Apethistis minapaksha Sahoo, 2026, sp. nov.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Apethistis minapaksha sp. nov. Figs 2–7 Material examined. Holotype, ♂, India: Assam, Mariani, Near Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, 26°40’59”N, 94°21’38”E, 141mt., 01.x.2025, MVL, Kishore C. Sahoo & Abhijith KP [leg.] (IARI – Assam –LEP–AUT–12). Paratypes, 4♂, same data as holotype (IARI – Assam –LEP–AUT–13 to 16). Diagnosis. The species superficially resembles its congeners but can be readily distinguished by the characters of the male genitalia. In the male genitalia, it is similar to Apethistis dentata Wang & Wang, 2017, particularly in the presence of a pointed process at the valval apex. However, it differs in having a fin-shaped dorsal process on the valva. Description. Adult (Fig. 2) with wingspan 10.5–11.5 mm. Head covered with yellowish-brown scales, each scale creamy white in distal half. Antenna about half length of forewing; scape dark brown to black; flagellum ochreous brown. Labial palpus yellowish brown, suffused with dark-brown scales on outer surface and creamy white on inner surface; third palpomere distally suffused with dark-brown to black scales, pointed apically. Thorax and tegula soil brown. Forewing soil brown; costa nearly straight; apex smoothly rounded; termen slightly oblique; with distinct discal, discocellular and plical stigma, and a series of fuscous dots on distal one-fourth of costa and along termen; cilia yellowish brown; R4 and R5 stalked for basal 3/5 length, R4 to costal margin, R5 to termen, CuA1 and CuA2 stalked basally (Fig. 3). Hindwing and cilia grey; apex beak-like; termen broadly concave below apex; Rs and M1 as well as M3 and CuA1 stalked basally (Fig. 3). Abdomen dark brown. Male genitalia (Figs 4–7). Uncus with distal half bifurcate, forming a U-shaped incision; basal half subrectangular, broader basally and gradually narrowing towards mid-length. Lateral lobes of uncus smoothly curved, together forming a dome-shaped structure. Gnathos with a distinct mesial process; lateral arms long, nearly parallel in basal half and triangular in distal half. Tegumen broad; lateral arms minutely serrate along margins and dorsally forming an arch. Valva about twice the length of phallus, with an oblique sclerotized line (Fig. 6a) extending from base of costa down-outward to about 1/4 valval length; costa distinctly concave at approximately mid-length and produced a fin-shaped dorsal process preapically (Fig. 6b). Apex of valva smoothly curved, with a distinct pointed apical process (Fig. 6c); ventral margin sinuate at approximately basal one-third, nearly straight distally. Basal one-third of valva bearing a broad and projected, somewhat trapezoidal structure (Fig. 6d); distal two-thirds of valval surface densely covered with minute piliform setae. Sacculus broad basally and gradually narrowing apically. Juxta with a minute tongue-like median protrusion. Saccus triangular, not extending beyond ventral margin of sacculus. Phallus (Fig. 7) bulbous in basal two-fifths; distal portion bearing a complex cornuti, consisting of a scobinate, plate-like structure and approximately 15–17 tooth-like processes arranged semicircularly near apex. Female unknown. Etymology. The specific epithet minapaksha is derived from the Sanskrit mīna (fish) and pakṣa (fin/wing), referring to the characteristic fish fin-shaped dorsal process of the valva. A noun in the nominative singular standing in apposition to the generic name.
Author: Sahoo, Kishore Chandra
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225616065
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