Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) muscivirens, László & Hausmann & Karisch, 2023

László, Gyula M., Hausmann, Axel & Karisch, Timm, 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the African taxa of the Racotis Moore, 1887 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Boarmiini), Zootaxa 5308 (1), pp. 1-109 : 46

Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) muscivirens sp. n.

( Figs 73–75 , 169–170 , 250–251 , 318 )

Holotype. Male , “ Liberia, Nimba, East Nimba NR, Cellcom RD Camp 1150m, 7.5287°N - 8.5275°W, 8.–10.XII.2013 leg. Sáfián Szabolcs ”, gen. slide No.: LG 4758 ( ZSM).

Paratypes. Ivory Coast. 1 male, Yapo Sud , 22 km SSE Agboville, 12–18.iv.1969, C. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 4617 ( ZSM) . Liberia. 2 females, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Sinoe County, Juboe River , 7.5km South West Pellokon Town, 140m, 5°39’4”N, 8°39’4”W, 14–21.i.2018, Cold Cathode UV Bucket Light Trap, Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2017.33, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00089944, 00089785, gen. slide No.: LG 5430 ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. Forewing length 22–25 mm. Afroracotis muscivirens sp. n. is distinguished from the other members of the species-group by the yellowish-mossy colouration variegated by rather extensive, brownish patches and transverse fasciae. In the male genitalia, the clasping apparatus has the ground plan typical of the species-group, except for the vinculum, which is V-shaped, and apically pointed in the new species, whereas it is apically rounded in its congeners. The aedeagus of the new species is relatively short, tubular, evenly thick in its entire length. The vesica is very long, rugose, largely expandable, covered in fine, dense scobination, armed with a very heavily sclerotised, large, robust, basally broad, medially dilated and curved, distally gradually tapered, apically pointed cornutus with a strongly striate basal half. In the female genitalia, the species is distinguished from all other congeners by the very long, narrow ductus bursae which is membranous and conspicuously dilated in the posterior fifth, then abruptly tapered continuing in a gently S-shaped, proximally slightly dilated, heavily sclerotised anterior section. The cervix bursae of the new species is the least dilated in the species-group, with deep longitudinal striation. The corpus bursae possesses an extensive, rounded, strongly sclerotised plate supposedly serving as a receptive surface of the robust cornutus during copulation. The ovoid, membranous anterior part of the corpus bursae is the largest in the species-group.

Genetic information. The authors attempted to obtain DNA barcode of this species, however, the two sampled specimens failed to sequence.

Etymology. The specific name is an aggregate of the latin noun “ muscus ” meaning “ moss ” and the latin adjective “ virens ” meaning “ green ” referring to the species’ distinctive mossy-green facies.

Distribution ( Map 4 ). Afroracotis muscivirens is known to date exlusively from the Guinea-Congolian lowland rainforest biotic zone, with confirmed records from Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Figures

MAP 4. Distribution of the Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) argillacea species-group.

FIGURES 61–80. Adults, dorsal view. 61. Afroracotis longicornuta sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ANHRT); 62. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea (ANHRT); 63. A. l. congolana ssp. n., HT, ♁, Cameroon (RCMO); 64. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 65. Ibidem, PT, ♁, DRC (NHMUK); 66. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 67. A. l. ugandana ssp. n., HT, ♁, Uganda (RCHS); 68. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Uganda (RCHS); 69. A. aristophanousi sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ANHRT); 70. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 71. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Uganda (NHMUK); 72. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 73. A. muscivirens sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ZSM); 74. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Ivory Coast (ZSM); 75. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia (ANHRT); 76. A. turlini sp. n., HT, ♁, Rwanda (ZSM); 77. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Rwanda (ZSM); 78. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Rwanda (ZSM); 79. A. atriclava, ST of Cleora atriclava, ♁, Madagascar (NHMUK); 80. Ibidem, ♀, Madagascar (ZSM).

FIGURES 151–170. Adults, ventral view. 151. Afroracotis apodosima, ♁, Zambia (ANHRT); 152. Ibidem, ♀, Mozambique (ANHRT); 153. A. dargei sp. n., PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 154. Ibidem, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 155. A. deportata, ♁, Madagascar (RCHS); 156. Ibidem, ♀, Comoros (NHMUK); 157. A. argillacea argillacea, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 158. Ibidem, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 159. A. argillacea cedrici, HT of Racotis cedrici, ♀, Bioko (ZSM); 160. A. argillacea morettoi ssp. n., HT, ♁, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 161. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 162. A. longicornuta sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ANHRT); 163. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea (ZSM); 164. A. l. congolana ssp. n., PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 165. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 166. A. l. ugandana ssp. n., PT, ♀, Uganda (RCHS); 167. A. aristophanousi sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ANHRT); 168. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 169. A. muscivirens sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ZSM); 170. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia (ANHRT).

FIGURES 245–250. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus. 245. Afroracotis longicornuta congolana ssp. n., PT, DRC, slide No. NHMUK 010315179 (NHMUK); 246. A. l. ugandana ssp. n., HT, Uganda, slide No. LG 5529 (RCHS). 247. Ibidem, PT, Uganda, slide No. LG 5530 (RCHS); 248. A. aristophanousi sp. n., HT, Liberia, slide No. LG 5418 (ANHRT); 249. Ibidem, PT, Uganda, slide No. NHMUK 010315182 (NHMUK); 250. A. muscivirens sp. n., HT, Liberia, slide No. LG 4758 (ZSM).

FIGURES 251–255. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus. 251. Afroracotis muscivirens sp. n., PT, Ivory Coast, slide No. LG 4617 (ZSM); 252. A. atriclava, ST of Cleora atriclava, Madagascar, slide No. LG 5039 (ZSM); 253. A. turlini sp. n., HT, Rwanda, slide No. LG 4619 (ZSM). 254. Afroracotis zebrina, Ivory Coast, slide No. LG 4176 (ANHRT); 255. Ibidem, Liberia, slide No. LG 4965 (ANHRT).

FIGURES 314–319. Female genitalia. 314. Afroracotis aristophanousi sp. n., PT, Ghana, slide No.: NHMUK 010316165 (NHMUK); 315. Ibidem, PT, Cameroon, slide No.: LG 5045 (ZSM); 316. Ibidem, PT, Cameroon, slide No.: LG 5849 (RMCA); 317. A. atriclava, ST, Madagascar, slide No.: LG 5040 (ZSM); 318. A. muscivirens sp. n., PT, Liberia, slide No.: LG 5430 (ANHRT); 319. A. turlini sp. n., PT, Rwanda, slide No.: LG 4773 (ZSM).