Lobilema Aurivillius, 1910

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, A new species of the genus Lobilema Aurivillius (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) from Tanzania, Zootaxa 5052 (3), pp. 447-450 : 447

Genus Lobilema Aurivillius, 1910

Lobilema Aurivillius , in Sjöstedt, 1910, Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der schwedischen zoologischen Expedition nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und den umgebenen Massaisteppen Deutsch-Ostafrikas 1905–06, 2 (9): 25.

Type species: Lobilema conspersa Aurivillius, 1910 , by monotypy.

Remark. The detailed description of the genus was provided by Krüger (2015).

Diagnosis. Males of the genus ( Figs 1–3 ) are reminiscent of those of the genus Ligulosia Krüger, 2015 (the comparison is based on the type species, Ligulosia costimaculata (Aurivillius, 1910)) ( Fig. 4 ) but are distinguished by the presence of a costal lobe on the forewing. The structures of the male genital capsule of the two genera are similar ( Figs 5–8 ) but in Lobilema the anellus is sclerotised and bearing heavily sclerotised and apically spinulose lateral lobes (an autapomorphic feature), a structure supporting the aedeagus ventrally while the juxta is weakly sclerotised, narrow and highly likely lacking a supporting function. Unlike in Lobilema , the juxta of Ligulosia is large, triangular with a deep medio-basal incision and two short distal processes, heavily sclerotised apically, fused with the membranous anellus ventrally and supporting the aedeagus. Additionally, the saccular process of Lobilema is setose dorsally and apically whereas it is smooth in Ligulosia .

The female is unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Lithosiina spp., adults. 2–4 – type species of the genera Lobilema and Ligulosia. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2 and 4 in ANHRT; 3 in NHRS (Photo by T. Malm, ©NHRS).

FIGURES 5–8. Lithosiina spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 5, 6 and 8 in ANHRT; 7 in NHRS (Photo by T. Malm, ©NHRS).