Birketsmithiola smithi, 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 : 77

Birketsmithiola smithi sp. n.

( Figs 9–11 , 24 , 25 , 31 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 9 , 25 ): male, “ Zambia 1460m | Mutinondo Wilderness Area , | Mpika, Northern Prov. | 12°27′06′′S, 31°17′30′′E | 14–17.ii.2019 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V., Mulvaney, L., | Takano, H. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.4” / “ANHRTUK | 00139630” / “Slide | AV6435 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes: ZAMBIA: 2 males, 5 females, same locality and collectors as holotype, unique numbers: ANHRT 00111046–00111049 , 00139536 , 00139537 , 00192205 , gen. prep. Nos.: AV6787 (male) and AV6788 (female) ( ANHRT) ; MALAWI: 1 male, Central Region, Lilongwe District, 1560m, Ntchisi Forest Reserve , E 034°00.677′ S13°22.073′, 18–19.ii.[20]04, A.J. Kingston [leg.], gen. prep. No.: AV6785 ( AKW) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.5–16.0 mm in males and 16.0–18.0 mm in females. Birketsmithiola smithi sp. n. is distinguished from other congeners by its conspicuous red forewing costal strip which is the broadest in the genus. The male genital capsule of the new species differs from other species in the B. nyassana species group by the slenderer uncus, the more elongate valvae, and the apically bilobate and serrulate juxta (it bears an apical dentate crest in the similar species). The phallus of B. smithi sp. n. is more upcurved distally than in the similar congeners and has a markedly larger midventral protrusion. The vesica of the new species is the broadest in the species group and bears a medial cornutus which is absent in B. nakuru sp. n., B. nyassana and B. bvumba sp. n. In the female genitalia, B. smithi sp. n. is distinguished from B. nakuru sp. n. and B. nyassana by the broader anterior section of the ductus bursae, the broader and more heavily sclerotised posterior section of the corpus bursae, and the longer, elliptical anterior section of the corpus bursae, which is more or less globular in the aforementioned congeners.

Distribution. The new species is known from two localities in north-eastern Zambia and central Malawi ( Fig. 35 ).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr. Richard Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, African Natural History Research Trust, who, through organising and undertaking numerous entomological expeditions to Sub-Saharan Africa has enabled the discovery of numerous species new to science. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

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 21–24. Birketsmithiola spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 22 in OUMNH; 23 in ANHRT; 24 in AKW.

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.

FIGURES 29–33. Birketsmithiola spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 29, 30 and 32 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 31 in ANHRT; 33 in MfN.