Leucobaeta smithi, László, 2022

László, Gyula M., 2022, On the taxonomy of Negeta semialba Hampson, 1918 with descriptions of two new Leucobaeta László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 species (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae), Zootaxa 5091 (1), pp. 56-68 : 63-65

Leucobaeta smithi sp. n.

( Figs. 4–6 , 18 , 24 )

Holotype. ♂, “ Mozambique, 630m, Manica Province, Chimanimani National Reserve, Moribane Forest, Ndzou Camp , ( Moist Forest ), 19°44’01.4”S, 33°20’15.1”E, 3–5.VIII.2018, Actinic Light Trap , Laszlo, G., Miles, W., Vetina, A. leg., ANHRT:2018.30”, unique number: ANHRTUK 00047856, gen. slide No.: LGNA 961 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (11 ♂, 5 ♀ in total). Mozambique. 1 ♂, Maputo Special Reserve, West Gate ( Sand Forest ), 22m, 26°30’14.2”S, 32°42’59.6”E, 13–15.ii.2018, Actinic Light Trap, László, G., Mulvaney, J., Smith, L. leg., ANHRT:2018.2, unique number: ANHRTUK 00027539, gen. slide No.: LGNA 962 ( ANHRT). Ethiopia. 1 ♂, Abyssinia , Harar, 18.vii.1939, R. E. Ellison, R.E. Ellison coll., B.M. 1960-550, QR code label with unique number: NHMUK 014046237 , gen. slide No. : NHMUK 010316556 ( NHMUK). Tanzania. 1 ♂, Empakani Crater, Ngorongoro Highlands , 2278m, 02°54’55”S, 35°51’23”E, 26–28.vii.2012, Light Trap, leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H., ANHRT:2017.6, unique number: ANHRTUK 00073440, gen. slide No.: LGNA 963 ( ANHRT) ; 1 ♀, Malaria Institute Amani, P. 604, 2/1963, G. Pringle Coll., B.M. 1966-281, QR code label with unique number: NHMUK 014046236 , gen. slide No.: NHMUK 010316555 ; 1 ♀, same site, 3/1964, QR code label with unique number: NHMUK 010917505 ( NHMUK). Kenya. 1 ♂, Central Province, Thika District, 8 km SW Thika, Karamaini Estate , 1550m, 01°02’7.46”S, 36°59’4.72”E, 25.ix.2012, leg. A.J. Kingston (coll. A.J. Kingston, Albrighton, UK). Zimbabwe. 1 ♂, Khami , nr. Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia, III.1956, Nat. Mus. S. Rhodesia, Brit. Mus. 1962-143, QR code label with unique number: NHMUK 014046235 , gen. slide No. : NHMUK 010316554 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♂, Manicaland, Chipinge Highlands, Chirinda Forest , 1170m, 20°24’6.04”S, 32°41’9.62”E, 19–20.xi.2017, leg. A. Kingston, K. Larsen & A. Cipolla (coll. A.J. Kingston, Albrighton, UK). South Africa. 1 ♂, Natal, Weenen , IX–X.1925, H.P. Thomasset, Pres. By Imp. Bur. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1927-387., QR code label with unique number: BMNH(E) 1403484, gen. slide No.: Arctiidae 553 ; 1 ♂, Durban, Natal, Bred 8.viii.1919, E.E. Platt, 1919-89, QR code label with unique number: BMNH(E) 1403484, gen. slide No.: Arctiidae 554 ( NHMUK) ; 2 ♂, KwaZulu Natal, Karkloof, Rockwood Forest Lodge, 26–29.ii.2020, 1290m, leg. A.J. Kingston, K. Larsen & A. Cipolla (coll. A.J. Kingston, Albrighton, UK) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Mpumalanga, Barberton Nature Reserve, Berghuisi , 2.5 km S Barberton, 900–1200m, 25°48’S, 31°02’E, 7–9.xi.2015, leg. Fiebig, Schellhorn & Stadie (coll. R. Fiebig, Rossleben, Germany) ; 1 ♀, same site, date and collectors, 1100m (coll. D. Stadie, Lutherstadt-Eisleben, Germany).

Diagnosis. Leucobaeta smithi sp. n. is externally reminiscent of its sibling L. semialba , but easily distinguished by its considerably larger size (forewing length of the new species is 8.5–10.0 mm, that of L. semialba is 5.5–8.0 mm), the more elongate forewing and the larger subapical patch surrounded by a more extensive whitish area.

Despite the fairly similar external habitus, the male genitalia of the two species show substantial differences expressed by the distally much narrower uncus, the considerably shorter and broader tegumen, and the narrower valva of the new species. The most salient difference in the male genitalia of the two species is expressed by the configuration of the costal process which is an excessively enlarged, arrowhead-shaped lobe with its apex pointing caudad in L. smithi , while the costal process is much smaller, finger-like, apically rounded, directing ventrad in L. semialba . Further remarkable differences between the two species are the poorly developed, membranous transtillae, the much smaller fultura inferior (juxta) and the markedly shorter vinculum of L. smithi compared to those of its West African congener. The phallus of the two species are also very different: it is gently S-shaped without a carina process in the new species, while it is straight with a long, robust, claw-like carina process in L. semialba ; in addition, the vesica of L. smithi bears a large, spike-like cornutus associated with an elongate sclerotized area, whereas that of L. semialba lacks cornuti and other sclerotization.

Compared to those of L. semialba , the female genitalia of the new species are markedly larger, with a somewhat shorter and thicker apophyses posteriores, a considerably longer, thicker, apically club-shaped apophyses anteriores (those of L. semialba are pointed apically) and a shorter 8 th tergite with parallel proximal and distal margins (it is medially constricted in the allied species). In addition, the new species has a shorter, less sclerotized antrum, an approximately 20% longer ductus bursae with larger lateral protrusion, and an unmodified cervix bursae, compared to those of L. semialba . The corpus bursae of L. smithi is markedly larger than that of its West African congener with 20% longer tubular distal section and somewhat smaller signum bursae, lacking an appendix bursae.

Description. Adult. ( Figs. 4–6 ). Forewing length 8.5–10.0 mm. Antenna fasciculate in males, filiform in females.

Head relatively large, labial palp length 1.2 times the diameter of eye, moderately thick, porrect, dark brown; frons pale brown posteriorly, off-white anteriorly, vertex whitish-grey; compound eyes relatively large, globular. Thorax, collar, tegulae and abdomen bright white. Intraspecific variability and sexual dimorphism negligible, expressed only by the slightly darker hindwing of females.

Forewing moderately elongate, rather quadrangular, apically rounded. Basal and antemedial area bright white with two, pale grey costal dashes, the proximal one larger than the distal one. Medial area dark brownish grey, inner margin straight, oblique, sharply separated from white basal area. Postmedial and tornal areas brownish grey, fading to pale grey distally, dorsal half of postmedial and terminal area creamy-white, apically with an extensive, dark ovoidal blotch consisting of a diffuse ochreous patch encompassing a small black amorphous area anteriorly, and a dark brown round macule adjoining apex posteriorly. Transverse lines deleted except for the diffuse, very narrow, evenly arcuate, whitish postmedial line, and the very narrow, interrupted pale grey terminal line. Cilia long, darkening from pale grey to dark brownish-grey towards tornus. Hindwing of male off-white in basal three-quarters, pale greyish near termen, that of female dark grey in distal three-quarters with off-white basal area; cilia off white. Underside of forewing dark grey in the dorsal two-thirds, pale greyish-white in the ventral third; hindwing underside pale grey, somewhat darker near termen; pattern undetectable.

Male genitalia. ( Fig. 18 ). Uncus medium long, broad at base, tapered in basal third, slightly dilated medially, then abruptly tapered, distal third very narrow, apically pointed, spike-like. Tegumen short with relatively wide arms fused at middle of tegumen. Valva relatively short, narrow, apically evenly rounded, membranous. Valva costa straight, subbasally with a large, heavily sclerotized arrowhead-shaped lobe pointing caudad, conjunct with sacculus bearing a short, rounded subventral process pointing distally; distal two-thirds of costa weakly sclerotized. Sacculus half as long as valva, rather broad, heavily sclerotized, fused with costal process by a narrow, sclerotized ventral band. Transtillae poorly developed, represented by membranous ribbon without medial plate. Fultura inferior (juxta) very small, sclerotized, broad V-shaped. Vinculum conspicuously short, rounded triangular. Phallus tubular, short and thin, gently S-shaped, medially moderately dilated, coecum penis short and rounded, heavily sclerotized, apex straight, without carina process; vesica with a robust, spike-like cornutus and an elongate, moderately sclerotized area.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 24 ). Ovipositor short, conical, papillae anales trapezoidal, apically with a short protracted process, covered in long, dense setae, apophyses posteriores short, basally broad, apically pointed, apophyses anteriores ca. twice as long as posterior ones, narrow, slightly curved, apically club-shaped. Eighth tergite heavily sclerotized, short, distal and proximal margins straight, parallel. Ostium bursae narrow, slit-like, antrum very short, poorly sclerotized, somewhat tapered anteriorly. Ductus bursae membranous, moderately long, five times as long as antrum, medially dilated forming a lateral broad, rounded triangular protrusion on right side. Cervix bursae unmodified, membranous. Distal third of corpus bursae tubular, as long as ductus bursae, slightly dilated proximally, proximal two-thirds globular, without appendix bursae. Signum bursae represented by a relatively small, round finely scobinated area.

Genetic divergence. Pairwise distance between L. smithi and its Madagascan sibling L. malagassa sp. n. is 3.5– 4.1%, with 1.7% intraspecific divergence between the southern and central Mozambican populations. In comparison to the West African L. semialba , the pairwise distance is 7.6–7.7%, the significant genetic divergence concurs with the high level of morphological differences.

Distribution ( Fig. 26 ). The new species is widely distributed in Eastern and Southern Africa with records from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Richard Smith, founder and director of the African Natural History Research Trust acknowledging his prominent support of entomological research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Distribution of the Afrotropical Leucobaeta species.

FIGURES 1–15.Adults. 1, Leucobaeta semialba, holotype, ♀, Ghana (©NHMUK); 2, Ibidem, ♂, Liberia (ANHRT); 3, Ibidem, ♀, Liberia (ANHRT); 4, L. smithi sp. n., holotype, ♂, Mozambique (ANHRT); 5, Ibidem, paratype ♂, Tanzania (ANHRT); 6, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Tanzania (©NHMUK); 7, L. malagassa sp. n., holotype, ♂, Madagascar (R. Fiebig); 8, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Madagascar (R. Fiebig); 9, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Madagascar (ANHRT); 10, L. hemiphaea, holotype, ♀, Indonesia, Java (©NHMUK); 11, Ibidem, ♂, Thailand (MWM/ZSM); 12, Negeta mesoleuca, syntype, ♂, Gabon (CMNH); 13, Ibidem, ♂, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 14, N. ruficeps, holotype, ♂, South Africa (©NHMUK); 15, Ibidem, ♂, Mozambique (ANHRT).

FIGURES 16–21. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: phallus. 16, Leucobaeta hemiphaea, Thailand, LGN 761 (G. Ronkay); 17, L. semialba, Liberia, LGNA 955 (ANHRT); 18, L. smithi sp. n., holotype, Mozambique, LGNA 961 (ANHRT); 19, L. malagassa sp. n., holotype, Madagascar, RF 699.2021 (prepared by Gy.M. László) (R. Fiebig) 20, Negeta mesoleuca, Ivory Coast, LGNA 965 (ANHRT); 21, N. ruficeps, Mozambique, LGNA 967 (ANHRT).

FIGURES 22–25. Female genitalia. 22, Leucobaeta hemiphaea, holotype, Indonesia, Java, LGN 724 (©NHMUK); 23, L. semialba, Liberia, LGNA 1293 (ANHRT); 24, L. smithi sp. n., paratype, Tanzania, NHMUK 010316555 (prepared by Gy.M. László) (©NHMUK); 25, L. malagassa sp. n., paratype, Madagascar, RF 698.2021 (prepared by Gy.M. László) (R. Fiebig).