Rhynchobombyx arijakefriend Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller, 2021

Prozorov, Alexey M., Prozorova, Tatiana A., Mapilanga, Jean Joseph, Volkova, Julia S., Yakovlev, Roman V., Traore, Mohamed M., Saldaitis, Aidas & Müller, Günter C., 2021, Seven new species of Rhynchobombyx Aurivillius, 1909 from Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 49, pp. 35-53 : 47-49

Rhynchobombyx arijakefriend Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AF8466D0-D98F-40ED-A6E9-468B37DA4056

( Figs 43–44 , 48 )

Type material: HOLOTYPE ♂, DRC, [Haut-Uele Prov., Isiro] Uele : Paulis, 1.VIII.1959, genitalia slide GU 2011-152 ( RMCA).

Diagnosis. Almost diagonal smooth postmedial line differs the species from the others.

Description. Male habitus ( Fig. 43 ). Head and thorax reddish brown, abdomen yellow. Thorax dorsally bears triangular dark brown spot with pale center. Forewing length: 13 mm; wingspan: 28 mm. Wing oval-shaped, apex obtuse, external margin smooth. Background color reddish brown, darkens to brown towards the apex and brightens to greenish brown by tornal angle. Pattern consists of doubled dark brown and greenish brown crenulate antemedial and smooth postmedial lines; and blackish discal dot on R-Cu cell outer margin. Cilia reddish brown. Hindwing oval-shaped, external margin rounded, slightly waved. Main color yellowish, costal and tornal fields darker. Cilia reddish brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 44 ). Tegumen band-shaped, bears two short projections with sharpen apexes and covered with chaetae along. Vinculum thin, ventrally widened into cup-like form. Sacculus elongated, finger-shaped with blunt apex. Cucullus tuber-like, covered with chaetae. Juxta a tiny plate fused with aedeagus. Aedeagus cylindrical with small uneven dorsal sclerotized field right by vesica and ventral c-shaped long basal spur with blunt apex. Vesica bag-shaped with two chambers: smaller lateral and bigger main, both covered with tiny denticles; main one bears cornutus formed by several fused smaller cornuti. Female remains unknown, expected to be bigger and darker than male.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Ari Jake Friend (Merrick, New York, USA). Ari Jake is nature lover, outdoorsman, loves to fish and explore for minerals. He is sports enthusiast: plays baseball, basketball and flag football.

Distribution. The species is found in DRC, Haut-Uele ( Fig. 48 ).

Biology. Adult was collected in August. The only known habitat is tropical moist broadleaf forests with rare mosaic grassland patches, the elevation is around 800 m above sea-level. The larval foodplant remains unknown.

Figures

Figure 43. Adult of Rh. arijakefriend, male holotype, DRC, Haut-Uele Prov., genitalia slide GU 2011-152 (RMCA).

Figure 44. Genitalia of Rh. arijakefriend, male holotype, DRC, Haut-Uele Prov., genitalia slide GU 2011-152 (RMCA).

Figures 47–52. Collecting areas of Rhynchobombyx spp. 47. Congo, Cuvette-Ouest Dept., Odzala-Kakoua Nat. Park, 400–500 m, 0°23’N, 14°50’E. 48. DRC, Haut-Uele Prov., Isiro. 49. DRC, Tshuapa Prov., Lomela River, Gombe- Isongo. 50. DRC, Mai-Ndombe Prov., Ekongo camp, 02°45’23.09”S, 20°18’55.37”E. 51. DRC, Kasaï Prov., NE Ilebo and Kasai River. 52. Angola, Benguela Prov., rd. Londengo–Sumbe, ca. 80 km S Sumbe, 10 km rd. to Bumba, 280 m, 11°47’33.1”S, 14°02’17.4”E. Available from: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1meQVkKsMY8Qvp5cJBC2dwi_clX6l-cOD&usp=sharing [Accessed 10.XII.2021].