Sokokeracotis, László & Hausmann & Karisch, 2023

László, Gyula M., Hausmann, Axel & Karisch, Timm, 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the African taxa of the Racotis Moore, 1887 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Boarmiini), Zootaxa 5308 (1), pp. 1-109 : 74-75

Sokokeracotis subgen. n.

Type species: Afroracotis staudei sp. n.

Diagnosis. The external habitus of the type species of the subgenus Sokokeracotis lacks any notable characters which distinguish it from other members of the Afroracotis , Herbuloracotis and Zebracotis subgenera displaying the typical pale mossy-green wing upperside densely speckled with darker brown scales and a dark marginal band, as well as a large, rounded discal spot on the wing underside. However, based on the single known specimen of the type species, the inner two-thirds of the forewing of Sokokeracotis are noticeably paler with more extensive whitish-grey areas rendering the forewing somewhat lighter than in the species of other subgenera with almost undetectable transverse lines.

The subgenus is well characterized by the rather unique configuration of the male genitalia expressed in the basally triangular, distally narrow quadrangular uncus bearing two short, pointed latero-apical processi, displaying a morphological transition between the short, apically bifurcate uncus of the subgenus Afroracotis and the moderately long, simple uncus of Herbuloracotis and Zebracotis . The tegumen of Sokokeracotis is considerably broader and shorter than that of the other subgenera, rather quadrangular with an almost straight distal margin, while the tegumen is rounded trapezoidal in the other Afroracotis subgenera. The valva configuration of Sokokeracotis is unique within the genus due to the presence of an evenly curved heavily sclerotised medial crest running along the dorsal margin of the sacculus connected with the rather broad valva costa, forming a pointed, sclerotised valva apex directed medio-caudad. The vesica configuration of Sokokeracotis is also rather distinctive, characterised by the robust, apically rounded, stick-like distal cornutus, while the cornutus is pointed, rather spike-like in the other subgenera.

Despite sharing the typical external features of the genera Racotis and Afroracotis , the type species of the subgenus Sokokeracotis has a highly distinctive male genitalia configuration suggesting the potential for a generic level classification within the Racotis generic complex. Nevertheless, because of the unavailability of molecular data and information on female genitalia, the taxon is considered here as a member of the genus Afroracotis and distinguished tentatively at subgeneric rank until further material becomes available for in-depth phylogenetic studies.

Description

External features of male body and wings ( Figs 120 , 205 ). Forewing length 21 mm. Male antenna bipectinate-fasciculate, rami moderately long, distal two-fifths filiform. Head moderately large, proboscis well-developed, labial palp short, length as the diameter of eye, porrect, first and second segment dilated, third segment rather short and thin. Compound eye moderately large. Frons, vertex, collar (patagium), tegula, thorax and abdomen colouration as of wing upperside. Legs rather long, colouration as of wing underside, full set of spurs could not be counted due to missing midlegs of the single accessed specimen. Forewing broad, triangular, costa straight, apical section slightly curved, termen very slightly arched, ventral margin almost straight, slightly arched in basal fifth. Ground colour pale mossy-green, speckled with groups of brownish and whithish scales. Basal and medial area lighter than postmedialterminal areas with more extensive whitish patches. Transverse lines diffuse, interrupted, barely detectable except for the broad, slightly sinuous, shadow-like antemedial and postmedial lines and interrupted terminal line consisting of small black dots between veins. Fringe (cilia) short, concolourous with forewing, chequered with dark brown. Discal spot obliterated, patch-like, round. Hindwing apex rounded, termen evenly arcuate, slightly scalloped, anal margin straight. Ground colour as of forewing, densely speckled with groups of brownish- and whitish-grey scales. Transverse lines undetectable except for the interrupted terminal line, consisting of short arches between veins. Discal spot absent. Fringe (cilia) short, colour as of hindwing, chequered with dark brown. Wing underside pale whitish-grey in basal two-thirds, sparsley suffused with greyish scales, distal third with broad, dark brownish-grey postmedial band; apex and medial section of forewing subterminal area with off-white patch. Transverse lines and discal spot undetectable.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 284 ). Uncus short, proximal section broad-triangular, distal section produced into short, quadrangular projection, apex with short, latero-caudal teeth. Tegumen very short and conspicuously broad, more or less quadrangular, gnathos well-developed, arms narrow, medial plate triangular. Valva short, broad at base, distally tapered, costa widely sclerotised, slightly concave. Ventral margin of valva evenly convex, sparsely setose, submedial area of valva with heavily sclerotised, narrow, evenly arched longitudinal crest adjacent to sacculus, running in parallel with ventral margin, connected with costa, forming a triangular, pointed apex curved medio-caudad. Sacculus long and narrow, weakly sclerotised, without process. Juxta weakly sclerotised, consisting of two very short and narrow, parallel longitudinal plates. Vinculum very short and broad V-shaped, medially with short projection. Aedeagus medium thick, short, straight, coecum penis short, rounded, carina absent. Vesica short and narrow, bearing a small cornuti field consisting of ca. 10 short cornuti ventro-basally and a robust, almost straight, apically rounded, stick-like cornutus distally at base of thick vesica ejaculatorius.

Female unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 101–120. Adults, dorsal view (all in coll. ANHRT, unless otherwise stated). 101. A. smithi sp. n., HT, ♁, Zambia; 102. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 103. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Zambia; 104. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 105. A. milesi sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 106. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon; 107. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon; 108. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Zambia; 109. A. ochsei sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 110. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 111. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 112. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 113. A. helicalis sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 114. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 115. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 116. A. takanoi sp. n., HT, ♁, Sierra Leone; 117. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea; 118. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Liberia; 119. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia; 120. A. staudei sp. n., HT, ♁, Kenya (RCHS).

FIGURES 191–210. Adults, ventral view (all in coll. ANHRT, unless otherwise stated). 191. Afroracotis milesi sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 192. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon; 193. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Zambia; 194. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 195. A. ochsei sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 196. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 197. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 198. A. helicalis sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 199. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 200. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 201. A. takanoi sp. n., HT, ♁, Sierra Leone; 202. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea; 203. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Ivory Coast; 204. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia; 205. A. staudei sp. n., HT, ♁, Kenya (RCHS); 206. Racotis boarmiaria, LT, ♁, India (NHMUK); 207. Chorocotis ugandaria, HT of Boarmia ugandaria, ♁, Uganda (NHMUK); 208. Ibidem, ♀, Cameroon (NHMUK); 209. Colocleora breijeri, ♁, RSA (RCDS); 210. C. incauta, ♁, RSA (NHMUK).

FIGURES 280–284. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus. 280. Afroracotis helicalis sp. n., PT, Gabon, slide No. LG 5399 (ANHRT); 281. A. takanoi sp. n., HT, Sierra Leone, slide No. LG 4810 (ANHRT); 282. Ibidem, PT, Guinea, slide No. LG 5445 (ANHRT); 283. Ibidem, PT, Liberia, slide No. LG 4982 (ANHRT); 284. A. staudei sp. n., HT, Kenya, slide No. LG 5540 (RCHS).