Birketsmithiola bvumba, Volynkin, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Birketsmithiola Krüger with descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 5205 (1), pp. 73-86 : 86

Birketsmithiola bvumba sp. n.

( Figs 12 , 28 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 12 , 28 ): male, [ Zimbabwe] “ Vumba Mts. | Umtali | S. Rhodesia | II–1961 | Nat. Museum, S. R.” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2021- 265♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0 mm in the male holotype. The new species is superficially reminiscent of B. nyassana but distinguished by its smaller size, and the narrower forewing. The male genital capsule of the new species differs from B. nyassana in the markedly shorter valvae with medially broader sacculi, of which the right one is more upcurved than in the congener. Additionally, B. bvumba sp. n. has an evenly narrow uncus whereas it is distally dilated in B. nyassana . The phalli of the two species are similar but that of B. bvumba sp. n. is somewhat more upcurved medially than in B. nyassana . The vesica of the new species is somewhat broader than in the congener, and the subapical diverticulum is more elongate and narrower distally.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. The new species is known only from its type locality in eastern Zimbabwe ( Fig. 35 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of the type locality, Bvumba Mountains. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Distributional map of Birketsmithiola spp.

FIGURES 9–16. Birketsmithiola spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9–10 in ANHRT; 11 in AKW; 12 in ZSM; 13 and 14 in MfN; 15 an 16 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 25–28. Birketsmithiola spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25 in ANHRT; 26 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 27 in MfN; 28 in ZSM.