Report of a tussock moth genus Maeoproctis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Lymantriinae: Nygmiini) from India

: A new genus of Lymantriinae, Maeoproctis gen. nov. has been proposed with Euproctis latifascia (Walker) as its type species. The morphological descriptions and diagnosis have also been provided for the new genus. Another species subfasciata Walker has been shifted under the new genus as a new combination Maeoproctis subfasciata (Walker) comb. nov.

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online); ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)  (Wang et al. 2015). The name 'Maeoproctis' has been proposed as a new genus referable to the tribe Nygmiini Holloway for the proper placement of two species, namely, Euproctis latifascia (Walker) and Euproctis subfasciata (Walker). Both the species are paler in general appearance and have very uniform distinct genitalic characters. In the present study, it has been concluded that both these species belong to a distinct genus rather than Euproctis Hübner and thus the new genus has been proposed for the proper placement of both species. Euproctis latifascia (Walker) has been proposed as its type species. This new genus is well defined on the basis of male genitalic features such as uncus represented by two narrow widely apart processes, short & distally bifid valva, and distinct tegumen. Though the genus Euproctis Hübner is closely allied to this new genus in general appearance and wing venation, it is distinct in terms of its male genitalic features such as unified uncus and simple uni-lobed valva. Chao (2003) outlined the genitalic characters of 103 species under the genus Euproctis Hübner in Fauna Sinica. Out of these, the three species-hypoenops Collenette, schaliphora Collenette, and seitzi Collenette-also completely conform the characterization of the new genus and can be transferred under it.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The adult moths were collected from different localities of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand using light traps equipped with a 160W mercury bulb and vertical white sheet. The methodology proposed by Zimmerman (1978) was followed for the study of wing venation. The male and female moths were dissected out to examine the external genitalic features (Robinson, 1976) and the terminology for naming various genitalic parts given by Klots (1970). After detailed study, the specimens were preserved in the Lepidoptera Lab, Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University Patiala.

RESULTS
The external morphological characters like ornamentation of antennae, legs and abdomen; wing maculation; wing venation and significantly the external genitalic features contributed towards the authentic identification and characterization of examined taxa. The genus Maeoproctis gen. nov. has been proposed new to science with Euproctis latifascia (Walker) as its type species. A new combination has also been proposed by shifting Euproctis subfasciata (Walker) under the new genus as Maeoproctis subfasciata (Walker) comb. nov.

Maeoproctis gen. nov.
Type species: Euproctis latifascia (Walker, 1855). Diagnosis: Medium sized moths, usually pale in colouration. Labial palpi large, hairy, obliquely porrect, reaching above the level of frons. Antennae bipectinate in both sexes, pectinations longer in males. Forewing with discal cell more than half the length of wing, closed; 1A and 2A from base of the wing; 3A absent; Cu 1 , M 3 and M 2 from near lower angle of cell; M 1 from upper angle of cell; R 5 -R 2 stalked from upper angle of cell, R 2 branching off towards apex; no aerole; Sc from base of wing, not reaching apex. Hindwing with discal cell more than half the length of wing, closed; 1A and 2A from base of the wing; 3A absent; Cu 1 and M 3 stalked from lower angle of cell; M 2 from above lower angle of cell; M 1 and Rs stalked from upper angle of cell. Legs dressed with scales; foretibia with an epiphysis; mid-tibia with one pair of tibial spurs; hind-tibia with two pairs of tibial spurs. Abdomen furnished with scales; distinct anal tuft in females. Male genitalia with uncus represented by two narrow widely apart processes making U-shaped appearance; tegumen broad, dumbbell-shaped, with knob-like protrusions on lateral sides of uncus; saccus prominent; juxta well developed; valva simple, short, distally bifid; aedeagus short, vesica armed with prominent spur. Female genitalia with corpus bursae long; signum absent; ductus bursae narrow; apophysis with dilated apices; papilla analis triangular, setosed; pseudo-papillae small, setosed.
Etymology This new genus is well defined on the basis of male genitalic features such as uncus represented by two narrow widely apart processes; short and distally bifid valva and distinct tegumen. Though the genus Euproctis Hübner is closely allied to this new genus in general appearance and wing venation, but it is distinct in terms of its male genitalic features such as unified uncus and simple, uni-lobed valva. Chao (2003)  Head with vertex and frons clothed with creamishwhite scales. Labial palpi fringed with creamish scales.
Antennae with scape and flagellum covered with white scales. Thorax, collar, and tegula furnished with white scales. Legs dressed with creamish scales. Abdomen studded with black scales; underside with creamish scales; anal segment fringed with yellow scales in males; anal tuft brown. Forewing with ground colour creamishwhite in males, pure white in females; without any marking. Hindwing with ground colour creamish-white in males, pure white in females; without any marking. Forewing with Cu 2 from well beyond two-third of cell having a short bar; Cu 1 from before lower angle of cell; M 3 and M 2 from lower angle of cell; M 1 from upper angle of cell; R 5 -R 2 well stalked before upper angle of cell; R 1 from three-fourth of cell. Hindwing with Cu 2 from twothird of cell; Cu 1 and M 3 stalked from lower angle of cell; M 2 from above lower angle of cell; M 1 and Rs well stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R 1 from base of wing sending a bar to cell beyond its middle.
Male genitalia: Uncus of moderate size, represented by two narrow widely apart processes making a shape of U, dorsally setosed, with blunt apices; tegumen moderately sclerotized, bulbous on both sides having knob-like protrusions on lateral sides of uncus; vinculum quite narrow extending into prominent U-shaped saccus; juxta well-sclerotized, dome-shaped. Valva simple, moderately sclerotized; distally bifid with two processes, one large and broad, other narrow, both processes setosed. Aedeagus short, moderately sclerotized; proximal end rounded; ductus ejaculatorius entering near proximal end; vesica armed with a well sclerotized prominent spur.
Remarks: Walker (1855) described this species under genus Leucoma Stephens from Nepal. Hampson (1892) transferred it to the genus Euproctis Hübner. Chao (2003), Smetacek (2008), and Kaleka (2012) followed the same nomenclature. In the present studies, the species under reference has been proposed as the type species of the new genus Maeoproctis.
Type Locality: India (Sikkim) Diagnosis: Forewing with faint medial band; vein M 2 just above lower angle of cell. Male genitalia with large, V-shaped saccus; juxta with two flap-like projections.
Female: Not examined. Head with vertex and frons clothed with creamish scales. Labial palpi fringed with fulvous scales. Antennae with scape and flagellum covered with fulvous scales. Thorax, collar and tegula suffused with fulvous scales, underside paler. Legs dressed with creamish scales. Abdomen furnished with black scales, underside with creamish scales; anal segment fringed with yellow scales. Forewing with ground colour creamish-white; nearly obsolete medial band. Hindwing with ground colour white, without any marking. Forewing with Cu 2 from beyond two-third of cell; Cu 1 from well before lower angle of cell; M 3 from lower angle of cell; M 2 just above lower angle of cell; M 1 from upper angle of cell; R 5 -R 2 well stalked before upper angle of cell; R 1 from three-fourth of cell. Hindwing with Cu 2 from well beyond middle of cell; Cu 1 and M 3 shortly stalked from lower angle of cell; M 2 from well above lower angle of cell; M 1 and Rs well stalked from upper angle of cell; Sc+R 1 from base of wing anastomosing with cell well before its middle.
Male genitalia: Uncus represented by two narrow, long processes, widely apart making U-shaped appearance, well-sclerotized, tips nearly pointed; tegumen broad, both arms medially dilated, V-shaped, having quite small protrusions along lateral sides of uncus; vinculum quite narrow ending into large, vaselike saccus; juxta moderately sclerotized, represented by two flap-like projections. Valva simple, short and broad; moderately-sclerotized; distal end bifid with two setosed processes, one shorter and other longer. Aedeagus small, moderately sclerotized; proximal end rounded; ductus ejaculatorius entering near proximal end; vesica armed with a well-sclerotized prominent spur and a patch of numerous spines.
Material Examined: (7 males Collenette (1934) and Chao (2003) followed the same nomenclature. In the present study, the status of the species subfasciata Walker has been updated by placing it under the new genus Maeoproctis. It is closely allied to Maeoproctis latifascia (Walker) comb. nov. in general appearance and can be easily differentiated on the basis of presence of a faint medial band on forewing. Its collection from Himachal Pradesh is its first record from northwestern India.

Hübner (1819) established the genus Euproctis with
Bombyx chrysorrhoea Linnaeus as its type species from Europe. It is a large, diverse, and complicated genus comprising of more than 100 species (Chao 2003). Wang et al. (2015) also confirmed its polyphyletic nature. The taxonomic position of the species under reference J TT is ambiguous as these species do not conform to the characterization of the genus Euproctis Hübner. The new genus, Maeoproctis, is also distinct from its allied genera namely, Somena Walker, Orvasca Walker, and Sphrageidus Maes, due to the presence of vein M 2 in the hindwing which is absent in all the three genera (Holloway 1999). The new genus is well defined on the basis of male genitalic features such as uncus with two narrow widely apart processes; short and distally bifid valva, and distinct tegumen. The taxonomic placement of species like Euproctis latifascia (Walker) and Euproctis subfasciata (Walker) has also been justified. Though the genus Euproctis Hübner is closely allied to the new genus in general appearance and wing venation, but it is distinct in terms of its male genitalic features such as unified uncus and simple uni-lobed valva. Chao (2003) outlined the genitalic characters of 103 species under the genus Euproctis Hübner in 'Fauna Sinica'. Out of these, the three species namely hypoenops Collenette, schaliphora Collenette, and seitzi Collenette also completely conform to the characterization of the new genus Maeoproctis and can be transferred under it.