Meganola subchionea, László, 2020

László, Gyula M., 2020, Review of the genus Meganola Dyar, 1898 of Ivory Coast and adjacent areas with descriptions of 5 new species and several taxonomic updates (Lepidoptera Nolidae, Nolinae) - Taxonomic studies on West African Nolinae I., Zootaxa 4853 (2), pp. 151-182 : 168

Meganola subchionea sp. n.

( Figs 34 , 76 )

Holotype. ♂, Ivory Coast, 174m, Tai NP, Tai Research Station , 05°49’59.8”N, 07°20’32.0”W, 14–23.XI.2015, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg., ANHRT:2017.16, unique number: ANHRTUK 00009099, slide No.: LGNA 139 ♂ ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The new species belongs to the M. chionea species-group, being most closely related to M. chionea ( Hampson, 1911) with its pale greyish white forewing ground colour and the broad, almost straight, obtuse pale grey medial band of the forewing. As the species-group comprises several externally indistinguishable species, examination of the genitalia is required for reliable identification. In the male genitalia, M. subchionea differs clearly from M. chionea by its somewhat broader uncus and considerably narrower harpe and the vesica armed with a pair of short but heavily sclerotized, thorn-like cornuti (the vesica of M. chionea bears a peculiar elongate, crest-like, dentate cornutus). The female is unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 21–40: adults (all in coll. ANHRT unless otherwise indicated). 21, Meganola furvitincta, lectotype, ♂, Sierra Leone (NHMUK); 22, M. furvitincta, ♂, Liberia; 23, M. aarviki, ♂, Ivory Coast; 24, M. spherographa, ♂, Ivory Coast; 25, M. spherographa, ♀, Liberia; 26, M. taiana sp. n., holotype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 27, M. taiana sp. n., paratype, ♂, Liberia; 28, M. taiana sp. n., paratype, ♀, Ivory Coast; 29, M. xantholeuca, ♀, Ivory Coast; 30, M. xantholeuca, ♀, Liberia; 31, M. rhyssomorpha, ♂, Ivory Coast; 32, M. rhyssomorpha, ♀, Ivory Coast; 33, M. chionea, holotype, ♂, Nigeria (NHMUK); 34, M. subchionea sp. n., holotype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 35, M. cinereoparva sp. n., holotype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 36, M. cinereoparva sp. n., paratype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 37, M. mesothermoides, holotype, ♀, Ghana (NHMUK); 38, M. mesothermoides, ♂, Liberia; 39, M. spermophaga, ♂, Liberia; 40, M. spermophaga, ♀, Sierra Leone.

FIGURES 75–83: male genitalia (all in coll. ANHRT unless otherwise indicated). 75, Meganola chionea, holotype, Nigeria, BM Arct. 6467 (prep. by Gy. M. László) (NHMUK); 76, M. subchionea sp. n., holotype, Ivory Coast, LGNA 139; 77, M. cinereoparva sp. n., holotype, Ivory Coast, LGNA 397; 78, M. cinereoparva sp. n., paratype, Ivory Coast, LGNA 137; 79, M. mesothermoides, Liberia, LGNA 502; 80, M. spermophaga, Liberia, LGNA 547; 81, M. pyrrhomorpha, Ivory Coast, LGNA 565; 82, M. foviferoides, Togo, LGNA 597; 83, M. foviferoides, Zambia, LGNA 17.