SINGH and RANJAN : Additions to the moth fauna of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand (India) 323 ISSN 0375-1511 Rec. zool. Surv. India : 116(Part-4) : 323-336, 2016 ADDITIONS TO THE MOTH FAUNA OF DALMA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, JHARKHAND (INDIA) NAVNEET SINGH AND RAHUL RANJAN Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar Email: [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT The present communication deals with the addition of 23 species under 19 genera of three families: Erebidae, Noctuidae & Nolidae of moths from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Two new species, Ophiusa pseudotirhaca Singh & Ranjan, sp. nov. and Rusicada pindraberensis Singh & Ranjan, sp. nov. are described and one species, Pericyma cruegeri (Butler, 1886) is reported for the first time from India. This is an addition of about 17% of moths to the already recorded 138 species from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. INTRODUCTION furry bodies and the sitting posture, where adults Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the sit by spreading wings. Because of their nocturnal Chota Nagpur plateau in the Dalma Hill range habits, moths are among some of the least studied of East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. It lies group of insects. As far as the moths of Dalma are between 22° 46´ and 22° 57´ North latitude and concerned, important publications are by Sambath 86° 7´ and 86° 26´ East longitude with an area of (2009, 2014), in which the author recorded a total 193.22 km2. The sanctuary has undulating terrains of 138 species of moths from Dalma Wildlife with high hillocks, plateau, deep valleys and open Sanctuary. fields. The elevation of sanctuary area varies from In continuation, the present communication 154 m above MSL to more than 900 m above deals with the addition of 23 species under MSL. The climatic conditions of Dalma Wildlife 19 genera of three moth families, Erebidae, Sanctuary are extremely variable throughout the Noctuidae and Nolidae. Two new species, Ophiusa year. The forests of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary pseudotirhaca Singh & Ranjan, sp. nov. and come under the category of North Tropical high Rusicada pindraberensis Singh & Ranjan, sp. deciduous forests. The diverse range of climatic nov. are described and one species, Pericyma conditions coupled with varied type of topography cruegeri (Butler, 1886) is reported for the first and vegetation makes the Dalma Wildlife time from India. This is an addition of about 17% Sanctuary a heaven for the faunal diversity. Among of moths to the already recorded 138 species from the faunal diversity, moths (Lepidoptera) are one Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. The present work is of the most important groups of insects in terms based on the survey tours conducted during the of species diversity and economic importance. years 2011 to 2013. Survey tours were conducted Moths are generally nocturnal Lepidopterans under a ZSI programme on ‘Taxonomic studies on and can be separated from Butterflies due to its family of Noctuidae from Bihar and Jharkhand’. various types of antennae but not clubbed, fat The collections were made with the help of light 324 Rec. zool. Surv. India traps fitted during night time at Pindrabera and 1 ex. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1712), 23.x.2013 Makulakocha of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. The – 1 ex. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1713), (Coll. collected moths were killed with the help of ethyl Navneet Singh). acetate vapours and processed as per techniques in Distribution: India: Himalaya, Jharkhand. Lepidopterology. The identification is done with Elsewhere: Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, the help of relevant literature (Hampson, 1892, Sumatra, Borneo. 1894, 1895). The classification followed here was 3. Ercheia diversipennis Walker, [1858] given by Nieukerken et al. (2011) and Zahiri et al. 1858. Ercheia diversipennis Walker, List Spec. Lepid. (2012). Insects Colln Br. Mus., 13: 1108. TAXONOMIC ACCOUNT Diagnosis: Forewings with elongated streaks of dark and pale brown, the apical area with some Order LEPIDOPTERA additional dark streaks. Hindwings with a medial Suborder GLOSSATA band below cell, a terminal spot above anal angle, Infraorder HETERONEURA cilia below apex white. Superfamily NOCTUOIDEA Material examined: Pindrabera, 30.xi.2011 – Family EREBIDAE 3 exs. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1427). (Coll. Subfamily EREBINAE Navneet Singh). Distribution: India: Sikkim, [Meghalaya] 1. Artena submira Walker, 1858 Khasis, Jharkhand. Elsewhere: Ceylon [Sri 1858. Artena submira Walker, List Spec. Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1389. Lanka], Moulmein [Mawlamyine, Myanmar], Malacca, Borneo. Diagnosis: Adults red brown. Forewings with costal and medial area suffused with bluish 4. Ophiusa disjungens (Walker, 1858) scales; reniform prominent; orbicular represented 1858. Ophiodes disjungens Walker, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1360. by a black spot; ante-medial line oblique; post- medial line excurved beyond cell; sub-marginal Diagnosis: Adults yellow. Forewings lightly line dentate. Hindwings with cilia and underside marked on sub-apical area; reniform present; ochreous. marginal area darker. Hindwings with a black sub-marginal patch. Material examined: Pindrabera, 23.x.2013 – 1 ex. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1696), (Coll. Navneet Material examined: Pindrabera, 30.xi.2011 – 2 Singh). exs. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1480), 2.xii.2011 – 1 ex. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1481), (Coll. Distribution: India: Travancore, Jharkhand. Navneet Singh). Elsewhere: Sylhet [Bangladesh], Burma [Myanmar]. Distribution: India. Elsewhere: Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Australia, Tonga. 2. Daddala quadrisignata Walker, 1865 1865. Daddala quadrisignata Walker, List Specimens lepid. 5. Ophiusa pseudotirhaca Singh & Ranjan, Insects Colln Br. Mus., 33: 974. sp. nov. Diagnosis: Adults fuscous. Antennae Description: Head, thorax and forewing pale bipectinate. Forewings with basal, sub-basal and greenish yellow, the latter with slightly darker medial lines prominent. Hindwings with apical striae; an indistinct, outwardly oblique ante- area yellow. Cilia of both wings black, except medial line meeting the sinuous post-medial at apical area of hindwings. Underside of both wings inner margin, the latter arises from a black spot having prominent markings. on costa; a sub-apical indistinct dentate line with Material examined: Pindrabera, 21.x.2013 – 3 two black sub-apical spots; the area beyond is exs. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1711), 22.x.2013 – slightly darker. Hindwings yellowish, with two SINGH and RANJAN : Additions to the moth fauna of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand (India) 325 submarginal patches of black scales on radial veins. Distribution: India: Jharkhand (new record). Male genitalia with uncus broadly bifurcated with Elsewhere: China, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo), a short process between two lobes; a supra-uncus Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, process present; tegumen broad and short with Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, New Guinea, lateral arms, the left arm thicker and longer than Queensland. right arm; vinculum longer; saccus minute; valvae Remarks: The species is first record from India. sclerotized, triangular with a broad rounded flap towards distal end, distal costal process rod like; Subfamily LYMANTRIINAE aedeagus long and narrow, coiled towards ductus 7. Euproctis semisignata (Walker, 1865) ejaculatorious, vesica unornamented. 1865. Cispia semisignata Walker, List Spec. Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 32: 356. Holotype: Jharkhand: Dalma WLS, Pindrabera, 01.xii.2011 – 1 male (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, Diagnosis: Adults orange yellow. Forewings A-1606), (Coll. Navneet Singh). with a black spot at end of cell. Diagnosis: Morphologically, Ophiusa Material examined: Pindrabera, 2.xii.2011 – 1 pseudotirhaca sp. nov. is closely similar to ex. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1402), (Coll. Navneet Ophiusa tirhaca (Cramer, 1777) but is distinct due Singh). following attributes: forewings are comparatively Distribution: Throughout the plains of India. lightly marked; male genitalia with uncus having Elsewhere: Sri Lanka. short process between two lobes (absent in O. Subfamily ARCTIINAE tirhaca). The size and shape of lateral arms of tegumen is completely distinct from O. tirhaca. 8. Brunia antica (Walker, 1854) Another closely similar species is Ophiusa 1854. Lithosia antica Walker, List Spec. Lepid Insects Colln tirhacoides, Holloway, 2005 but the general Br. Mus., 2: 505. ground colour of forewings, absence of marginal Diagnosis: In males, forewings uniformly fawn, band in hindwings, shape and size of lateral may be with paler costa and females with grey arms of tegumen and distal costal process of forewings with costa yellow. Hindwings yellow. male genitalia separate O. tirhacoides from O. Material examined: Pindrabera, 22.x.2013 – 1 pseudotirhaca sp. nov. ex. (Reg. No. ZSI, GPRC, A-1675), (Coll. Navneet Etymology: The name of the species is due to Singh). its close resemblance with O. tirrhaca. Distribution: Indian sub region. Elsewhere: 6. Pericyma cruegeri (Butler, 1886) Borneo, Java. 1886. Homoptera cruegeri Butler, Trans. ent. Soc. London, 9. Cyana peregrina (Walker, 1854) 1886: 411. 1854. Bizone peregrina Walker, Lep. Ins. Colln Br. Mus., Diagnosis: Adults dark brown. Collar and 2: 551. thorax covered with dull white scales. Forewings Diagnosis: This species is distinct due to the with indistinct ante-medial line, with a broad blue presence of a large chocolate coloured patch of brown band inside it; post-medial line highly modified scales on the discal area of underside