Tagoropsis sabulosa zanzibarica Spitsyn & Bolotov, 2022

Spitsyn, Vitaly M., Kondakov, Alexander V., Tomilova, Alena A., Spitsyna, Elizaveta A. & Bolotov, Ivan N., 2022, Tagoropsis sabulosa zanzibarica ssp. nov. from Zanzibar Island (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 56, pp. 40-43 : 41-42

Tagoropsis sabulosa zanzibarica Spitsyn & Bolotov ssp. nov.

Figs 1−2

Type material. Holotype male RMBH Sph 0920: TANZANIA, Zanzibar Island, Kiwengwa Forest , dry monsoon forest, 5°59'S, 39°21'E, 24.iii-12.iv.2021, E. Spitsyna & V. Spitsyn leg. Paratype RMBH Sph0921, Sph0990−Sph0995: the type locality, same date and collectors, 5♂, 2♀ .

Diagnosis. The new subspecies could be distinguished from the nominate subspecies by combination of the following characters: wings yellow (vs grey, greyish brown or pinkish brown); postmedial line on the forewing clear, contrast (vs postmedial line absent or unclear); marginal spots on the male hindwing absent.

Description. Male morphology: Wingspan 69–79 mm, forewing length 41–47 mm. Eye dark grey. Antenna light brown, bipectinate. Head reddish brown with yellow spots at the base of antenna. Labial palpus reddish brown (its length equal to the eye’s diameter). Thorax yellow. Patagium and tegula reddish brown. Legs yellow, tarsus reddish brown. Forewing upperside yellow with a minor aggregation of brown scales along costal margin and submarginal area; antemedial line unclear, postmedial line brown, wavy, clear and contrast, subterminal line brown, clear and contrast; discal spot elongated, white with brown border. Forewing underside repeats the pattern of upper side, postmedial line straighter. Hindwing upperside yellow; postmedial line brown, wavy, clear and contrast, subterminal line brown, clear and contrast. Hindwing underside repeats the pattern of upper side. Abdomen yellow. Male genitalia: Tegumen very broad, strongly sclerotized. Uncus bifurcated apically. Valva slightly elongated, of irregular shape, tapering apically. Juxta bifurcated, strongly sclerotized. Aedeagus straight, its base expanded with two processes. Vesica with two cornuti. Female morphology: Wingspan 74–76 mm, forewing length 41–42 mm. Eye dark grey. Antenna light brown, bipectinate. Head reddish brown with yellow spots at the base of antenna. Labial palpus reddish brown (its length equal to the eye’s diameter). Thorax yellow. Patagium and tegula reddish brown. Legs yellow, tarsus reddish brown. Forewing upperside yellow with a deposition of brown scales; antemedial line brown, broken; postmedial line and subterminal line brown, wavy, clear and contrast; discal spot elongated, white with brown border; submarginal area with large brown spots merging into a broad stripe. Forewing underside repeats the pattern of the upper side. Hindwing upperside yellow; antemedial line only at the anal margin, postmedial line and subterminal line brown, wavy, clear and contrast. Hindwing underside repeats the pattern of upper side; discal spot brown; submarginal area with large, merging brown spots. Abdomen yellow.

Figures

Figure 1. Type specimens of Tagoropsis sabulosa zanzibarica ssp. nov. from Zanzibar Island, Tanzania: A-B) Holotype male RMBH Sph0920: (A) Upperside. (B) Underside; C-D) Paratype female RMBH Sph0921: (C) Upperside. (D) Underside. Scale bar = 10 mm. Photos: Elizaveta A. Spitsyna.

Figure 2. Male genitalia and aedeagus of Tagoropsis sabulosa zanzibarica ssp. nov. (holotype) from Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. (A) Male genitalia (lateral view). (B) Aedeagus (lateral view). Scale bar = 1 mm. (Photos: Elizaveta A. Spitsyna).