Revision of the family Metarbelidae (Lepidoptera) of the Oriental Region. III. Genus Stueningeria Lehmann, 2019

In the third part of the revision of the family Metarbelidae (Lepidoptera) of South-Eastern Asia, we provide a revision of the genus Stueningeria Lehmann, 2019 with description of six new species: Stueningeria htetae sp. nov. (Type locality: Mynmar, 21 km E Putao), Stueningeria csovarii sp. nov. (Type locality: Thailand, Changwat Nan, 15 km N of Bo Luang), Stueningeria loeffleri sp. nov. (Type locality: Thailand, Sakhon Nakhon Prov., Phu Pan NP), Stueningeria ihlei sp. nov. (Type locality: Vietnam (C.), Prov. Thua-Thien-Hue, Kreis A Luoi, Gemeinde A Rong, Passastrasse ca. 30 km S A Luoi.), Stueningeria murzini sp. nov. (Type locality: China, SW Yunnan, Xishuanbanna, Guanping env., 60 km N Jinghong), and Stueningeria pinratanai sp. nov. (Type locality: NW Thailand, Chiangmai, Doi Pui Forest Res. Stat.)  Two new combinations are established: Stueningeria campbelli (Hampson, 1910) comb. nov. and Stueningeria phaga (Swinhoe, 1894) comb. nov. Both species are redescribed. The type species of the genus Stueningeria nepalensis Lehmann, 2019 is reported for the first time for the fauna of India (Uttarakhand). We also give for the first time the description of female genitalia of the genus Stueningeria. The genus distribution map is provided.


Introduction
In the first two parts of the revision on the poorly studied family Metarbelidae (Lepidoptera) (Yakovlev & Zolotuhin 2020, 2021 we gave a brief overview on the genera distributed in South-Eastern Asia, and described 4 new genera. Lehmann (2019) described the monotypic genus Stueningeria Lehmann, 2019 (type species: Stueningeria nepalensis Lehmann, 2019) from Nepal. As apomorphic features, Lehmann (2019: 52) indicated several characteristics in the wings venation, male and female genital structures. Examining the materials on Metarbelidae, deposited in museums and private collections, we were able to establish that two previously described species from India: Arbela campbelli Hampson, 1910 and Arbela phaga Swinhoe, 1894 belong to the genus Stueningeria. Additionally, we revealed six new species from various localities of Indochina (Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) and South China (Yunnan Province), their descriptions are given below.

Diagnosis.
In the contrasting discal spot on the fore wing, the species is most close to S. phaga (Swinhoe, 1894) and S. htetae Yakovlev & Zolotuhin sp. nov. From which it differs in a dimmer color and in the blunt apex of the harpe on the saccular edge of the valve.

Redescription.
We know only one specimen of this species (holotype, female). Length of fore wing 13 mm. On fore wing, reticulated pattern of wide light-brown spots and transverse thin light lines. Hind wing lightbrown, with poorly expressed reticulated pattern. Fringe on all wings mottled, light between veins, brown at veins.
Notes. The original description (Hampson 1910: 97) contains two significant mistakes. Firstly, the holotype is a female, not a male, as indicated in the description. Secondly, there is a mistake in the name of the type habitat. Hampson gives a non-existent locality, "Madras. Horsleyhonda", while on the geographical label of the holotype we clearly see "S[outhern]. India, Horsleykonda".

Distribution. India (Andhra Pradesh).
Etymology. William Howard Campbell (1859 was an Irish Presbyterian missionary who worked with the London Missionary Society in southern India. He was a member of the Bombay Natural History Society who collected specimens, mostly of moths, and made natural history observations during his travels between 1901 and 1908 (Mackenzie 1910

Redescription.
Male. Length of fore wing 13 mm. In cubital area of fore wing, from base to middle of wing, portion with long white androconium scales. Brown reticulated pattern on fore wing, with more contrasting dark-brown spots on light-brown background, expressed band of separate dark-brown spots postdiscally (from distal third of costal edge to medium third of rear edge). Hind wing light-brown, without pattern. Fringe on all wings mottled, light between veins, brown at veins.
Female. Length of fore wing 18 mm. Pattern the same as that of male. Setae on antennae shorter than those of male.
Female genitalia not studied.
Diagnosis. Externally, the species is most close to S. nepalensis and S. htetae, from which it differs in the acute harpe on the saccular edge of the valve. Description. Length of fore wing 15 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in medium third of antenna twice longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and abdomen from above covered with long brown scales, long modified scales on apex of abdomen. Fore wing light-brown with bright brown round spots along costal and lower edges and in discal cell, oblique band of small brown spots from top area of costal edge to medium third of lower edge; portions with long grey-white androconium scales cubitally (from base to postdiscal area), at base of radial veins and postdiscally. Hind wing light-brown with poorly developed blurred brown pattern. Fringe on all wings mottled, light between veins, brown at veins.
Female unknown.

Diagnosis.
The new species is most close to S. nepalensis, from which it differs in the clearly expressed androconium portions on the fore wing, the poorly developed postdiscal band on the fore wing, the concave halves of the uncus, and the saccular sclerotized edge which is distally sharply cut.

Distribution. Northern Myanmar (Kachin State).
Etymology. The new species is named after Ms. Htar Htet Htet − Former Myanmar beauty queen, who sided with the partisans against the military junta during the 2021 coup in Myanmar. Description. Length of fore wing 14 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in antenna medium third twice longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and abdomen covered with long brown scales (except for medium third of abdomen which is covered with light-grey scales, abdomen apically with long modified scales. Fore wing very mottled, bright, with bright brown spots of various shape and size throughout all wing area, thin creamy lines between spots; oblique band submarginally expressed from R2 to CuA2; long narrow crescent spot of grey androconium scales cubitally (from base to tornal angle), two short thin portions of grey androconium scales between radial trunk veins; marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots). Hind wing light-brown with poorly expressed blurred dark-brown pattern, anal edge creamy, without pattern, marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots). Male genitalia (Fig. 19). Uncus with deep semicircular bifurcation, uncus halves slightly extended apically, relatively long; scaphium and subscaphium fused into wide short spindle-like tube; gnathos arms short, lamellar; gnathos lamellar with long thin lateral processes; valve short with semicircular costal edge, slightly curved saccular and outer edges; saccular edge (in basal half) strongly sclerotized, tubulate, distally sharply cut, short, with pyramidal twin-peaked harpe directed dorsally; juxta lamellar, robust; saccus almost reduced; phallus twice shorter than valve, poorly curved in medium third, relatively thin, with small spiky cornutus in distal third. Female (Fig. 9). Length of fore wing 12 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in medium third of antenna 1.5 times longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and abdomen from above covered with light-grey scales, abdomen apically with long modified brown scales. Fore wing creamy with poorly expressed brown pattern of small spots along costal edge and submarginally, big brown spot in discal cell, slight sputtering of brown scales throughout all wing area. Hind wing light-brown with poorly expressed dim dark-brown pattern, anal angle creamy without pattern. Fringe on all wings mottled, light between veins, dark at veins.
Diagnosis. Externally, the new species is similar to S. ihlei sp. nov. and S. pinratanai sp. nov., from which it differs in very narrow androconium portions in the radial area of the fore wing, in the long distal halves of the uncus and in the twin-peaked harpe on the saccular edge of the valve. From S. loeffeleri the new species differs in the absence of small serrations on the phallus.

Etymology. The new species is named after the entomologist Tibor Csovarithe new species collector.
Stueningeria loeffleri sp. nov. Description. Male. Length of fore wing 14 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in medium third of antenna twice longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and abdomen from above covered with long brown scales (except for medium third of abdomen, covered with light-grey scales), abdomen apically with long modified scales. Fore wing creamy with mottled pattern of brown spots of various shape and size throughout all wing area, thin creamy lines between spots; dark-brown stroke in discal cell at base, big dark-brown spot at top of discal cell; narrow crescent portion of grey androconium scales cubitally (from base to middle of wing in length); small androconium portion of the same scales in radial area; marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots). Hind wing light-brown without pattern, anal edge creamy, without pattern, fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots).
Male genitalia (Fig. 20). Uncus wide, with extended semicircular bifurcation apically, apical halves of uncus diverging at a right angle, wide, short, halves of uncus apically almost smooth; scaphium and subscaphium fused into short wide spindle-like tube; gnathos arms short, lamellar; gnathos lamellar, with long thin lateral processes; valve short with equally rounded edges; saccular edge strongly sclerotized in basal half, tubulate, with short pyramidal harpe directed dorsally; juxta lamellar, robust; saccus almost reduced; phallus 2.5 times shorter than valve, thick, in distal third with robust spiky cornutus, directed proximally, and small serrations on abdominal surface.

Diagnosis.
The new species is most close to S. ihlei sp. nov., S. csovarii sp. nov. and S. pinratanai sp. nov., from which it differs in the lighter color, the short androconium portion in the cubital area and the serrations on the abdominal surface of the phallus.

Distribution. Thailand (Sakhon Nakhon Province).
Etymology. The new species is named after the entomologist Swen Löfflerthe collector of the new species. Description. Male. Length of fore wing 13 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in medium third of antenna twice longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and abdomen from above covered with long brown scales (except for medium third of abdomen covered with light-grey scales), abdomen apically with long modified scales. Fore wing very mottled, bright, with bright brown spots of various shape and size throughout all wing area; wide creamy lines between spots; oblique band submarginally, expressed from R2 to CuA2, consisting of semicircular brown spots; in discal cell bright black stroke cut with thin transverse creamy lines; cubitally (from base to tornal angle) long narrow crescent portion of grey androconium scales; two wide short portions of grey androconium scales between veins of radial trunk; marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots). Hind wing light-brown with poorly expressed reticulated dark-brown pattern, anal angle light-grey without pattern, marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots).

Stueningeria ihlei
Male genitalia (Fig. 21). Uncus wide, with extended semicircular bifurcation apically, apical halves of uncus diverging at a right angle, wide, short, apices of uncus halves almost smooth; scaphium and subscaphium fused into long extended spindle-like tube; gnathos arms short, lamellar; gnathos lamellar with long thin lateral processes; valve short with equally rounded edges; saccular edge (in basal half) strongly sclerotized, tubulate, with very short pyramidal harpe directed dorsally; juxta lamellar, robust; saccus practically reduced; phallus 2.5 times shorter than valve, thick, in distal third with robust spiky cornutus directed at a right angle towards phallus axis.
Female unknown.

Diagnosis.
The new species is close to S. ihlei sp. nov. and S. pinratanai sp. nov., from which it differs in the very mottled pattern and the very small harpe on the saccular edge of the valve. From S. loeffeleri the new species differs in the absence of serrations on the phallus. Description. Male. Length of fore wing 13−13.5 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in medium third of antenna twice longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and abdomen from above covered with long brown scales (except for medium third of abdomen, covered with light-grey scales), abdomen apically with long modified scales. Fore wing with blurred brown pattern, brown spots in discal cell; cubitally (from base to tornal angle) long, relatively wide crescent portion of grey androconium scales, between veins of radial trunk two relatively wide short portions of grey androconium scales; marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots). Hind wing light-grey with poorly expressed reticulated dark-grey pattern, anal angle creamy without pattern, marginal area and fringe mottled (with alternating brown and creamy spots).

Etymology. The new species is named after the entomologist Thomas
Male genitalia (Fig. 22). Uncus wide, with wide semicircular bifurcation apically, apical halves of uncus diverging at a right angle, wide, short, apices of uncus halves almost smooth; scaphium and subscaphium fused into long, relatively narrow spindle-like tube; gnathos arms short, lamellar; gnathos lamellar, with long thin lateral processes; valve short with equally rounded edges; saccular edge (in basal half) strongly sclerotized, tubulate, curved in distal third, with pyramidal harpe directed dorsally; juxta lamellar, robust; saccus almost reduced; phallus 2.5 times shorter than valve, thick, in distal third with robust spiky cornutus directed at a right angle to axis of phallus. Female (Fig. 13). Length of fore wing 17 mm. Antenna bipectinate, setae 1.5 times longer than antenna rod diameter. Thorax and abdomen (except for base of abdomen covered with brown scales) covered with creamy scales. Fore wing creamy with small brown spots along costal edge, brown strokes basally, underlining discal cell from below, brown stroke at top of discal cell, postdiscallyshort oblique band from R5 to CuA1 consisting of three round brown spots, postdiscally and submarginallydense sputtering of brown scales. Hind wing creamy with dense reticulated brown pattern of strokes. Fringe on all wings mottled, light at veins, brown between veins.
Female genitalia not studied.

Diagnosis.
The new species clearly differs from all the species of the genus in the blurred brown pattern, in the curved end of the sclerotized saccular edge of the valve, and in the large females.
Etymology. The new species is named after the collector of the type series -Sergej Murzin (Moscow).  Description. Male. Length of fore wing 12−13.5 mm. Antenna short, bipectinate, setae in medium third of antenna 2 times longer than antenna rod diameter, thorax and tegulae from above covered with long brown scales (except for medium third of abdomen covered with light-grey scales), abdomen apically with long modified scales. Fore wing light-brown with bright pattern of dark-brown elements: series of spots along costal edge of wing, spots in discal cell, postdiscally and submarginally; in cubital area (from base to tornal angle) long crescent portion of grey androconium scales extended in medium third, two wide short portions of grey androconium scales between radial trunk veins; border creamy. Hind wing light-grey, without pattern, anal edge creamy without pattern, border dark-grey. Fringe on all wings mottled, light between veins, brown at veins.
Male genitalia (Fig. 23). Uncus wide, with extended semicircular bifurcation apically, apical halves diverging at right angle, wide, short, apices of uncus halves almost smooth; scaphium and subscaphium fused into long extended spindle-like tube; gnathos arms short, lamellar; gnathos lamellar, with long thin lateral processes; valve short, with equally rounded edges; saccular edge (in basal half) strongly sclerotized, tubulate, with pyramidal, apically acute harpe, directed dorsally; juxta lamellar, robust; saccus almost reduced; phallus 2.5 times shorter than valve, very thick, in distal third with robust spiky cornutus directed at right angle to phallus axis. Female (Fig. 15). Length of fore wing 14.5 mm. Antenna bipectinate, setae 1.5 times longer than antenna rod diameter. Pattern analogous to that of male, but significantly dimmer.

Diagnosis.
The new species is most close to S. ihlei sp. nov. and S. csovarii sp. nov., from which it differs in the wider androconium portion in the cubital area. From S. loeffeleri it differs in the absence of small serrations on the phallus. Additionally, in contrast to other species, the females of which are known, the species is characterized by a weak sexual dimorphism.

Distribution. Thailand (Chiangmai Province).
Etymology. The new species is named after Bro. Amnuay Pinratana (1930Pinratana ( −2017, ex headmaster of St. Gabriel's College, Bangkok, a well-known Thai entomologist, who oversaw the publication of a series of books on the nature of Thailand.

Discussion
Thus, the genus Stueningeria currently includes 9 species (Fig. 32) distributed in the continental part of Southern and South-Eastern Asia: from southern slopes of the Himalayas in India and Nepal, locally in Hindustan, in the Eastthroughout Indochina.