Hidden jewels of Malaysia: two new genera and species of remarkable clearwing moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae: Osminiini)

Abstract

A stunning scarlet-coloured clearwing moth was found mud-puddling on a rainforest river bank in Malaysia and is described herein as a new genus and species, Scarlata nirvana gen. et sp. Nov.. This sesiid seems to be a rare case of a mimic of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in a family otherwise known for hymenopteran mimicry. A high-quality video of the moth’s behaviour in its habitat is provided. Studies of the collections of the Natural History Museum in London revealed another member of the new genus, S. guichardii sp. nov. A third species, S. ignisquamulata Kallies, 2018 comb. nov. is transferred to Scarlata gen. nov. from the genus Aschistophleps Hampson, 1892. The second new lineage from Malaysia described here, Malayomelittia gen. nov., includes two species, Malayomelittia pahangensis Skowron, 2015 comb. nov. and M. ruficrista Rothschild, 1912 comb. nov. Additionally, Heterosphecia bantanakai Arita & Gorbunov, 2000 is placed as a junior synonym of H. hyaloptera Hampson, 1919 syn. nov. Morphological descriptions, remarks on behaviour, conditions of occurrence and a discussion about potential mimicry models are included. All new taxa are figured, including images of male genitalia. https://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:32AF6419-F859-4931-BCA7-848B636CC2EE New genus Scarlata: https://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B8DC2871-DF12-49A9-A7A7-D67E60776E91 New genus Malayomelittia: https://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:07B2830B-7E00-4B9D-9D5A-82A7538427F9