Meganola hackeri, 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 : 175

Meganola hackeri sp. n.

( Figs 48–49 , 85 )

Holotype. ♂, Ivory Coast, 1171m, Mt. Tonkoui Peak , 07°27’15.2”N, 07°38’12.5”W, 1–8.XI.2015, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg., ANHRT:2017.16, unique number: ANHRTUK 00009101, slide No.: LGNA 239 ♂ ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. Ivory Coast. 1 ♂, 39–48m Abidjan, Banco Forest ( Parc-National du Banco ), 05°23’03.8”N, 04°03’11.2W, 21–30.IV.2017, MV light Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg. ANHRT:2017.25, unique number: ANHRTUK 00052754, slide No.: LGNA 982 ♂. Sierra Leone. 1 ♂, 80m, Kalainkay nr. Kamabai, Northern Prov., 3–6.XI.2015, N09°10’52”, W11°56’44”, Light Trap, R. Goff coll., leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H., ANHRT:2018.20, unique number: ANHRTUK 00009102, slide No. : LGNA 286 ♂. Liberia. 1 ♂, 1165m, Nimba Mts camp, ENNR, Nimba county, 7°31’45”N, 8°31’37”W, 03–13.xii.2017 Light Trap (blended bulb 250W) Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G., Smith, L. leg. ANHRT:2017.33, unique number: ANHRTUK 00019908, slide No.: LGNA 488 ♂; 1 ♂, 865m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp , 8°07’10”N, 9°57’11”W, 24–29.xi.2017, Light Trap (blended bulb 250W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ANHRT:2017.33, unique number: ANHRTUK 00145396, slide No.: LGNA 1152 ♂ ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The new species is related to M. conspicillaris ( Fletcher, 1962) , but easily distinguishable by its larger size (wingspan of M. conspicillaris is 14–16 mm, that of M. hackeri is 17–21 mm) and the much narrower, dash-like medio-costal patch, which is much broader, longer and rather quadrangular in M. conspicillaris . In addition, both the fore- and hindwing ground colour of the new species is considerably paler than that of M. conspicillaris . It is worth mentioning the extraordinarily long rami of the male bipectinate antennae of M. hackeri , although it is not possible to make any comparisons with the holotype of M. conspicillaris as the antennae are missing. The configuration of the male genitalia of M. hackeri suggests a close relationship to M. conspicillaris , both taxa sharing a rather unique, long, asymmetrical basal processes of the valva. However, the new species has a somewhat longer, apically protracted uncus (which is evenly tapering in the related species), an apically more dilated valva, considerably shorter and pointed asymmetrical basal processes of the valva (these are apically dilated and rounded in M. conspicillaris ), a much shorter and thicker, almost straight harpe (which is slightly S-shaped in the related species) and a somewhat longer vinculum compared to M. conspicillaris . The aedeagus of the new species is similar in shape to that of the sister species, but considerably shorter and slightly thicker. The female is unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 41–56: adults (all in coll. ANHRT). 41, Meganola pyrrhomorpha, ♂, Ivory Coast; 42, M. pyrrhomorpha, ♀, Ivory Coast; 43, M. canocolorata ♀, Ivory Coast; 44, M. foviferoides ♂, Togo; 45, M. foviferoides ♀, Zambia; 46, M. leucosigna, ♂, Ivory Coast; 47, M. leucosigna, ♀, Ivory Coast; 48, M. hackeri sp. n., holotype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 49, M. hackeri sp. n., paratype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 50, M. ronkayiana, ♂, Ivory Coast; 51, M. ronkayiana, ♂, Liberia; 52, M. pyrrhosoma, ♀, Ivory Coast; 53, M. pyrrhosoma, ♀, Liberia; 54, M. illaudata, ♂, Ivory Coast; 55, M. illaudata, ♂, Liberia; 56, M. illaudata, ♀, Liberia.

FIGURES 84–87: male genitalia (all in coll. ANHRT). 84, Meganola leucosigna, Ivory Coast, LGNA 263; 85, M. hackeri sp. n., holotype, Ivory Coast, LGNA 239; 86, M. ronkayiana, Ivory Coast, LGNA 225; 87, M. illaudata, Ivory Coast, LGNA 224.