Tarika paradoxa Volynkin & Černý, 2025, sp. n.

Tarika paradoxa sp. n. https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5FA4F487-D641-4514-9566-94FEEC37CF6E (Figs 51–54, 112, 113, 142, 143) Type material. Holotype (Figs 51, 112): male, “N-Vietnam 1400m | Mai-chau, Urwald [jungle] | 40km SE Moc-chau | 20.50'N 104.50'E [20°50'N 104°50'E] | 07.–15.IV.1995 leg. | Sinjaev [recte: Sinyaev] & Einh[eimische]Samml[er] [local collector] | Museum Witt” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 638♂ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM / ZSM). Paratypes. VIETNAM: 7 males, 1 female, same data as in holotype, gen. slide Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 550♂, 2021- 563♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 male, 1 female, 1600m, Mt. Fan-si-pan (north), Cha-pa [Sapa], Primärurwald [primary jungle], 22°17'N 103°44'E, 25–30.III.1995, V. Sinyaev & A. Schintlmeister leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 564♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 female, same locality as previous but 20–30.IV.1995, V. Sinyaev & local collectors leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 566♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 male, 2 females, Mt. Fan-si-pan (west), Cha-pa [Sapa], 1600–1800m, 22°20'N 103°40'E, IV.1995, Sinyaev & local collectors leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 561♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM); 1 female, same locality as previous but Kult. [urland] [cultivated land], XI.1994, Sinyaev & local collectors leg., gen. slide No.: ZSM Arct. 2021 - 560♀ (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM / ZSM). Note. The relationships of T. paradoxa sp. n. within the genus are unclear as its genitalia morphology is unique in many aspects and display some similarities with Cernyia. Diagnosis. The forewing length is 18.5–21.0 mm in males and 21.0–23.0 mm in females. Tarika paradoxa sp. n. is externally reminiscent of T. daba sp. n., T. suffusa (Figs 49, 50, 109, 110, 141, 144), T. nigropoda (illustrated by Volynkin (2022)) and T. magnata (Figs 55, 56, 111; female genitalia are illustrated by Volynkin (2022)), and reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures, which are clearly different from all other congeners. In the male genitalia, the new species differs from other taxa in the T. nigropoda species-group in the shorter and proximally strongly swollen uncus, the broad vinculum with a broad and deep medial depression (it is similar only to T. lamviena sp. n. and T. magnata but broader), the narrow valva with a narrow and downcurved distal section (‘cucullus’), the medially narrowed sacculus, and the thin and strongly upcurved distal saccular process. Additionally, the juxta of T. paradoxa sp. n. is long and very broad, and is similar only to that of T. magnata. The phallus of the new species has a dorsal carina protruding into the basal section of the vesica and bearing a massive claw-shaped, recurved process on its vesical section. The proximal section of the vesica of T. paradoxa sp. n. is narrower than in the similar congeners and has a short but broad subbasal diverticulum bearing a dorso-lateral cluster of spinulose scobination, which is homologous to that of T. suffusa and T. peculiaria. In addition, unlike in the similar congeners, the medial-distal diverticulum of T. paradoxa sp. n. is bilobate and heavily granulose, and the distal diverticulum is narrower, strongly elongate, distally directed, and bears a markedly smaller terminal cornutus. The female genitalia of T. paradoxa sp. n. are most reminiscent of T. suffusa but can be easily distinguished by the larger postvaginal plate with a posterior sclerotised fold partially covering the ostium bursae (it is flat in T. suffusa), and the asymmetrical antrum with an irregular subostial sclerotised plate situated laterally whereas in T. suffusa it is broad, longitudinally rugose and occupies the dorsal and lateral walls of the antrum. Compared to T. suffusa, the corpus bursae of T. paradoxa sp. n. is more elongate, has more weakly gelatinous posterior section, and bears an irregular signum latero-medially. Additionally, the appendix bursae of T. paradoxa sp. n. is membranous, broadly conical, very short and situated anterio-laterally whereas in T. suffusa it is displaced laterally, has a lateral sclerotised plate proximally and a tubular and helicoid distal section directed posteriad. Distribution. The new species is currently known from Northern Vietnam. Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the Greek παραδόξως and refers to the strange genitalia morphology of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.