Rhynchobombyx nicolasroberteaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller, 2021

Prozorov, Alexey M., Prozorova, Tatiana A., Mapilanga, Jean Joseph, Volkova, Julia S., Yakovlev, Roman V., Traore, Mohamed M., Saldaitis, Aidas & Müller, Günter C., 2021, Seven new species of Rhynchobombyx Aurivillius, 1909 from Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 49, pp. 35-53 : 46

Rhynchobombyx nicolasroberteaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8B4CE762-457F-4830-860B-701219A57867

( Figs 37–42 , 50–51 )

Type material: HOLOTYPE ♂, DRC, [Kasaï Prov.] Kasaï- Occidental Prov. , NE Ilebo and Kasai River, XI.1997, genitalia slide 0634 ( CGM / BUM) . PARATYPES (10♂ total): 9♂, data as for holotype but collected in XII and II.1997, genitalia slides 0632, 0633 ( CGM / BUM) ; DRC: 1♂, Mai- Ndombe Prov. , Ekongo camp, 02°45’23.09”S, 20°18’55.37”E, XI.2017, leg. A. & T. Prozorovs, V. Kravchenko et al. ( CGM / BUM) .

Diagnosis. Externally the species darker than the others, resembles Rh. julianjameseaton , but with forewing concavity between CuA 2 and 1A.

Description. Male habitus ( Figs 37–39 ). Head, thorax and abdomen brown. Thorax bears dorsal triangular dark brown spot with pale center; dark brown line goes from the spot towards head. Forewing length: 14–15 mm; wingspan: 29–31 mm. Wing oval-shaped, apex obtuse, external margin slightly waved with concavity between CuA 2 and 1A. Pattern marmorate, orangish brown and brown with multiplied light and dark antemedial, postmedial and external crenulate lines; and blackish discal dot on R-Cu cell outer margin. Cilia brown. Hindwing oval-shaped, external margin rounded, slightly waved. Main color yellowish or reddish brown, darkens caudally. Cilia brown. Male genitalia ( Figs 40–42 ). Tegumen band-shaped, bears two short projections with sharpen apexes and covered with chaetae along. Vinculum thin, ventrally widened into cup-like form. Sacculus elongated, finger-shaped with blunt apex. Cucullus tuber-like, covered with chaetae. Juxta a tiny plate fused with aedeagus. Aedeagus cylindrical with small uneven dorsal sclerotized field right by vesica and ventral c-shaped long basal spur with blunt apex. Vesica bag-shaped with two chambers: smaller lateral and bigger main, both covered with tiny denticles; main one bears cornutus formed by several fused smaller cornuti. Female remains unknown, expected to be bigger and darker than male.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Nicolas Robert Eaton (East Providence, Rhode Island, USA). Nicolas Robert is nature and sports enthusiast, especially baseball. Soon to be published author and rap music composer.

Distribution. The species is found in two locations in DRC, Kasaï and Mai- Ndombe Province ( Figs 50–51 ).

Biology. Adults were observed and collected in November, December and February. The only known habitat is tropical moist broadleaf forests with rare mosaic grassland patches, the elevation is around 100 m above sea-level. One paratype male was collected on the border between forest and grassland in an area of one hectare using an auto-trap ( Figs 53–55 ). The larval foodplant remains unknown.

Figures

Figures 37–39. Males of Rh. nicolasroberteaton, all DRC, Kasaï Prov. 37. Holotype, genitalia slide 0634 (CGM/BUM). 38. Paratype, genitalia slide 0633 (CGM/BUM). 39. Paratype, genitalia slide 0632 (CGM/BUM).

Figures 40–42. Male genitalia of Rh. nicolasroberteaton, all DRC, Kasaï Prov. 40. Holotype, genitalia slide 0634 (CGM/BUM). 41. Paratype, genitalia slide 0633 (CGM/BUM). 42. Paratype, genitalia slide 0632 (CGM/BUM).

Figures 47–52. Collecting areas of Rhynchobombyx spp. 47. Congo, Cuvette-Ouest Dept., Odzala-Kakoua Nat. Park, 400–500 m, 0°23’N, 14°50’E. 48. DRC, Haut-Uele Prov., Isiro. 49. DRC, Tshuapa Prov., Lomela River, Gombe- Isongo. 50. DRC, Mai-Ndombe Prov., Ekongo camp, 02°45’23.09”S, 20°18’55.37”E. 51. DRC, Kasaï Prov., NE Ilebo and Kasai River. 52. Angola, Benguela Prov., rd. Londengo–Sumbe, ca. 80 km S Sumbe, 10 km rd. to Bumba, 280 m, 11°47’33.1”S, 14°02’17.4”E. Available from: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1meQVkKsMY8Qvp5cJBC2dwi_clX6l-cOD&usp=sharing [Accessed 10.XII.2021].

Figures 53–55. View on the one hectare grassland patch (53) surrounded by forest (54) near the Ekongo camp, Mai- Ndombe Prov., DRC (55).