Yponomeuta onyxella, Agassiz, 2019

Agassiz, David J. L., 2019, The Yponomeutidae of the Afrotropical region (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea), Zootaxa 4600 (1), pp. 1-69 : 26-27

28. Yponomeuta onyxella sp. nov.

Description of adult ( Plate 4). Wingspan 20–25 mm. Head white, a black spot on crown; labial palpus segment 1 black, segment 2 white above, segment 3 black with white apex; scape black, flagellum white weakly annulate darker. Torax white with five black spots, tegula white, with a black anterior spot. Forewing white, a row of 7–8 black spots near costa, two subcostal rows of black spotsm, a row of black spots along fold and a further subbasal row; some grey suffusion above dorsum at ⅖ and again before tornus, a further diffuse grey spot in disc. Hindwing grey.

Male genitalia ( Plate 14 ). Uncus almost flat, socius each with two spines at apex, valva a long curved sclerosed process with a strong tooth at apex, on the dorsal side is a membranous flap; saccus flattened laterally and bent downwards. Aedeagus almost straight with two long cornuti. Sternum 7 with anterior flange. Sternum 7 with a rounded central projection. Pleural lobes with one edge sclerotised.

Female genitalia ( Plate 24). Lamella postvaginalis broad, ostium narrow, antrum strongly sclerotised laterally, ductus bursae more than half length of abdomen very slightly widening towards corpus with some scobination, corpus bursae spheroid without signum.

Diagnosis. The black suffusion on the forewing distinguishes this species from all others except for africanus , but the extraordinary genitalia of the male are quite distinctive.

Biology. Not known, recorded in both montane and lower altitude rainforest.Adults recorded in March, October and November.

Derivation of the name. From the Greek onyx meaning a claw, from the shape of the male genitalia.

Distribution. Kenya and Uganda, in rainforest.

Type material. Holotype ♂ Kenya, Central , Castle Forest Lodge, 0°22’51ʼʼS 37°18’35ʼʼE 2050 m 24.x.2016 D. Agassiz & K. Larsen. 4 paratypes: 3 ♂ same data as holotype including slide DJLA 1588 , 1 ♀ same locality 3.xi.2012 Agassiz, Beavan, Heckford & Ngugi slide DJLA 1586 .

Other material examined: UGANDA: 1 ♂ Kabarole District, Kibale National Park, Mainaro , 0°21.873’N 30°22.125’E 1264 m 22.iii.2012 A.J. Kingston, slide DJLA 1570 ( DJLA) .

Figures

PLATE 14.