Mecothrix maputuana László, 2019

László, Gyula M. & Vetina, Alvaro A., 2019, Contribution to the knowledge of the Nolini of the Maputo Special Reserve in South Mozambique with description of two new species and several taxonomic updates (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae), Zootaxa 4571 (2), pp. 225-246 : 230-233

Mecothrix maputuana László sp. n.

( Figs 15–18 , 52 , 53 , 72, 73 )

Holotype. ♂, “ MOZAMBIQUE, 9m, Maputo Special Reserve, Mangrove Camp, ( Mangrove-Woodland Mosaic ) 26°19’35.9”S, 32°42’35.7”E, 7–9.XII.2016, Light Trap. Aristophanous, M., Cristovao, J., Laszlo, G., Miles, W. leg., ANHRT:2017.22”, ANHRT 0 0 0 12007, slide No.: LGNA 302 ♂ (coll. ANHRT).

Paratypes. Mozambique, Maputo Special Reserve. 549 exemplars of both sexes with the same data as the holotype, slide Nos: LGNA 303♂, LGNA 305♂, LGNA 301♂, LGNA 306♂, LGNA 307♀, LGNA 309♀, LGNA 310♀, LGNA 311♀, LGNA 312♀; 10 exemplars of both sexes, 22m, West Gate, ( Sand Forest ), 26°30’14.2”S, 32°42’59.6”E, 3–13.XII.2016, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Cristovao, J., Laszlo, G., Miles, W. leg., ANHRT :2017.22; 4 males, 22m, West Gate, ( Sand Thicket ), 26°30’14.2”S, 32°42’59.6”E, 21–30.XI.2016, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Cristovao, J., Laszlo, G., Miles, W. leg., ANHRT : 2017.22; 10 exemplars of both sexes, 18m, ( Hygrophilous Grass-Sand Forest Ecotone), 26°28’32.6”S, 32°45’7.7”E, 10.XII.2016, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Cristovao, J., Laszlo, G., Miles, W. leg., ANHRT :2017.22, slide Nos: LGNA 313♂, LGNA 314♂ (coll. ANHRT) . 15 males, 30 females, 9m, Mangrove Camp, ( Mangrove-Woodland Mosaic ), 26°19’35.9”S, 32°42’35.7”E, 7–9.XII.2016, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Cristovao, J., Laszlo, G., Miles, W. leg. (coll. MNHM) .

Diagnosis. M. maputuana sp. n. is the Southern African sister species of M. omphalota ( Hampson, 1903) (figs 19, 20, 54, 74) differing from that in the following features: the new species is somewhat larger in size (length of forewing and wingspan of M. omphalota are 5–6 mm and 12–13 mm, respectively, while those of M. maputuana are 6–8 mm and 13–16 mm, respectively), its forewing ground colour is much darker greyish brown with less prominent greyish orbicular stigma frequently fused with a darker, quadrangular medio-costal patch, while the forewing of M. omphalota is much paler, rather whitish grey with sharply defined, more distinct blackish orbicular stigma.

The differences between the male genitalia of the two species are also well expressed: the robust, hook-shaped harpe of the new species is significantly smaller, with much shorter thorn-like apical section compared to that of M. omphalota in addition, the curved claw-like cornutus of the aedeagus is significantly longer and more slender in the new species than in M. omphalota , as well as in other members of the M. omphalota species group ( M. omphalota euroetes Hacker, 2012 , M. denauxi Orhant, 2003 and M. mineti Hacker, 2012 ).

The new species’ female genitalia has somewhat longer apophyses and considerably longer sclerotized distal section of ductus bursae compared to those characters of M. omphalota .

The closely related Mecothrix mineti occurs sympatrically with the new species in Maputaland, however the two species are easily distinguishable by the following characters: M. maputuana is considerably larger in size (length of forewing and wingspan of M. mineti are 5–6 mm and 12–13 mm, respectively, while those of M. maputuana are 6–8 mm and 13–16 mm, respectively), having conspicuously wider forewings and darker ground colour of fore- and hindwings compared to those of M. mineti ; in addition, the new species has larger, somewhat less sharply defined orbicular stigma, often fused with a dark grey, quadrangular medio-costal patch, while the smaller orbicular stigma of M. mineti is darker grey than that of M. maputuana and only rarely fused with the rather pale costal patch. In the male genitalia, besides the above mentioned difference in the shape of the cornutus, further distinctive character is expressed by the configuration of the harpe, which is considerably slimmer, and less scurved in M. maputuana than in M. mineti . In the female genitalia the new species has significantly longer and thicker ductus bursae and somewhat longer pair of finger-like signum bursae compared to those characters of M. mineti .

Description. Adult ( Figs 15–18 ). Forewing length 6–7 mm in males, 7–8 mm in females. Male antennae fasciculate with short rami, female antennae filiform. Head relatively large, frons and vertex whitish grey; compound eyes large, globular; palpi well developed, their length as width of head, gently arcuate, medially dilated, inner and dorsal surface bright white, lateral surface dark greyish brown. Thorax and abdomen uniformly pale grey in both sexes, somewhat darker in females. Intraspecific variability significant, expressed by the variable tone of the ground colour of wings, the thickness and definition of the elements of forewing pattern, especially the orbicular stigma, the costal patch and the postmedial line. Forewing short, moderately broad, rather quadrangular with rounded apex; forewing ground colour pale grey with some brownish sheen in males, considerably darker grey in females. Subbasal and basal lines deleted, antemedial line fine, blackish, interrupted, v-shaped; medial line shadow-like, pale brownish grey ending in a conspicuous, darker grey, relatively large quadrangular costal patch. Orbicular stigma well developed, rounded, consisted of raised, blackish scales, often fused with costal patch forming a dark dash-like patch in the costal half of forewing. Postmedial line fine, blackish, may be interrupted, rather wavy, conspicuously dilated and sharply defined in its ventral quarter. Subterminal line diffuse, shadow-like consisted of a series of somewhat darker greyish patches; terminal line shadow-like, interrupted, consisted of darker greyish squares; cilia pale brownish grey, somewhat lighter than terminal line. Hindwing pale ochreous brown in males, whitish grey in females, lacking any pattern in both sexes, distal section of veins covered with darker greyish scales in females, unicolorous in males; cilia creamy white in males, pale grey in females. Underside of wings unicolorous, lacking any pattern in both sexes.

Male genitalia ( Figs 52 , 53 ). Uncus absent; tuba analis wide, scaphium very long and thin, weakly sclerotized; tegumen short and broad, weakly sclerotized; juxta short and broad ovoidal; vinculum relatively short, very narrow, finger-like, apically rounded, possessing a pair of dense, extraordinarily long, easily removeable androconial hairtufts arising from a pocket-like lateral extension of vinculum; valva elongated, relatively broad, with more or less parallel distal and proximal margins, apically broadly rounded, with a narrow, short concavity between apex and tip of saccular process. Sacculus relatively broad at base, tapered medially, forming a narrow, slightly arcuate sclerotized band along the ventral margin of valva, apically with a short, slightly dilated, apically rounded, gently setose process. Harpe short, s-shaped, basally relatively narrow, apically pointed, claw-like with apex pointing posteriorly. Aedeagus relatively short and broad, strongly dilated at ostium ductus ejaculatorii, then gradually tapering, apically narrowly rounded, caecum rather short, apically slightly dilated; vesical armed with a large, curved, relatively slim, gradually tapering, apically pointed claw-like cornutus.

Female genitalia ( Figs 72, 73 ). Ovipositor short and broad; papillae anales rectangular, with rounded angles; apophyses posteriores relatively long and thin, apophyses anteriores very short and thin. Eighth tergite relatively short and broad, its distal margin straight with a short, rounded medial process, proximal margin with a shallow, wide medial concavity. Ostium bursae moderately broad, narrow elliptical; ductus bursae conspicuously long, relatively broad, dilating proximally, dorso-ventrally flattened, folded in its distal third, strongly sclerotized in full length. Cervix bursae rather short, broadly rounded with a small sclerotized ring at the base of ductus seminalis. Corpus bursae more or less ovoidal, distal section narrower, proximal one broadly rounded; signum bursae consisted of a pair of relatively long, finger-like processi, distal one broad-quadrangular, proximal one narrow, apically rounded.

Figures

FIGURES 1–16. Nola, Nolidia and Mecothrix spp.: adults (all in coll. ANHRT). 1, Nola socotrensis vansoni, ♂, Mozambique; 2, N. socotrensis vansoni, ♀, Mozambique; 3, N. melanoscelis, ♂, Mozambique; 4, N. melanoscelis, ♂, Mozambique; 5, N. biangulata submelanoscelis, ♂, Mozambique; 6, N. politzari, ♂, Mozambique; 7, N. politzari, ♀, Mozambique; 8, N. tineoides, ♂, Mozambique; 9, Nolidia transitoria, ♂, Mozambique; 10, N. transitoria, ♀, Mozambique; 11, Mecothrix aegyptiaca cana, ♂, Mozambique; 12, M. aegyptiaca cana, ♀, Mozambique; 13, M. mineti, ♂, Mozambique; 14, M. mineti, ♀, Mozambique; 15, M. maputuana László sp. n., holotype, ♂, Mozambique; 16, M. maputuana László sp. n., paratype, ♂, Mozambique.

FIGURES 17–30. Mecothrix and Meganola spp.: adults (all in coll. ANHRT except where otherwise indicated) 17, Mecothrix maputuana László sp. n., paratype, ♀, Mozambique; 18, M. maputuana László sp. n., paratype, ♀, Mozambique;19, M. omphalota Lectotype, ♂, Nigeria (©NHMUK); 20, M. omphalota, ♀, Gambia; 21, Meganola leucalea, ♂, Mozambique; 22, M. leucalea, ♀, Mozambique; 23, M. argyrolepis marleyi, ♂, Mozambique; 24, M. argyrolepis marleyi, ♀, Mozambique; 25, M. bipartita, ♂, Mozambique; 26, M. bipartita, ♀, Mozambique; 27, M. bipartita, ♀, Mozambique; 28, M. patricia, ♂, Mozambique; 29, M. patricia, ♀, Mozambique; 30, M. lucia, ♂, Mozambique.

FIGURES 44–52. Nola, Nolidia and Mecothrix spp.: male genitalia (all in coll. ANHRT). 44, Nola socotrensis vansoni, Mozambique, slide LGNA 327; 45, N. melanoscelis, Mozambique, slide LGNA 328; 46, N. biangulata submelanoscelis, Mozambique, slide LGNA 511; 47, N. politzari, Mozambique, slide LGNA 329; 48, N. tineoides, Mozambique, slide LGNA 375; 49, Nolidia transitoria, Mozambique, slide LGNA 444; 50, Mecothrix aegyptiaca cana, Mozambique, slide LGNA 322; 51, M. mineti, Mozambique, slide LGNA 298; 52, M. maputuana László sp. n., holotype, Mozambique, slide LGNA 302.

FIGURES 53–61. Mecothrix and Meganola spp.: male genitalia (all in coll. ANHRT except where otherwise indicated). 53, Mecothrix maputuana László sp. n., paratype, Mozambique, slide LGNA 303; 54, M. omphalota lectotype, Nigeria, slide BM Arctiidae 452 (©NHMUK); 55, Meganola leucalea, Mozambique, slide LGNA 330; 56, M. argyrolepis marleyi, Mozambique, slide LGNA 341; 57, M. bipartita, Mozambique, slide LGNA 345; 58, M. patricia, Mozambique, slide LGNA 348; 59, M. lucia, Mozambique, slide LGNA 447; 60, M. bispermutata, Mozambique, slide LGNA 358; 61, M. monofascia, Mozambique, slide LGNA 354.

FIGURES 67–75. Nola, Nolidia, Mecothrix and Meganola spp.: female genitalia (coll. ANHRT). 67, Nola socotrensis vansoni, Mozambique, slide LGNA 323; 68, N. politzari, Mozambique, slide LGNA 510; 69, Nolidia transitoria, Mozambique, slide LGNA 443; 70, Mecothrix aegyptiaca cana, Mozambique, slide LGNA 308; 71, M. mineti, Mozambique, slide LGNA 299; 72, M. maputuana László sp. n., paratype, Mozambique, slide LGNA 307; 73, M. maputuana László sp. n., paratype, Mozambique, slide LGNA 310; 74, M. omphalota, Gambia, slide LGNA 212; 75, Meganola leucalea, Mozambique, slide LGNA 338.