List of New Descriptions (partim Autobibliographie)
Ulrich PAUKSTADT & Laela Hayati PAUKSTADT

(Summary)

BACK New Descriptions

Paukstadt, U., Paukstadt, L. H. & Suhardjono, Y. R. (1997): Antheraea (Antheraea) ranakaensis n. sp. und Antheraea (Antheraea) kelimutuensis n. sp., zwei neue Saturniiden von der Insel Flores, Indonesien (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). - Entomologische Zeitschrift (Essen), 107 (7): pp. 265-276; 10 figs.

Summary: Two taxa of the subgenus Antheraea Hübner 1819 ("1816") of the nominotypical genus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from the island of Flores, eastern Lesser Sunda Islands, Nusa Tenggara Timur Provinz, Indonesia are described as new species: Antheraea (Antheraea) ranakaensis sp. nov. and Antheraea (Antheraea) kelimutuensis sp. nov. Both species are named after volcanoes. The Gunung [=mountain] Ranaka (2400 m), western Flores, is the highest volcano, while the Gunung Kelimutu (1634 m), central Flores, is the best-known volcano on the island of Flores. Thus far the new species are recorded from lower to medium elevations (400 to 1820 m) of mostly secondary forests on the arid island of Flores. Most likely both species are not endemic to the island of Flores, but might be present on other islands of the mainly arid Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Timor, and adjacent smaller islands) as well [remarks: both taxa were recorded from the island of Alor in 2001]. A. ranakaensis sp. nov. and A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. are compared to related species from Java and Sumatra, Greater Sunda Islands, Indonesia. The adults of A. ranakaensis sp. nov. and A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. are described and figured, as well as its male genitalia structures. The preimaginal instars of A. ranakaensis sp. nov. and of A. kelimutuensis sp. nov., as well as the female of A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. remain unknown. The holotypes and some paratypes, as well as its genitalia slides, if any, are donated to the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (Bogor, Indonesia) other remain in the collection Paukstadt & Paukstadt (Wilhelmshaven). A female paratype is in the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden, The Netherlands. There are only very few early notes on specimens of the genus Antheraea from the Lesser Sunda Islands, east of the island of Bali. Pagenstecher (1896) reported that he received "Antherea [sic] paphia Linnaeus" [misinterpretation] from the island of Sumbawa, while Van Eecke (1933) reported on a female specimen of "Antheraea rumphi [sic] subsp. nov.?" [misinterpretation] from the island of Flores. A. paphia Linnaeus, 1758 and A. rumphii C. Felder, 1861 are members of the paphia/frithi-group (sensu Nässig 1991). Today A. paphia is understood being a taxon of the paphia-subgroup (sensu Nässig 1991) restricted to the Indian subcontinent, while A. rumphii is a taxon of the frithi-subgroup (sensu Nässig 1991) and only known from the Moluccas, Indonesia. Both taxa need revised [remarks: presently A. paphia Linnaeus is considered being a junior synonym of A. mylitta Drury].

A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. represents a second taxon of the frithi-subgroup on the island of Flores. The male of A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. is similar to the closely related A. ranakaensis sp. nov. but clear distinguishable in the shape of forewing apex, average length of forewings, length and width of the male antenna, wing coloration, wing pattern, and in the male genitalia structures. The shapes of the labides (ventrolateral alterations of the transtilla) are well distinguishable in A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. and A. ranakaensis sp. nov. (see figures). The closest relative taxon on the island of Java, Greater Sunda Islands, might be A. gephyra Niepelt, 1926 (the taxonomic status needs revised [remarks: presently gephyra is considered being a species inquirenda]). The forewing length in the male of A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. is 71-85 mm (mean 80.7 mm, n = 14); the length/width of the male antenna is 12-14 mm by 5-7 mm (mean 13.2/6.5 mm, n = 13). Holotype specimen forewing length 80 mm and antenna 12.0 by 6.2 mm. There were only minor differences found in the male genitalia structures between A. kelimutuensis sp. nov. and those of related taxa.