Thacona smithi László & Schintlmeister, 2021

László, Gyula M., Schintlmeister, Alexander & Vetina, Alvaro A., 2021, A contribution to the knowledge of the prominent moths (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea Notodontidae) of the Maputo Special Reserve with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 4965 (2), pp. 201-243 : 203-204

Thacona smithi László & Schintlmeister sp. n. ( Figs. 4–5 , 108 )

Holotype. Male , “ Mozambique, 22m, Maputo Special Reserve, West Gate, (Sand Thicket), 26°30’14.2”S, 32°42’59.6”E, 3–13.XII.2016. MV. Aristophanous, M., Cristóvão, J., László, G., Miles, W. leg. ANHRT: 2017.22”; unique number: ANHRTUK 00083849, gen. slide No.: LG 5324 ( ANHRT).

Paratype. 1 male, same locality and collectors as in the holotype but 21-30.XI.2016, ANHRT: 2017.22, unique number: ANHRTUK 00011052 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The new species is reminiscent of Thacona stictica ( Hampson, 1910) but is considerably smaller in size (by approximately 30%) and has a less contrasting wing pattern, without reniform stigmata. The male antennae of T. smithi sp. n. are filiform with fine ciliation, whereas they are bipectinate with short rami in T. stictica . Despite the external similarity of these two species, the configurations of their male genitalia are quite different. The new species has a markedly wider, distally dilated uncus with a short medio-apical depression, a much shorter tegumen and a ventro-medially dilated valva, which is evenly narrow along its length. The digitus processes are considerably shorter, apically pointed, the juxta is inverted-triangular and the phallus of the new species is somewhat shorter, distally slightly curved with a rather thick, straight coecum penis. The vesica bears a small area of granulation basally. The sclerotized plate of the eighth sternite of T. smithi is considerably smaller, more quadrangular with longer anterior processes than in T. stictica .

The female is unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 1–19: adults (collected in the MSR and deposited in coll. ANHRT, unless otherwise indicated). 1, Thacona brunnescens, ♂; 2, T. stictica, ♂; 3, Ibidem, ♀; 4, T. smithi sp. n., holotype, ♂; 5, Ibidem, paratype ♂; 6, Postscrancia discomma, ♂; 7, Ibidem, ♀; 8, Archistilbia mlawula, ♂; 9, Ibidem, ♂; 10, Ibidem, ♀; 11, Ibidem, ♀; 12, Subscrancia albobrunnea, ♂; 13, Ibidem, ♀; 14, S. pinheyi, ♂; 15, Ibidem, ♀; 16, Arciera grisea, lectotype, ♂, [Gabon] Ogoue (CMNH); 17, A. meridiana sp. n., holotype, ♂; 18, Ibidem, paratype, ♂; 19, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, RSA, Zululand (TMSA).

FIGURES 107–110. Male genitalia (a: clasping apparatus, b: phallus, c: 8th abdominal segment; all MSR, coll. ANHRT). 107, Thacona stictica, slide No. ANHRT 00383; 108, T. smithi sp. n., holotype slide No. LG 5324; 109, Subscrancia albobrunnea, slide No. ANHRT 00378; 110, S. pinheyi, slide No. ANHRT 00379.