Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) nyika Volynkin, 2019

Volynkin, Anton V., 2019, Two new ‘ Asura - like’ Cyana Walker, 1854 from Africa (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4576 (2), pp. 395-400 : 396-400

Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) nyika Volynkin , sp. nov. ( Figs. 7 , 14 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A49B14D7-1D7F-4D62-9E19-798D21EFCAE2

Type material. Holotype ( Figs. 7 , 14 ): ♂, Zambia, Nyika plateau, 10°35’17’’S 33°39’16’’E, h- 2064 m, 21.XI.2011, slide MWM 33711 Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Nyika plateau.

Diagnosis. The new species belongs to the subgenus Cornutivulpecula Karisch, 2013 (Type species: Cyana klohsi Karisch, 2003 ) widespread from western to southeastern Africa and comprising 13 valid species ( Karisch 2013). Externally, the new species ( Fig. 7 ) differs clearly from most other members of the subgenus Cornutivulpecula by its yellow forewing coloration and is remotely similar only to C. rejecta ( Walker, 1854) ( Fig. 8 ), from which can be easily distinguished by its narrower forewing and presence of brown ante- and postmedial lines, while the pattern of C. rejecta is represented only by two spots in the cell. The male genitalia of C. nyika ( Fig. 14 ) differs from that of C. rejecta ( Fig. 15 ) by its longer uncus, broader medial crest of valva, slightly larger ampulla, shorter distal saccular process, much smaller aedeagus (in comparison with the genital capsule), absence of a subbasal and two medial diverticula, and much weaker spike-like cornuti medially.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Forewing length 10 mm in male. Male antennae ciliate. Head and thorax ochreous yellow abdomen pale yellow. Forewing ground color ochreous yellow, pattern elements diffuse, dark brown. Discal spots small, rounded. Subbasal line, short, oblique, connected to the antemedial line at costa; ante- and postmedial lines broad, wavy, connected with spots in the cell and each other along the anal wing margin. Cilia ochreous yellow. Hindwing pale yellow, discal spot brownish, diffuse, thin, semilunar. Cilia pale yellow. Male genitalia ( Fig. 14 ). Uncus short, narrow, apically rounded, basally connected with tuba analis; tuba anais broad, membranous, subscaphium as broad granulatedsetose area. Tegumen shorter than valva, apically broadened, laterally narrow. Manica membranous; juxta broadly Xlike. Vinculum robust, U-like. Valva moderately broad, with smooth medial costal angle and broad and rounded medial crest; ampulla short, apically rounded. Sacculus moderately broad, its distal process slightly shorter than distal section of valva, its apical thorn short, claw-like. Aedeagus elongated, moderately broadened, with short and narrow coecum. Vesica short, globular, with two bunches of spike-like cornuti of different size medially; distal diverticulum short, globular, granulated.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Cyana nyika is currently only known from its type locality, the western part of Nyika plateau in northeastern part of Zambia.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Cyana spp.: adults. 1, C. turlini, holotype ♂, Rwanda (ZSM); 2, C. turlini, paratype ♂, Rwanda (ZSM); 3, C. naumanni, paratype ♂, W Kenya (ZMB); 4, C. naumanni, ♂, Uganda (ZMB); 5, C. naumanni, ♂, SW Rwanda (©NHMUK); 6, C. nemasisha, ♂, S Mozambique (ANHRT); 7, C. nyika, holotype ♂, NE Zambia (MWM/ZSM); 8, C. rejecta, ♂, Malawi (©NHMUK).

FIGURES 13–15. Cyana spp.: male genitalia. 13, C. nemasisha, S Mozambique, slide AV3046♂ Volynkin; 14, C. nyika, holotype, NE Zambia slide MWM 33711 Volynkin; 15, C. rejecta, Madagaskar, slide BMNH(E) Arct-6198 Karish (©NHMUK).