Radiarctia screabile nyangana Haynes

Haynes, Patrick G., 2011, A review of some of the Binna- like species of Afrotropical Spilosoma Curtis (1825) listed by Goodger & Watson (1995) and including the genus Radiarctia Dubatolov (2006) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 2811, pp. 22-36 : 25

Radiarctia screabile nyangana Haynes ssp. n.

Figure 6 .

Diagnosis. R. screabile nyangana can be distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies by its larger size, much darker interneural forewing patches, and the smaller cornuti on the vesica. At the time of this review, this subspecies has been recorded from Eastern Zimbabwe only and at altitudes above 2000m.

Range. Zimbabwe, Nyanga.

Material examined. Holotype ɗ, Zimbabwe, Nyanga, Kwaraguza, 10.xii. 2006, 2150m, S 18˚13.344ʹ E 32˚49.677ʹ, UV, Jürgen Lenz legit / ( BMNH). Paratypes (same locality as holotype): 1 ɗ, 1 ɗ / Arctiidae genitalia slide 6283, 10.xii.2006; 2 ɗɗ, 30.xii.2007; 2 ɗɗ, 17.xii.2009 ( BMNH); 2 ɗɗ, 10.xii.2006; 2 ɗɗ, 30.xi.2007; 1 ɗ, 20.x.2008; 2 ɗɗ, 18.xi.2008; 4 ɗɗ, 17.xi.2009 (PGH).

Description. Forewing: ɗ 23 – 25mm. Male. As the nominotypical subspecies but larger and with more intense colours and much darker, almost black interneural forewing patches with an additional patch on the inner margin below 1A+2A. All patches are clearly visible on the wing undersides. Inner margin of hindwing deeper yellow. The black intersegmental abdominal bands are better defined and the pin-like cornuti on the vesica are generally smaller. Female. Unknown

Comments. Some specimens from the Bvumba ( Zimbabwe) at lower altitudes of 910m – 1220m are also darker than the nominotypical subspecies and thus appear similar to nyangana . However, they are mostly smaller (forewing: 19 – 23mm) and the paler interneural patches are less visible on the underside of the forewings.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Figs. 1 – 2. Radiarctia screabile. 1. R. screabile displaying orange cervical hairs. 2. R. screabile type 2 sustained static display. Fig. 3. Binna penicillata, ♂, Kenya, Suna (BMNH). Figs. 4 – 6. Radiarctia spp. 4. R. screabile screabile, ♂, Zimbabwe, Harare (PGH). 5. R. screabile screabile, Ψ, Zimbabwe, Harare (PGH). 6. R. screabile nyangana, holotype ♂, Zimbabwe, Nyanga (BMNH). Figs. 7 – 8. Pseudoradiarctia spp. 7. P. rho de s i a na, ♂, Zimbabwe, Nyanga (PGH). 8. P. rhodesiana (Hampson), paralectotype Ψ, Zimbabwe, Harare (BMNH).