Illiberis(Alterasvenia) cernyisp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae, Procridinae) from northern Thailand

The genus Illiberis Walker, 1854, belongs to the tribe Procridini of the subfamily Procridinae (Tarmann, 1994; Efetov & Tarmann, 1995). All species of the genus are distributed in the eastern Palaearctis and adjacent territories of Asia. Alberti (1954) divided Illiberis into seven subgenera, four of which he described himself. Following the exclusion of four species that were placed in the genus Goe Hampson, 1893 (Efetov, 1998), and the description of six new species (Efetov, 1995; 1997; 2010; Efetov & Tarmann, present publication), the genus Illiberis now includes 40 species (Alberti, 1951; 1954; Efetov, 1995; 1997; 2010). Except for the transparent wings in the majority of species, the representatives of this genus have unique characters, viz. the chaetotaxy of the first instar larvae, the combination of the sclerotized cuticular macroand microtubercles in the adult larvae, and in the karyotypes (Efetov, 2003; 2004; 2005a; 2005b; 2008; Efetov, Parshkova & Koshio, 2004; Efetov et al., 2006). The significant apomorphy of the subgenus Alterasvenia Alberti, 1971 (an objective replacement name for Svenia Alberti, 1954) is the presence of numerous, well-developed and strongly sclerotized cornuti in the aedeagus of the male and the unique form of the praebursa with characteristic spines or strongly folded walls in the female (Alberti, 1954; Efetov, 1996). Recently, Dr Karel Cerný (Innsbruck, Austria) collected a specimen representing a new Illiberis (Alterasvenia) species from northern Thailand and kindly donated it to the Tiroler Landesmuseen, Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck (Austria). This species has exceptional habitus for the subgenus Alterasvenia and very characteristic genitalia. The description is provided below.