Guizhou slug moth (Fignya qiana), triangle slug moth (Fignya trigonum) and Samkos slug moth (Fignya samkosa)

NEWS - Researchers have established the taxa Guizhou slug moth (Fignya qiana), triangle slug moth (Fignya trigonum) and Samkos slug moth (Fignya samkosa) from China and Cambodia as new species in the genus Fignya Solovyev & Witt, 2009.

Fignya is a small genus established in the family Limacodidae with two species F. melkaya Solovyev & Witt, 2009 and F. ravalba Wu, Solovyev & Han, 2022. The type species, F. melkaya, was first discovered in northern Vietnam on Mount Fan-si-pan and then F. ravalba in China.

Jun Wu and Huilin Han from Northeast Forestry University in Harbin proposed a slight extension of the definition of the genus with a focus primarily on the male genitalia. During examination of moths from southwest China and Cambodia several specimens were identified that morphologically resembled the two known relatives, but dissection revealed differences in the structure of the male genitalia.

F. qiana is not much different from F. melkaya, F. ravalba and F. trigonum, but the overall color is lighter. This species can be clearly distinguished from the other species by the characteristics of the male genitalia.

F. trigonum has a prominent inner cucullus, a well-developed thick and long horn-like cornutus at the base of the vesicle and triangular sclerites, while F. melkaya and F. ravalba have smooth inner cucullus and a well-developed horn-shaped basal cornutus and no triangular sclerites.

F. samkosa is most similar to the new combined species, F. brachygnatha comb. nov. but the male genitalia can be clearly distinguished. F. samkosa has a relatively straight valve, a small triangular hairy fold at the base of the valve, and a slender phallus, whereas F. brachygnatha has a slightly inward-curved valve, no hairy fold at the base of the valve, and a thicker phallus.

F. qiana was found in Guizhou (China) and the new name comes from the abbreviation of Guizhou Province, “Qian”, which is the type locality. F. trigonum is from Yunnan (China) and the name comes from the Latin “trigonum” meaning triangle, referring to the unique triangular sclerite at the base of the bladder. F. samkosa is from Cambodia and is named after the type locality, Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary.

Original research

Wu J, Han H (2024) A taxonomic review of the genus Fignya Solovyev & Witt, 2009 (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae) with descriptions of three new species and one new combination. ZooKeys 1213: 225-235, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1213.132318

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