Birketsmithiola transvaalensis Krüger, 2015

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 : 75

Birketsmithiola transvaalensis Krüger, 2015

( Figs 1, 2 , 17, 18 , 29 )

Birketsmithiola transvaalensis Krüger, 2015 , Generic classification of Afrotropical footman moths sensu stricto (Lepidoptera: Erebidae : Arctiinae: Lithosiini (partim): 74 (Type locality: “[ South Africa, Gauteng]: Pretoria”).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: 1 male, Transvaal, Limpopo, l. V / l. VI / [19]42, gen. prep. No. : ZSM Arct. 2021-128 (prepared by Volynkin ) ( ZSM) ; 1 male, Transvaal, Pretoria / Distant Coll. 1911-383, unique number: NHMUK014173047 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010317204 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 1 female, Pretoria, 1924, H.H. Curson / Pres. by Imp. Bur. Ent., Brit. Mus. 1925-121, unique number: NHMUK014173048 , gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010317205 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; ZIMBABWE: 2 males, [Harare] Mashonaland, Salisbury , Feb. 1905, G.A.K. Marshall, 1905-209, unique numbers: NHMUK014172941 , NHMUK014173050 , gen. prep. Nos.: NHMUK010317207 (prepared by Volynkin), BMNH Arct. 581 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0–17.0 mm in males and 13.0–17.0 mm in females ( Krüger 2015). Birketsmithiola transvaalensis is distinguished from other species in the genus by the orange costal strip, which is orange-red in B. sanguicosta and B. kruegeri sp. n., and red in the other congeners. In the male genital capsule, B. transvaalensis differs from other members of the species group in the apically rounded dorsal costal protrusions (they are pointed in the related species), the more distally dilated distal saccular processes bearing larger spinules, and the heavily sclerotised, semi-cylindrical, distally dilated juxta with a rectangular and smooth ventral side, which bears three apically pointed triangular processes in B. sanguicosta , B. kruegeri sp. n. and B. kingstoni sp. n. The midventral protrusion of the phallus of B. transvaalensis is the largest in the genus. In the vesica of B. transvaalensis , the medial cornutus has a markedly narrower base than in other species in the species group. The detailed comparison of the female copulatory organs of B. transvaalensis and B. kruegeri sp. n. is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Distribution. The species is known from South Africa (Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces) ( Krüger 2015) and Zimbabwe ( Hampson 1901, 1914, as sanguicosta ) ( Fig. 34 ).

Figures

FIGURE 34. Distributional map of Birketsmithiola spp.

FIGURES 1–8. Birketsmithiola spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1–6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 7 in OUMNH; 8 in ANHRT.

FIGURES 17–20. Birketsmithiola spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

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.