Afroracotis (Sokokeracotis) staudei, 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 : 75

Afroracotis (Sokokeracotis) staudei sp. n.

( Figs 120 , 205 , 284 )

Holotype. Male , “ Kenya, Gedi, Arabuko, Sokoke Forest Reserve, mixed sand forest, 50m, 3°20’S, 39°57’E, 04.i.2004, leg. S.C. Collins ”, gen. slide No.: LG 5540 ( RCHS / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The distinctive characters of Afroracotis (Sokokeracotis) staudei sp. n., the type species of the monotypic subgenus Sokokeracotis are discussed under the diagnosis of the latter taxon.

Description. The description of the new species is provided under the description of the subgenus Sokokeracotis .

Genetic information. The single known specimen of A. staudei could not be sequenced successfully.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Hermann Staude (Magaliesburg, South Africa), renowned Geometridae specialist and researcher of Lepidoptera diversity in the Afrotropics.

Distribution ( Map 3 ). Afroracotis staudei is only known from the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, one of the last extant fragments of the East African coastal forest.

Figures

MAP 3. Distribution of the Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) apodosima and A. (H.) deportata species-groups and the subgenera Rwandaracotis and Sokokeracotis.

FIGURES 101–120. Adults, dorsal view (all in coll. ANHRT, unless otherwise stated). 101. A. smithi sp. n., HT, ♁, Zambia; 102. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 103. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Zambia; 104. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 105. A. milesi sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 106. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon; 107. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon; 108. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Zambia; 109. A. ochsei sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 110. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 111. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 112. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 113. A. helicalis sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 114. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 115. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 116. A. takanoi sp. n., HT, ♁, Sierra Leone; 117. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea; 118. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Liberia; 119. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia; 120. A. staudei sp. n., HT, ♁, Kenya (RCHS).

FIGURES 191–210. Adults, ventral view (all in coll. ANHRT, unless otherwise stated). 191. Afroracotis milesi sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 192. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon; 193. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Zambia; 194. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 195. A. ochsei sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 196. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 197. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 198. A. helicalis sp. n., HT, ♁, Gabon; 199. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Gabon; 200. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Gabon; 201. A. takanoi sp. n., HT, ♁, Sierra Leone; 202. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea; 203. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Ivory Coast; 204. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia; 205. A. staudei sp. n., HT, ♁, Kenya (RCHS); 206. Racotis boarmiaria, LT, ♁, India (NHMUK); 207. Chorocotis ugandaria, HT of Boarmia ugandaria, ♁, Uganda (NHMUK); 208. Ibidem, ♀, Cameroon (NHMUK); 209. Colocleora breijeri, ♁, RSA (RCDS); 210. C. incauta, ♁, RSA (NHMUK).

FIGURES 280–284. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus. 280. Afroracotis helicalis sp. n., PT, Gabon, slide No. LG 5399 (ANHRT); 281. A. takanoi sp. n., HT, Sierra Leone, slide No. LG 4810 (ANHRT); 282. Ibidem, PT, Guinea, slide No. LG 5445 (ANHRT); 283. Ibidem, PT, Liberia, slide No. LG 4982 (ANHRT); 284. A. staudei sp. n., HT, Kenya, slide No. LG 5540 (RCHS).