Afrasura tanzaniae Volynkin, 2019

Volynkin, Anton V., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Afrasura Durante, 2009, with description of a new species from Tanzania (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4608 (1), pp. 174-182 : 175-180

Afrasura tanzaniae Volynkin , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 , 12, 13 , 18 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:99C98671-0C8B-4D79-A09C-9C777912822

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 12 ): ♂, “ Tanzania, Amani, Usambara, 21/30.IV. [19]76”, slide ZSM Arct. 177/ 2017 ♂ Volynkin (Coll. ZSM).

Paratypes. 1 ♂, Tanzania: Mt. Kilimanjaro west, 2547 m, dry forest, 23.I.2005 (Ph. Darge), slide MWM 33843 Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM) ; 1 ♂, Tanzania, Nguru Mts., Tamota forest , 15.VIII.2004, local collector [leg.], ex collection Ph. Darge, slide MWM MWM 33844 Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM) ; 1 ♂, Tanzania, District Muheza, Reg. Tanga-E Uzumbara [Usambara], S05°09.262 E38°36.067, 13.V.2010 - 960 m - Lux [light], Leg. J. Cave & T.A. Newton-Chance, slide MWM 33732 Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM) ; 1 ♂, Tanzania, 850m, Mizimu, Mwanihana, Udzungwa Mountains N.P., S07°48’21.8’’; E36°51’09.5’’, 9– 11.IV. [20]11, Light Trap, leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H. / ANHRT : 2017.3, ANHRTUK 00009082, slide AV2998 ♂ Volynkin (Coll. ANHRT) ; 1 ♀, Tanzania, 1759m, Maskati, Nguru Mountains , S06°03’29.3’’, E37°29’08.4’’, 31.III.–2.IV. [20]11, Light Trap, leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H., ANHRT : 2017.3.1 / ANHRTUK 00009083, slide AV2997 ♀ Volynkin.

Etymology. The species’ name refers to the country, Tanzania where it is described from.

Diagnosis. Externally, the new species ( Figs 1–3 ) is very similar to the related species A. rivulosa ( Walker, 1854) ( Figs 4, 5 ), and can be distinguished from it by its slightly smaller size only. The male genitalia of A. tanzaniae sp. nov. ( Figs 12, 13 ) differs from that of A. rivulosa ( Fig. 14 ) by its smaller vinculum, much narrower and longer distal saccular process, longer and slightly narrower aedeagus, much narrower vesica bearing a much smaller distal cornutus and much smaller and unilobate subbasal diverticulum densely covered with spinules, while the subbasal diverticulum of vesica is much broader, membranous and broadly bilobate in A. rivulosa . The female genitalia of A. tanzaniae sp. nov. ( Fig. 18 ) differs from that of A. rivulosa ( Fig. 19 ) by its shorter and narrower antrum; broader, longer and finely spinulose ductus bursae (that is short, narrow and membranous in A. rivulosa ); much larger sclerotised lobe of corpus bursae; stronger spinulose scobination of corpus bursae; and broader and more weakly scobinated appendix bursae situated postero-dorsally (whereas in A. rivulosa the appendix bursae is narrower, with strong spinulose scobination, situated postero-laterally).

Description. Adult ( Figs 1–3 ). Forewing length 9–9.5 mm in males (9 mm in holotype) and 12 mm in female. Antennae of both sexes ciliate, with shorter cilia in female. Head bright yellow with black spot on frons; thorax bright yellow; abdomen pale ochreous yellow. Forewing ground color bright yellow, elements of wing pattern blackish brown with slight reddish suffusion. Discal spot dot-like. Subbasal line reduced, replaced by a large dot. Antemedial line double, irregularly dentate. Medial line widely W-shaped, zigzagged. Postmedial line dentate, loop-like curved opposite the cell. Subterminal line interrupted, represented by a row of dots of different size situated on veins, wavy. Terminal line interrupted, represented by a row of dots on veins. Cilia bright yellow. Hindwing pale ochreous yellow, with diffuse dark grey spot at apex; cilia pale ochreous yellow. Male genitalia ( Figs 12, 13 ). Uncus narrow, medially curved, slightly broadened distally, pointed apically. Tuba analis broad, scaphium narrow and weakly sclerotized; subscaphium broad, setose. Tegumen relatively narrow, shorter than valva. Juxta broad, shield-like. Vinculum short, wide U-shaped. Valva elongated, with almost parallel margins, its dorsal part tapered apically. Sacculus narrow, its distal process longer than dorsal part of valva, narrow, heavily sclerotized, curved dorsally, apically pointed. Aedeagus tubular, broad, slightly curved medially. Vesica thick, elongated, membranous, its subbasal diverticulum globular, densely covered with fine spinules; distal diverticulum granulated ventrally, with a robust, straight cornutus distally. Female genitalia ( Fig 18 ). Papillae anales large, trapezoid with slightly rounded corners, setose. Apophyses long and thin, of equal length. Ostium bursae broad; antrum short, broad, rectanhular, moderately sclerotised. Ductus bursae broad, moderately long, densely covered with large spinules. Corpus bursae broad, sack-like, with strong spinulose scobination and a round signum medially; large and heavily sclerotised trigonal lobe situated postero-laterally. Appendix bursae elongated, broadly conical, weakly spinulose basally and membranous distally, situated postero-dorsally.

Distribution. The new species is widely distributed in the mountains of eastern Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURES 1–11. Afrasura (1–8) and Siccia (9–11) spp.: adults. 1, A. tanzaniae, holotype ♂, E Tanzania (ZSM); 2, A. tanzaniae, paratype ♂, E Tanzania (MWM/ZSM); 3, A. tanzaniae, paratype ♀, N Tanzania (ANHRT); 5, A. rivulosa, ♂, Zambia (MWM/ZSM); 6, A. rivulosa, holotype ♀, S Africa (©NHMUK); 7, A. pallescens, ♂, Togo (ANHRT); 8, A. pallescens, ♂, Zambia (ANHRT); 9, A. pallescens, ♀, Zambia (ANHRT); 9, S. terlineata, holotype ♀, Ethiopia (after Durante 2009); 10, S. conformis, ♀, Tanzania, Lake Victoria (©NHMUK); 11, S. conformis, holotype ♂, N Nigeria (©NHMUK).

FIGURES 12–14. Afrasura spp.: male genitalia. 12, A. tanzaniae, holotype, NE Tanzania, slide ZSM Arct. 177/2017 Volynkin; 13, A. tanzaniae, paratype, E Tanzania, slide MWM 33732 Volynkin; 14, A. rivulosa, C Zambia, slide MWM 33731 Volynkin.

FIGURES 18–23. Afrasura (18–21) and Siccia (22, 23) spp.: female genitalia. 18, A. tanzaniae, paratype, N Tanzania, slide AV2997 Volynkin; 19, A. rivulosa, holotype, S Africa, slide BMNH(E) Arct.-5645 (©NHMUK); 20, A. pallescens, holotype, Guinea, slide 427 MAD Durante (after Durante 2009); 21, A. pallescens, Zambia, slide AV2930♀ Volynkin; 22, S. terlineata, holotype, Ethiopia, slide 421 MAD Durante (after Durante 2009); 23, S. conformis, Tanzania, Victoria Lake, slide NHMUK010314605 Volynkin (©NHMUK).