Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) dargei, László & Hausmann & Karisch, 2023

László, Gyula M., Hausmann, Axel & Karisch, Timm, 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the African taxa of the Racotis Moore, 1887 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Boarmiini), Zootaxa 5308 (1), pp. 1-109 : 35-37

Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) dargei sp. n.

( Figs 45–47 , 153–154 , 235–236 , 308 )

Holotype. Male , „ CAMEROUN, Foret de Bafout-Nguemba, 8 km S.S.E. de Bamenda, 2000m, 18.X.71— Ph. Darge ” / [with handwritten] „138” / „Photographed for the project „ Geometridae Mundi ””, gen. slide No.: LG 4615 ( ZSM).

Paratypes. Cameroon. 3 males, 1 female, with the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide No.: LG 5042 ( ZSM G 20992 ) (female) ; 1 female, same site and collector, but 26.iii.1970, gen. slide No.: LG 4771; 2 males, Foret de Bafut-Nguemba , 9 km S.E. de Bamenda, 2080m, 3–5.iv.1972, C. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 4616 ; 1 male, Mt Cameroon ( SW slope), Crater Lake, 1500 m, 4.1443907°N, 9.0717807°E, 20.xi.2016, leg. V. Maicher, J. Mertens, S. Janecek, gen. slide No.: LG 5041 ( ZSM G 20991 ) , DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 104592/GWOTW989-18 ; 1 male, same site and collectors, but 25.xi.2016; 1 male, same site and collectors, but 28.xi.2016; 2 males, same site, 23–24.iv.2017, leg. V. Maicher, P. Potocky, S. Delabye; 1 male, same site, 22.ii.2017, leg. P. Potocky, R. Tropek, J. Mertens, S. Janecek, Sz. Sáfián ( ZSM) ; 1 male, SW Province , Mount Kupé, 3 km SE Nyasoso, 1590m, Light Trap, 4°49’9.5”N, 9°42’26.9”E, 30.xi.2008, leg. Michael Ochse, gen. slide No.: LG 5079, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 38709/GWOSH373-10 ; 1 male, SW Province, Mount Kupé , 3.5 km SE Nyasoso, 1975m, 4°48’13.4”N, 9°42’3.2”E, 20.v.2009, Light Trap, leg. M. Ochse ; 2 males, SW Province, Mount Kupé , 4 km SE Nyasoso, 1972m, 4°47’49.2”N, 9°42’9.9”E, 19.v.2009, Light Trap, leg. M. Ochse ( RCMO) . 1 male, Mt. Cameroon , Jonga, 5,000ft, 5.ii.1932, M. Steele, B.M.1934-240 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. Forewing length 20.5–22.5 mm. Afroracotis dargei sp. n. is an allopatric West African sister species of the southeast African A. apodosima displaying confusingly similar external habitus, distinguished only by its somewhat darker and slightly broader fasciae and more extensive patches of the wings. In the male genitalia, there are no noticeable differences displayed in the morphology of the clasping apparatuses, the distinctive characters are expressed in the configuration of the vesica: the new species has a markedly thicker, more inflated vesica lacking the cornutus, while that of A. apodosima is narrower, bearing a weakly sclerotised, small cornutus situated near the base of the vesica ejaculatorius. The configuration of the female genitalia reflects clearly the different vesica morphology of the two species: compared to those of A. apodosima , the new species has a somewhat longer ductus bursae and substantially more dilated and much less sclerotized cervix bursae fully integrated in the corpus bursae without a protrusion; while in A. apodosima , the cervix is well separated from the corpus bursae forming a short, rounded lateral protrusion. Furthermore, the corpus bursae of A. dargei is tapered anteriorly, unlike in A. apodosima where it is slightly dilated.

Genetic information. The new species belongs to the BIN URI: BOLD:AAQ1739. The two DNA barcoded specimens show 0.46% intraspecific divergence. The nearest neighbour of A. dargei is A. apodosima from wich it differs at a pairwise distance of 2.48–2.95%.

Etymology. The new species is named in honour of Philippe Darge, outstanding French lepidopterologist, Saturniidae specialist, collector of the holotype and part of the paratype series.

Distribution ( Map 3 ). Afroracotis dargei is only known from the Western High Plateau of Cameroon.

The Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) deportata species-group

Diagnosis. The single species of this lineage is characterized by its conspicuous mossy-green colouration, reminiscent of but brighter than the facies of the A. apodosima species-group. The delimitation of the species-group is based on some unique characters of the male genitalia, such as the short, broadly rounded uncus, and the vesica with a single, robust, knife-shaped cornutus. The distinctive morphology is congruent with the results of the genetic analyses.

Species content

Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) deportata ( Herbulot, 1970)

Figures

MAP 3. Distribution of the Afroracotis (Herbuloracotis) apodosima and A. (H.) deportata species-groups and the subgenera Rwandaracotis and Sokokeracotis.

FIGURES 41–60. Adults, dorsal view. 41. Afroracotis apodosima, HT of Racotis apodosima, ♁, Mozambique (NHMUK); 42. Ibidem, ♁, Tanzania (ZSM); 43. Ibidem, ♁, Zambia (ANHRT); 44. Ibidem, ♀, Mozambique (ANHRT); 45. A. dargei sp. n., HT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 46. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 47. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 48. A. deportata, ♁, Madagascar (RCHS); 49. Ibidem, HT of Racotis deportata, ♁, Madagascar (MNHN); 50. Ibidem, ♀, Comoros (NHMUK); 51. A. argillacea argillacea, HT of Alcis argillacea, ♁, DRC (NHMUK); 52. Ibidem, ♁, DRC (NHMUK); 53. Ibidem, ♁, DRC (ZSM); 54. Ibidem, ♁, Cameroon (RCMO); 55. A. argillacea cedrici, HT of Racotis cedrici, ♀, Bioko (ZSM); 56. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Bioko (ZSM); 57. Ibidem, ♀, Bioko (RCTK); 58. A. argillacea morettoi ssp. n., HT, ♁, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 59. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 60. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Ivory Coast (ZSM).

FIGURES 151–170. Adults, ventral view. 151. Afroracotis apodosima, ♁, Zambia (ANHRT); 152. Ibidem, ♀, Mozambique (ANHRT); 153. A. dargei sp. n., PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 154. Ibidem, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 155. A. deportata, ♁, Madagascar (RCHS); 156. Ibidem, ♀, Comoros (NHMUK); 157. A. argillacea argillacea, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 158. Ibidem, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 159. A. argillacea cedrici, HT of Racotis cedrici, ♀, Bioko (ZSM); 160. A. argillacea morettoi ssp. n., HT, ♁, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 161. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 162. A. longicornuta sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ANHRT); 163. Ibidem, PT, ♁, Guinea (ZSM); 164. A. l. congolana ssp. n., PT, ♁, Cameroon (ZSM); 165. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 166. A. l. ugandana ssp. n., PT, ♀, Uganda (RCHS); 167. A. aristophanousi sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ANHRT); 168. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Cameroon (ZSM); 169. A. muscivirens sp. n., HT, ♁, Liberia (ZSM); 170. Ibidem, PT, ♀, Liberia (ANHRT).

FIGURES 233–238. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus.; 233. Afroracotis apodosima, Zambia, slide No. LG 4930 (ANHRT); 234. Ibidem, Gabon, slide No. LG 4770 (ZSM); 235. A. dargei sp. n., HT, Cameroon, slide No. LG 4615 (ZSM); 236. Ibidem, PT, Cameroon, slide No. LG 5041 (ZSM); 237. A. deportata, Madagascar, slide No. LG 4067 (ANHRT); 238. A. argillacea argillacea, DRC, slide No. NHMUK 010315180 (NHMUK).

FIGURES 306–313. Female genitalia. 306. Afroracotis apodosima, Tanzania, slide No.: LG 4767 (ZSM); 307. Ibidem, Mozambique, slide No.: LG 4826 (ANHRT); 308. A. dargei sp. n., PT, Cameroon, slide No.: LG 4771 (ZSM); 309. A. deportata, Madagascar, slide No.: LG 4082 (ANHRT); 310. A. argillacea cedrici, PT, Bioko, slide No.: HERB 7255 (ZSM); 311. A. a. morettoi ssp. n., PT, Ivory Coast, slide No.: LG 5417 (ANHRT); 312. A. longicornuta congolana ssp. n., PT, Cameroon, slide No.: LG 5044 (ZSM); 313. A. l. ugandana ssp. n., PT, Uganda, gen. slide No.: LG 5531 (RCHS).