Introduction

The genus Aholcocerus Yakovlev, 2006 was established for its type species Aholcocerus ronkayorum Yakovlev, 2006, described from Pakistan. The genus was erected on the specific structure of the antennae (simple, not pectinate) and of the valves in the male genitalia (with a wrinkled pleated costal edge). Later on, this genus was studies by YAKOVLEV (2011), YAKOVLEV & WITT (2009, 2016a) with descriptions of new species as well as establishment of new combinations from India, Thailand and Indonesia. At present the genus is known by six species from the World.

In the present paper we describe the seventh species as Aholcocerus arorai Yakovlev & Singh, sp. n., from India (Great Nicobar Island). The new species was erroneously reported as Holcocerus arenicola Staudinger, 1887, as the first record for the “Great Nicobar Island, Bankol Camp, Bellabay” in ARORA (1976: 41). Reporting of this species from Great Nicobar, extremely distant from the main habitat (Central Asia) of the genus Holcocerus Staudinger 1887 (type species - Holcocerus arenicola Staudinger, 1887), seems to be completely alien and doubtful. So, we examined the collection materials in the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata and reinvestigated the specimen studied by Arora (Fig. 2) and the genital preparation (Fig. 3). The inferences from the adult morphology and genitals of the same confirm that it is an undescribed Cossid species and typical member of the oriental genus Aholcocerus Yakovlev 2006 (type species - Aholcocerus ronkayorum Yakovlev, 2006). The details are discussed below. Additionally, a World catalogue of the genus Aholcocerus Yakovlev, 2006 is provided.

Material and methods

The holotype photo has been made by the camera iPhone 7. The photo of the genitals has been taken using the binocular microscope Leica S8APO and digital camera Leica MC120.

The material has been examined in the following Museums: MWM Museum of Thomas J. Witt (Munich, Germany), NHMUK Natural History Museum (London, Great Britain), RMNH National Nature Historisch Museum (Leiden, The Netherlands), ZSI Zoological Survey of India (Kolkata, India).

Description of new species

Aholcocerus arorai Yakovlev & Singh, sp. n. (Figs 2-3)

Holotype, ♂, Great Nicobar Islands, Bankol Camp, Bellabay, 3-III-1966, Daniel and Bhowmick coll. Deposited in Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Description: Wingspan 40 mm. Antenna simple, not pectinate, 1/2 the length of forewing costal edge. Tegula and patagium pale grey. Forewing apically sharp, pale grey, with thin transverse lines throughout wing area, pale brown field discally and basally. Hindwing dark grey, without pattern, pale grey at anal angle.

Male genitalia: Uncus long, uncinately bent apically. Gnathos compact, covered with small spikes, arms short, of medium thickness. Valve relatively narrow, lanceolate, membranous in distal third; knoll with folded inner edge on costal edge of valve (in medium third). Transtilla process slightly curved, apically sharp. Juxta tiny, saddle-shaped. Saccus of medium size. Phallus slightly curved, tubular, medium thickness, equal in length to valve, vesica aperture in dorso-apical position, short; vesica without cornuti.

Female: Unknown.

Diagnosis: Externally, the new species is close to A. sevastopuloi, from which it differs by the wider valve, more robust saccus and thin phallus.

Etymology: The species is named after the prominent Indian entomologist, G. S. Arora.

Catalogue of the genus Aholcocerus Yakovlev, 2006

Aholcocerus Yakovlev, 2006. Tinea, 19(3): 200

Type species: Aholcocerus ronkayorum Yakovlev 2006 (on monotypy).

Aholcocerus arorai Yakovlev & Singh, sp. n.

Type locality: Great Nicobar Island, Bankol Camp, Bellabay [7º N / 93.833333º E].

Type material. Holotype, ♂ (ZSI), examined.

Distribution: INDIA, Great Nicobar Island.

Aholcocerus ihleorum Yakovlev& Witt, 2009 (Fig. 4)

Aholcocerus ihleorum Yakovlev& Witt, 2009. Entomofauna, Suppl., 16: 18.

Type locality: N. Thailand, Chiang Mai, Doi Kham [18.75778º N / 98.92222º E].

Type material. Holotype, 1 (MWM), examined.

Distribution: N. THAILAND, Chiang Mai Prov.

Aholcocerus jakli Yakovlev & Witt, 2016 (Fig. 5)

Aholcocerus jakli Yakovlev & Witt, 2016. Zootaxa, 4205(1): 93-94.

Type locality: Indonesia, Lesser Soudas, Lomblen [Lembata] Isl., S Coast, Lamalera vill. env. [8.5532886º S / 123.3938339º E].

Type material: Holotype, 1 (MWM), examined.

Distribution: INDONESIA, Lesser Soudas, Lembata Isl.

Aholcocerus ronkayorum Yakovlev, 2006 (Fig. 6)

Aholcocerus ronkayorum Yakovlev, 2006. Tinea, 19(3): 201.

Type locality: Pakistan, Islamabad, Margalla Hills [33.74389º N / 73.02278º E].

Type material: Holotype, ♂ (MWM), examined.

Distribution: PAKISTAN, Margalla Hills (YAKOVLEV & WITT, 2016b).

Aholcocerus sevastopuloi Yakovlev, 2011 (Fig. 7)

Aholcocerus sevastopuloi Yakovlev, 2011. Neue Ent. Nachr., 66: 10.

Type locality: [India], Calcutta [22.5075º N / 88.35944º E].

Type material: Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK), examined.

Distribution: INDIA, West Bengal.

Aholcocerus verbeeki (Roepke, 1957) (Fig. 8)

Cossus verbeeki Roepke, 1957. Verh. K. ned. Akad. Wet., 52(1): 9.

Type locality: [Indonesia], Telawa, Central Java [8.0823868º S / 111.9447184º E].

Type material: Holotype, ♂ (RMNH), examined.

Distribution: INDONESIA (Java Isl.).

Acknowledgments

The examination of the materials would have been impossible without the kind assistance of the director of Zoological Survey of India, Dr. Kailash Chandra. We are also indebted to the NHMUK Council of Trustees for kindly granting the permission to publish images of the type specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum. The authors are grateful to Anna Ustjuzhanina (Tomsk, Russia) for language improvements.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ARORA, G. S., 1976.– A taxonomic revision of the Indian species of the family Cossidae (Lepidoptera).– Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 69(1-4): 1-160.

CHANDRA, K., GUPTA D., KUSHWAHA, S., DAS, P. & GHOSH, J., 2018.– Arthropoda: Hexapoda.– In K. CHANDRA & C. RAGHUNATHAN (ed.). Faunal Diversity of Biogeographic Zones: Islands of India: 247- 320. Kolkata

ROEPKE, W., 1957.– The Cossids of the Malay Region (Lepidoptera: Heterocera).– Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Weterschappen, Afd. Natuurkunde (Tweede Reeks), 52(1): 1-60.

YAKOVLEV, R. V., 2006.– New Cossidae (Lepidoptera) from Asia, Africa and Macaronesia.– Tinea, 19(3): 188- 213.

YAKOVLEV, R. V., 2011.– Catalogue of the Family Cossidae of the Old World (Lepidoptera).– Neue Entomologische Nachrichten, 66: 1-130.

YAKOVLEV, R. V. & WITT, TH., 2009.– The Carpenter Moths (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) of Vietnam.– Entomofauna, Suppl., 16: 11-32.

YAKOVLEV, R. V. & WITT, TH., 2016a.– A world catalogue of Aholcocerus Yakovlev, 2006 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) with description of a new species from Indonesia.– Zootaxa, 4205(1): 93-96. Doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4205.1.10

YAKOVLEV, R. V. & WITT, TH. J., 2016b.– Cossidae (Lepidoptera) of Pakistan.– Biological Bulletin of Bogdan Chmelnitskiy Melitopol State Pedagogical University, 6(2): 67-76.