Wittoecia, Yakovlev, 2020

Yakovlev, Roman V., 2020, Wittoecia - a new genus of Zeuzerinae (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ecologica Montenegrina 34, pp. 1-7 : 2

Wittoecia gen. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C6EC2069-700E-44AF-8DE1-0CD9583CE1E1

Type species (by monotypy) Azygophleps brehmi Yakovlev & Witt, 2016 ( Figs 1−2 , 8 )

Description. Size medium (fore wing length 22−24 mm). Antenna goblet- like, bipectinate, very long crest processes in two proximal thirds of antenna (processes 4 times longer than rod diameter), very short crest processes in distal third (processes equal to antenna rod diameter). Thorax and abdomen covered with lightyellow hairs. Fore wing elongated, creamy, with reticulated pattern of black strokes: more dense and wide along costa, anal edge and in distal cell, significantly thinner submarginally. No pattern of strokes in cubital area. Hind wing creamy, with poorly expressed reticulated pattern of thin grey undulated strokes in submarginal and marginal areas (except for anal area). Fringe on all wings light-creamy, almost white.

Male genitalia (GenPrMWM 25284, 33185). Uncus short, triangle, apically sharp; tegumen wide; gnathos arms short, not fused, basally thick, distally narrowing gradually; valve narrow, long, with smooth parallel edges, apically rounded; juxta large, oval, with small semicircular cut on dorsal surface; saccus long, massive, tapered, apically sharp; aedeagus thin, 1/4 shorter than valve, basally thick, slightly narrowing to distal end, slightly curved throughout its length, small rod-like cornutus in lateral surface of vesica.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis. Externally, the new genus is most close to the genus Azygophleps ( Figs 3−4 , 9−10 ), from which it clearly differs in the male genitalia (in Azygophleps , the aedeagus is thick with a large cornutus in the lateral surface of the vesica, the gnathos arms are long and thin, not fused). From the genus Phragmacossia Schawerda, 1924 (type species, by original designation − Phragmatoecia (sic) reticulata Püngeler, 1900 ) ( Figs 5 , 11 ) distributed in the south of Palaearctic and south-east Asia the new genus differs in a more variable pattern on the fore wing, the massive uncus and the short gnathos arms. In the male genital structure, it is most close to the genus Phragmataecia Newman, 1850 (type species, by monotypy − Noctua arundinis Hübner, 1808 ) ( Figs 6 , 12 ), widely spread in the Palaearctic and Paleotropics, from which it differs in the more variable fore wing pattern, larger size and very thick base of the uncus. Externally, the new genus resembles to the genus Zeuzeropecten Gaede, 1930 (type species, by original designation − Zeuzeropecten lactescens Gaede, 1930 ) ( Figs 7 , 13 ), distributed in east Africa and Madagascar, but differs in its very short saccus (in Zeuzeropecten sp. , the saccus is very long) and longer uncus (in Zeuzeropecten sp. , the uncus is very short).

Composition. The new genus is monotypic, it includes only one species – Wittoecia brehmi ( Yakovlev & Witt, 2016) comb. n.

Distribution. Recorded only for Central Ethiopia (Oromia region) ( Fig. 14 ).

Habitat. Mountain forests on the alt. of 2350−2388 m ( Fig. 15 ). Adult flight period: April–May.

Etymology. The new genus is named after Thomas J. Witt (1947−2019) ( Fig. 16) the world largest collector of Lepidoptera , founder of the Witt Museum (Munich, Germany), organizer of the fund “Thomas- Witt- Stiftung zur Förderung der Wissenschaft und Forschung im Bereich der Zoologischen Systematik”. Thomas J. Witt was awarded with the Ritter-von-Spix-Medal of Zoologischen Staatssammlung Munchen in 2001. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Munich in 2013.

Figures

Figure 14. Map of distribution of Wittoecia brehmi (Yakovlev & Witt, 2016) comb. n.

Figure 15. Habitat of Wittoecia brehmi (Yakovlev & Witt, 2016) comb. n. (photo by Harald Sulak).

Figures 1−7. Adult males of Zeuzerinae: 1. Wittoecia brehmi (Yakovlev & Witt, 2016) comb. n., holotype (Museum Witt, Munich); 2. W. brehmi, paratype (Museum Witt, Munich); 3. Azygophleps scalaris (Fabricius, 1775), Mali, Mopti region, Dogon Plateau, 400−800 m, Nov.−Dec. 2010, leg. Müller, Kravchenko, Traore & al. (Museum Witt, Munich); 4. A. inclusa (Walker, 1856), Zambia, Jiwundu Swamp, S 11°51′54′′ / E 25°33′20′′, 20−22.x.2014, light trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram (individual number: ANHRTUK: 00052313, African Natural History Research Trust, Leominster, GB); 5. Phragmacossia ariana (Grum-Grshimailo, 1899), Tajikistan, Gissar Mts., Kondara, 38º50′N / 68º50′E, July 1998, ex coll. A. Schintlmeister (Museum Witt, Munich); 6. Phragmataecia castaneae (Hübner, 1790), “S. Russland, Rostov/Don, Nedwigovka, 10.vi.1991, leg. A. Poltawsky, coll. [A.] Schitlm[eister]]” (Museum Witt, Munich); 7. Zeuzeropecten combustus (Kenrick, 1913), Madagascar, Ranomafana, 40 km NE Fianarantsoa, 900 m, 30.xii.2003−3.i.2004, leg. S. Murzin & A. Shamaev (Museum Witt, Munich).

Figures 8−13. Genitalia of males of Zeuzerinae: 8. Wittoecia brehmi (Yakovlev & Witt, 2016) comb. n., paratype (Genitalpräparat Heterocera N 33.185, Museum Witt, Munich); 9. Azygophleps scalaris (Fabricius, 1775), Mali, Mopti region, Dogon Plateau, 400−800 m, Nov.−Dec. 2010, leg. Müller, Kravchenko, Traore & al. (Genitalpräparat Heterocera N 32.924, Museum Witt, Munich); 10. A. inclusa (Walker, 1856), Zambia, Jiwundu Swamp, S 11°51′54′′ / E 25°33′20′′, 20−22.x.2014, light trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram (ANHRT Gen Slide 00075, African Natural History Research Trust, Leominster, GB); 11. Phragmacossia ariana (Grum-Grshimailo, 1899), Tajikistan, Gissar Mts., Kondara, 38º50′N / 68º50′E, July 1998, ex coll. A. Schintlmeister (Genitalpräparat Heterocera N 33.161, Museum Witt, Munich); 12. Phragmataecia castaneae (Hübner, 1790), “S. Russland, Rostov/Don, Nedwigovka, 10.vi.1991, leg. A. Poltawsky, coll. [A.] Schitlm[eister]]” (Genitalpräparat Heterocera N 32.709, Museum Witt, Munich); 13. Zeuzeropecten combustus (Kenrick, 1913), Madagascar, Ranomafana, 40 km NE Fianarantsoa, 900 m, 30.xii.2003−3.i.2004, leg. S. Murzin & A. Shamaev (Genitalpräparat Heterocera N 33.167, Museum Witt, Munich).