Oedipygilema anomoia, Volynkin, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, Oedipygilema anomoia, a new lithosiine species from Zambia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 5067 (1), pp. 144-148 : 144-146

Oedipygilema anomoia sp. n.

( Figs 1, 2 , 5, 7 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 5 ): male, “ Zambia, 1440m, Kalene Hill (Miombo woodland) 11˚11’11’’S, 24˚12’5’’E 6.xi.2018 Actinic Light Trap Aristophanous, M., Derozier, V., Laszlo, G., Oram, D. Leg. ANHRT:2018.40” / “ANHRTUK 00058091” / “Slide AV6424 ♂ A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (10 males, 6 females in total): ZAMBIA: 1 male, 2 females, 1300m, Nyangombe Falls (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 11˚48’25’’S, 24˚32’12’’E, 15–17.xi.2018, LepiLED & MV Light Traps , Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00069941, 00074127 and 00074128, gen. prep. Nos.: AV6423 (male), AV6460 (female); 1 male, same locality as previous but 17–23.xi.2019, MV Light Trap , Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00199102; 1 male, 1205m, Zambezi Rapids (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 11˚7’30’’S, 24˚11’6’’E, 4–9.xi.2018, MV Light Trap , Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00058157, gen. prep. No.: AV6426; 1 male, 1 female, 1346m, Kambishi School , 11˚54’42’’S, 25˚28’50’’E, 10–13.xi.2017, MV Light Trap , Carter, M., Lloyd, A., Miles , W., Oram, D., Smith, R. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00118553 and 00118740; 1 male, 2 females, 1400m, Hillwood , Ikelenge ( Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 11˚16’02’’S, 24˚18’59’’E, 23–30.xi.2019, Actinic & LepiLED Light Traps, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00202052, 00202053 and 00107658; 1 female, same locality as previous but 21–28.x.2013, Light Trap, Smith, R., Takano, H., Chmurova, L. & Smith, L., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201082; 4 males, 1340m, Jiwundu Swamp (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 11˚51’54’’S, 25˚33’20’’E, 29.x.–4.xi.2018, MV & Actinic Light Traps, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier , V., László, G., Oram, D. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00057156, 00057211, 00057212 and 00061319, gen. prep. No. : AV6422 (all in ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The new species ( Figs 1, 2 ) is fundamentally different in its colouration and wing pattern from O. aposema ( Figs 3, 4 ) and is reminiscent of members of genera such as Manulea Wallengren (illustrated by Dubatolov & Zolotuhin (2011) and Witt et al. (2011)), Mimelilema Krüger , Gracililema Krüger and Pseudotigrioides Krüger (illustrated by Krüger (2015)) displaying the typical ‘eilemoid’ pattern of a monotonous grey or brown ground colour and a yellow costal stripe. The male genital capsule of O. anomoia sp. n. ( Fig. 5 ) is distinguished from that of O. aposema ( Fig. 6 ) by the longer and thicker juxta with a shorter setose dorsal area, the apically V-shaped vinculum (rectangular in O. aposema ), the thicker and asymmetrical transtillae lacking processes, and the thicker and somewhat asymmetrical basal costal processes (symmetrical in O. aposema ). Additionally, in the new species, the distal third of the sacculus is separated from the dorsal section of the valva (vs. 1/ 8 in O. aposema ) and the costa is more heavily sclerotised than in O. aposema and forms a longitudinal fold. The phallus of O. anomoia sp. n. is longer and thicker than in O. aposema , and somewhat S-shaped while it is almost straight in the congener. Compared to that of O. aposema , the vesica of the new species is broader, the lateral cluster of cornuti is wider, the apical cluster is absent, the distal cluster is wider and contains numerous tiny but robust cornuti (vs. a few thin spinules in O. aposema ). The female genitalia of O. anomoia sp. n. ( Fig. 7 ) differ from those of O. aposema ( Fig. 8 ) in the lack of a ventral subostial plate, the more heavily sclerotised ductus bursae with more convex lateral margins, the longer and posteriorly broader corpus bursae and the shorter and conical appendix bursae directed posteriorly (whereas that of O. aposema is sack-like and directed laterally). Additionally, the signum bursae of O. anomoia sp. n. is somewhat longer and thinner than in O. aposema .

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length 13.5– 15 mm in males and 13.5–15.5 mm in females. Sexual dimorphism limited: female forewing somewhat wider with more convex costal margin than in male. Antennae black, sparsely ciliate in both sexes with shorter ciliae in female. Head and collar deep yellow. Thorax blackish grey. Forewing ground colour blackish grey with wide deep yellow costal stripe and cilia, markings absent. Hindwing monotonous pale ochreous yellow. Underside of both wings as upperside but blackish grey area of forewing markedly paler and densely suffused with deep yellow scales. Abdomen ochreous yellow. Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Uncus elongate and slender, smoothly down curved and apically pointed. Tuba analis membranous with thin and weakly sclerotised scaphium. Arms of tegumen fused in posterior two thirds. Vinculum somewhat shorter than tegumen, V-shaped with laterally convex arms. Transtillae asymmetrical and heavily sclerotised. Valva lobate, dilated subdistally, tapered distally and apically rounded. Costa weakly sclerotised and forming a longitudinal fold ventrally. Baso-costal processes asymmetrical, the right process longer; each process long and slender with densely setose ventral margin and apex, and with inner basal corner fused with transtilla. Sacculus narrow (1/4 of valva width subbasally and 1/6 subdistally). Distal saccular process narrow and flattened, apically pointed and slightly curved inwards. Juxta ensiform, extremely long and reaching the base of uncus, with weakly sclerotised base and densely setose dorsal surface of distal third. Phallus somewhat S-shaped, with elongate and apically rounded coecum. Vesica shorter than phallus, sack-like, membranous subbasally and granulated medially and distally, bearing two short and narrow clusters of numerous tiny but robust denticle-like cornuti medially and apically and with vesica ejaculatorius originating dorso-subbasally and directed ventrally. Female genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Papilla analis trapezoidal, weakly setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, equal in length. Postvaginal area of 8 th sternite granulated. Ostium bursae moderately wide with membranous margins. Ductus bursae sclerotised, dorso-ventrally flattened with convex lateral margins. Corpus bursae sack-like, weakly sclerotised and rugose posteriorly, with membranous anterior section bearing elongate and narrow signum laterally. Appendix bursae membranous, broadly conical, positioned postero-laterally on left side.

Distribution. North-western Zambia.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the Greek ‘ανόμοιος’ meaning ‘dissimilar’ and refers to the external dissimilarity of the new species to the type species of the genus Oedipygilema .

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Oedipygilema spp.: adults. The specimens are deposited in ANHRT.

FIGURES 5–8. Oedipygilema spp.: male (5, 6) and female (7, 8) genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.