Lophilema nguru Volynkin, 2019

Volynkin, Anton V., 2019, Four new species of Lophilema Aurivillius, 1910 from East Africa (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4543 (1), pp. 115-126 : 118-119

Lophilema nguru Volynkin , sp. nov.

( Figs 5, 6 , 18 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 5 , 18 ): ♂, Tanzania, 1759 m, Maskati , Nguru Mountains, S06°03’29.3’’, E37°29’08.4’’, 6– 9.XII. [20]10, light trap, leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H., slide AV3311 ♂ (Coll. ANHRT).

Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as in the holotype, slide AV3190 ♂ (Coll. ANHRT) ; 1 ♂, same locality and collectors, but 4– 7.VII. [20]10, slide AV3313 ♂ (Coll. ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. Male of Lophilema nguru sp. nov. ( Figs 5, 6 ) is externally similar to those of L. claudei , L. bilobata sp. nov., and L. mbulu sp. nov., but differs from L. claudei ( Fig 4 ) by its somewhat larger size and the larger discal spot of the forewing; from L. bilobata sp. nov. ( Fig 3 ) by its smaller size, darker forewing ground color, larger discal spot of the forewing, and paler hindwing; from L. mbulu sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 ) by its slightly broader forewing, somewhat paler forewing coloration, larger discal spot of the forewing, and paler hindwing. The male genitalia of L. nguru sp. nov. ( Fig. 18 ) is similar to that of L. claudei , L. curva sp. nov., L. fletcheri and L. creatoplaga , but differs from L. claudei ( Fig. 17 ) by its distally narrower uncus, slightly shorter vinculum, narrower and more setose juxta, shorter dorsal crest of valva, situated more basally, narrower and less curved distal part of the dorsal section of the valva, significantly narrower sacculus, much longer and narrower distal saccular process, finer granulation and absence of a dorsal diverticulum of vesica. The new species differs from L. curva sp. nov. ( Fig. 19 ) by its distally narrower uncus, shorter and more smoothly curved dorsal crest of costa valvae, slightly broader dorsal section of the valva, more slender and straight distal saccular process, weaker granulation and absence of a dorsal diverticulum of the vesica; L. nguru sp. nov. differs from L. fletcheri ( Fig. 20 ) by its distally much narrower uncus, longer juxta, broader dorsal section of the valva, somewhat broader sacculus, and longer and more slender distal saccular process; while differs from L. creatoplaga ( Fig. 21 ) by its shorter vinculum, narrower sacculus, and longer and significantly more slender distal saccular process.

Description. Adult. Male ( Figs 5, 6 ). Forewing length 15.5– 16 mm in males. Male antennae ciliate. Body dark brown. Forewing narrow, elongated, with almost parallel margins, its costa curved subapically; medial area with broad and long cluster of hair-like androconial scales; forewing ground color monotonous dark brown; discal spot well developed, blackish-brown, semilunar; cilia monotonous dark brown. Hindwing pale ochreous, discal spot deleted; cilia pale ochreous. Male genitalia ( Fig. 18 ). Uncus long, slender, slightly curved, apically tapering, with claw-shaped apex; tuba analis broad, membranous, scaphium thin, heavily sclerotized; tegumen short and broad; vinculum narrow and weakly sclerotized, extremely long, its inner area with conspicuously long androconial gland covered with long hairs, which assembled into stick-shaped beam at rest; juxta narrowly trapezoidal, weakly sclerotized, setose, with short trigonal basal incision. Valva narrow, slightly tapering distally, curved ventrally, and rounded apically; costa valvae short with a short and narrow dorsal crest erected basally; sacculus narrow, heavily sclerotized; distal saccular process long, slender, straight, rounded apically, its ventral surface and apex densely covered with short setae. Aedeagus medium long, narrow, with well-developed coecum, rugose distally; vesica tubular and membranous basally, broadly globular and weakly granulated medially, with ventral diverticulum broadly conical and rounded apically.

Female unknown.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality, the Nguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania.

Etymology. The species name refers to its type locality, the Nguru Mountains.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Lophilema spp.: adults. 1, L. mbulu, holotype male, Tanzania, Mbulu Mts. (ANHRT); 2, L. mbulu, paratype female, Tanzania, Mbulu Mts. (ANHRT); 3, L. bilobata, holotype male, Kenya, Aberdare Range (ZMB); 4, L. claudei, holotype male, Cameroon (ZSM); 5, L. nguru, holotype male, Tanzania, Nguru Mts. (ANHRT); 6, L. nguru, paratype male, Tanzania, Nguru Mts. (ANHRT); 7, L. curva, holotype male, Tanzania, Nguru Mts. (ANHRT); 8, L. curva, holotype male, Tanzania, Nguru Mts. (ANHRT).

FIGURES 15–18. Lophilema spp.: male genitalia. 15, L. mbulu, holotype, Tanzania, Mbulu Mts., slide AV3189; 16, L. bilobata, holotype, Kenya, Aberdare Range, slide AV4258; 17, L. claudei, holotype, Cameroon, slide ZSM Arct. 197/2017 Volynkin; 18, L. nguru, holotype, Tanzania, Nguru Mts., slide AV3311.

FIGURES 19–22. Lophilema spp.: male genitalia. 19, L. curva, holotype, Tanzania, Nguru Mts., slide AV3195; 20, L. fletcheri, holotype male, Uganda, Ruwenzori Range, slide NHMUK010314633 Volynkin (mounted in euparal from dried genital preparation by Kiriakoff) (©NHMUK); 21, L. creatoplaga, Kenya, slide NHMUK010314601 Volynkin (©NHMUK); 22, L. angustipennis, syntype of Ilema pilosa, Ghana, slide BMNH(E) Arct-233 (©NHMUK).