Tumicla usa, Volynkin & László, 2020

Volynkin, Anton V. & László, Gyula M., 2020, Six new species of the genus Tumicla Wallengren, 1863 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 38, pp. 36-50 : 37

Tumicla usa sp. n.

( Figs 1, 2 , 24 , 34, 35 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 2 , 34 ): female, “ Africa , Tanzania, USA River 3900 ft., 28.IX.1965, leg. Dr. J. Szunyoghy ”, gen. slide No.: AV5721 ( HNHM).

Paratypes. TANZANIA: 1 male, 1 female, with the same locality and collector as the holotype but, IX.– II-1965 -66, gen. slides Nos.: AV5720 (male) and AV5996 (female) ( HNHM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 10 mm in the male and 14–16 mm in females. The new species ( Figs 1, 2 ) is very similar externally to Tumicla mbeghai Volynkin & László, 2019 ( Figs 3, 4 ) in its coloration and forewing markings but distinguished by its considerably smaller size. The male genital capsule of T. usa ( Fig. 24 ) is nearly identical to that of T. mbeghai ( Fig. 25 ) but differs in its noticeably wider valva and slightly larger vinculum. Compared to Tumicla elephantina Volynkin & László, 2019 ( Fig. 26 ), the male genital capsule of T. usa has a more robust vinculum and a distally wider valva with a more dentate dorsal margin distally. The aedeagus of the new species is markedly thicker and somewhat shorter than in T. mbeghai and is nearly identical to that of T. elephantina . The vesica of T. usa is similar to that of T. mbeghai but is longer, its distal diverticulum is considerably shorter and the cornutus is slightly curved medially (whereas it is straight in T. mbeghai ). The vesica of T. usa bears only a single cornutus, whereas that of T. elephantina is armed with two cornuti of different lengths. Additionally, the vesica of the new species is slightly shorter and distally narrower and its distal diverticulum is shorter but basally wider in comparison to those structures in T. elephantina . The female genitalia of T. usa ( Figs 34, 35 ) differ from those of T. mbeghai ( Fig. 36 ) more conspicuously than in the male genitalia and are easily recognized by their wider and longer ductus bursae. The posterior section of the corpus bursae of T. usa is shorter and narrower than in T. mbeghai and its right lateral protrusion is reduced to a small, rounded sclerotized plate, whereas this structure is represented by an elongate conical membranous process with a sclerotized plate at its base in T. mbeghai . The anterior section of the corpus bursae of T. usa is much smaller than that of T. mbeghai . The female genitalia of the new species differ from those of T. chuquelae ( Fig. 37 ) and T. elephantina ( Fig. 38 ) by their markedly longer and wider ductus bursae and the reduced right lateral protrusion of the posterior section of the corpus bursae. Additionally, in T. usa , the left margin of the posterior section of the corpus bursae and the base of the appendix bursae are more heavily sclerotized than in T. chuquelae and T. elephantina . The appendix bursae and the anterior section of the corpus bursae of the new species are considerably smaller than those of the related species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from the lower slopes of Mount Meru, Arusha Region in northeastern Tanzania.

Etymology. The species name refers to its type locality, the town of Usa River in Tanzania.

Figures

Figures 1–10. Tumicla spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in HNHM; 3, 4, 7 and 8 in NHMUK (©); 5 and 6 in ANHRT; 9 and 10 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 24–26. Tumicla spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 24 in HNHM; 25 in NHMUK (©); 26 in ANHRT.

Figures 34–38. Tumicla spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 34 and 35 in HNHM; 36 in NHMUK (©); 37 and 38 in ANHRT.