Cornips gravidspinatus Razowski, 2010

Razowski, Józef, Aarvik, Leif & Prins, Jurate De, 2010, 2469, Zootaxa 2469, pp. 1-77 : 11-12

Cornips gravidspinatus Razowski , sp. n. ( Figs 11, 59)

Holotype male. Label data (10): “Musée du Congo, Tshamugussa (2250), Bweza 08–15.viii.1934, G. F. de Witte, Parc Nat. Albert, 518”; “ Congo belge: P.N.A., Tshamugussa Bweza, 2250 m 08-15.viii.1934, G. F. de Witte: 518”; “Type T., dryocausta , M.”; “Ex-Typus”; “P28”; “E. Meyrick det., 1937:, Tortrix dryocausta Meyr. ”; “ R. Dét., 4079, O”; “ ♂ ”; “ Syntype, Tortrix dryocausta, Meyrick, 1938 (♂), (= Niphothixa agelasta Bradley, 1965 ), Genital prep. LAA 97052”; “ MRAC / RMCA 00338”; specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000004953, in RMCA ( Fig. 11).

Diagnosis. Similar to C. dryocausta ( Meyrick, 1938) , differing in the male genitalia by a longer and more slender aedeagus; longer, gradually expanded uncus; and the shape of the processes of transtilla. Cornips gravidspinatus is closely related to Cornips agelasta ( Bradley, 1965) , comb. nov., which has a longer and more slender aedeagus.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the size of the thorns of the transtilla; Latin: gravidus —heavy, strong; spinatus —spinulose.

Description. Length of forewing 8.3 mm. Wingspan 18.2 mm. Head and thorax brownish. Forewing weakly expanding terminally; costa weakly curved outwards; costal fold slender, extending to median fascia; apex rather short, pointed; termen slightly sinuate, indistinctly oblique. Ground colour yellow-brown with fine brown strigulation. Markings brown, dark brown at costa. Basal blotch reduced to an indistinct suffusion; proximal edge of median fascia straight; subapical blotch distinct accompanied by a weak subterminal suffusion. Cilia concolorous with ground colour. Hindwing brownish cream with cilia similar.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 59). Uncus strong, weakly expanded terminally, weakly concave apically; terminal plate of gnathos large; soccii weak, long, slender; valva tapered terminad, with reduced brachiola; sacculus reaching end of valva, broad to before middle where transverse convexity present; membranous part of transtilla with thin spines, lateral processes with numerous strong spines; juxta rather small; aedeagus curved, with long ventral termination.

Female unknown.

Remarks. The holotype of the new species was included in the type series of Tortrix dryocausta Meyrick, 1938 . At first, the specimen was thought to be conspecific with Cornips agelasta ( Bradley, 1965) , but close inspection showed that the aedeagus of the latter is distinctly longer and more slender, and the socii are shorter.