Gnathodes ndoki, Elliott, 2024

Elliott, Imogen R., 2024, Five new species in the Afrotropical genus Gnathodes Whalley (Lepidoptera: Thyrididae, Siculodinae) with the description of the female of Gnathodes fiscinella Whalley, Zootaxa 5555 (2), pp. 253-268 : 260

Gnathodes ndoki sp. nov.

(Figs 7, 15, 25)

Holotype, ♂: “ REPUBLIC OF CONGO 358m / Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki / National Park , Bomassa forest / (Secondary forest) / 02°11’58.1”N, 16°11’16.9”E / 17-22.ix.2022 Actinic Light Trap / Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. Leg. / ANHRT:2022.14” // “ANHRTUK / 00355616” / “Gen. slide. No. / IE 87 / prep. by I. Elliott ” ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The external habitus of G. ndoki sp. nov. (Fig. 7) is most comparable to that of G. pallida sp. nov. (Fig. 6), although the former is noticeably smaller in size (forewing length 6 mm versus 9 mm respectively) and uniformly grey whereas the latter is pale brown-grey with pinkish hindwings. The patterning on the underside of the forewing also differs; the shape in the medial area of the forewing of G. ndoki sp. nov. is intricate and bright red, compared with the undefined and dark reddish-brown blotch of G. pallida sp. nov. The male genitalia of these species ( Figs 14 , 15 ) are similar but the central posterior processes of the gnathos of G. ndoki sp. nov. are longer and more slender ( Figs 24, 25 ). The ventral margin of the saccus of G. ndoki sp. nov. is also medially concave whereas it has a straight edge in G. pallida sp. nov.

Description. Male (Fig. 7). Forewing length 6.0 mm. Head; vertex grey, frons greyish brown. Antenna greyish brown, minutely ciliate. Labial palp ochreous and strongly upturned; first segment short, length of third, second segment pointed, double length of third. Thorax yellowish grey with narrow black patagium; tegula dark grey fading into yellowish grey, mesothorax grey. Fore and midleg pale grey, tarsal segments darker ventrally; hindleg missing. Foreleg without spurs, midleg with one pair of spurs; inner spur ca. twice length of outer. Forewing upperside pale grey, with two indistinct transverse, dark grey bands ventro-medially, and with an indistinct dark grey tornal streak. Hindwing upperside pale grey, reticulate patterning darker and more defined than on forewing; three dark grey spots along anal margin. Fringe dark grey, interspersed with pale grey scales. Forewing underside pale grey; costal margin pale yellow with pinkish hue, flecked with black dots and dashes, apical third vivid orange; antemedial area with a short longitudinal orange streak, covered for half length with black scales flecked with white, a patch of dark brown scales distad; medial area with a more or less ‘Y’-shaped cluster of red scales with a patch of dark brown scales ventrad; a dark brown tornal streak present; veins Rs3 and Rs4 outlined in black, bordered with white scales; subterminal area between Rs3 and Rs4 dark brown, posteriorly connected with a dark brown subapical streak. Hindwing underside as upperside. Abdomen; first three segments yellowish brown, fourth and fifth darker brown, terminal segments pale yellowish grey.

Male Genitalia ( Figs 15 , 25 ). Uncus elongate, gradually tapered distad with sclerotized ventral margin; distal half densely setose, apically produced into very small, pointed and slightly hooked tip. Tegumen half length of valva with broad, densely scobinate rounded lateral plates. Gnathos highly modified and sclerotized; strongly dilated and U-shaped with a prominent antemedial process and two pairs of posterolateral processes; medial pair very elongate and straight, almost as long as uncus, encompassing a narrow central excavation reaching central point of gnathos; lateral processes half length of antemedial process; all with an evenly rounded tip. Juxta two wedge-shaped lobules. Saccus conical, as wide as gnathos, a shallow concave ventral margin. Valva rounded and somewhat broad basally, tapered medially, dilated and club-like in distal half; costa straight and very narrow with highly modified and arm-like basal lobe; basally wide and somewhat quadrangular, strongly tapered medially and very thin apically, produced into small, rounded tip. Sacculus broad basally and tapered distad, half as long as valva with some sparse, long setae in medial area, produced into a dilated spiniform process. Aedeagus tubular, without coecum penis and carinal sclerotization; vesica without cornuti.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Gnathodes ndoki sp. nov. is named after Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo, where the holotype was collected. A noun in the nominative singular standing in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

FIGURES 11–14. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus. 11. Gnathodes helvella, holotype male, BM Pyralidae slide No. 9599 (NHMUK). 12. G. parallela sp. nov. holotype male, Cameroon, gen. slide No. IE 83 (ANHRT). 13. G. fiscinella (male), Zambia, gen. slide No. IE 90 (ANHRT). 14. G. pallida sp. nov., holotype male, Liberia, gen. slide No. IE 86 (ANHRT).

FIGURES 15–17. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus (left scale bar), b: aedeagus (right scale bar). 15. Gnathodes ndoki sp. nov., holotype male, Republic of Congo, gen. slide No. 87 (ANHRT). 16. G. smithi sp. nov., holotype male, Liberia, gen. slide No. IE 91 (ANHRT). 17. G. whalleyi sp. nov., holotype male, Liberia, gen. slide No. IE 92 (ANHRT).

FIGURES 23–27. Gnathodes fiscinella species group, details of the gnathos. 23. G. fiscinella (male), Zambia, gen. slide No. IE 90 (ANHRT). 24. G. pallida sp. nov., holotype male, Liberia, gen. slide No. IE 86 (ANHRT). 25. G. ndoki sp. nov., holotype male, Republic of Congo, gen. slide No. IE 87 (ANHRT). 26. G. smithi sp. nov., holotype male, Liberia, gen. slide No. IE 91 (ANHRT). 27. G. whalleyi sp. nov., holotype male, Liberia, gen. slide No. IE 92 (ANHRT).