagus.
Bionomics: It is known only by five
specimens from two localities, i.e., Sessa and Golitar
in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
Key to the studied species of
genus Neocerura Matsumura, 1925:
1. Wings weakly marked with black.
Male genitalia with gnathos robust leaf-like;
aedeagus with distal processes diverging outwardly …….............................................................................................................……….
Neocerura liturata
Walker, 1855
- Wings
distinctly marked with black. Male
genitalia with gnathos narrow, wedge-shaped; aedeagus
with distal processes converging inwardly
…..............................................................................................…...
Neocerura convergata
sp. nov.
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