Leucobaeta malagassa, László, 2022

László, Gyula M., 2022, On the taxonomy of Negeta semialba Hampson, 1918 with descriptions of two new Leucobaeta László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 species (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae), Zootaxa 5091 (1), pp. 56-68 : 65-66

Leucobaeta malagassa sp. n.

( Figs. 7–9 , 19 , 25 )

Holotype. ♂, “ Madagascar N, Montagne d’Ambre NP, 3 km SO of Joffreville , S 12º30’50/ E 49º11’02,05./ 06.11.2018 LF, 970 m, leg. R. Fiebig & D. Stadie ”, gen. slide No.: RF 699.2021 (coll. R. Fiebig, to be deposited later in ZSM).

Paratypes (6 ♂, 15 ♀ in total). Madagascar. 2 ♂, 4 ♀, Montagne d’Ambre , 4 km NW of Joffreville, 12°27‘50”S, 49°13‘29”E, 480m, 4.xi.2018, Light Trap, leg. R. Fiebig & D. Stadie ; 2 ♂, 3 ♀, Ankarana NP, Ankarana Lodge , 12°57‘40”S, 49°08‘58”E, 500m, 9–11.xi.2018, Light Trap, leg. R. Fiebig & D. Stadie, gen. slide Nos.: RF 697.2021 (♀), RF 698.2021 (♀) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, Ranomafana NP, Setam, Lodge , 21°14’58.5‘‘S, 47°25’36.9‘‘E, 913m, 9–13.iv.2018, Light Trap, leg. D. Stadie & R. Fiebig (coll. R. Fiebig) ; 2 ♀, 3km N Vorondolo / Ranamofana , 21°13.319’’S, 47°22.069’’E, 10.iv.2018, LT, 1218m, leg. D. Stadie & R. Fiebig ; 1 ♂, Montagne d`Ambre, NW of Joffreville, 12°27’50’’S, 49°13’29’’E, 04.xi.2018, LT, 480m, leg. D. Stadie & R. Fiebig (coll. D. Stadie) ; 1 ♀, Fianarantsoa pr., 20 km NE Ranohira, 26–29.i.2014, Sakamaningy vill. Env. , 828m, 22°30.457’S, 45°29.761’E, M. Tryzna leg., ANHRT:2018.4, unique number: ANHRTUK 00073441, gen. slide No.: LGNA 964 ; 1 ♀, Mahafaly Plateau, Antanambao, near Bezaha village , 14.i.2013, M. Tryzna leg., ANHRT:2018.4, unique number: ANHRTUK 00214293 ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The external appearance of Leucobaeta malagassa sp. n. is nearly identical to that of L. smithi , but distinguishable by its noticeably narrower, oblique, dark medial fascia which is paler, more diffuse, less contrasting in the females and somewhat darker in the males, the hindwing of which is also considerably darker than in L. smithi . In the male genitalia, compared to L. smithi , the new species has an approximately 30% smaller genital capsule, a considerably shorter uncus with a much broader basal part, a broader, dorso-apically more angular valva, and a markedly shorter, distally curved, more or less trapezoidal costal lobe (it is straight distally, arrowhead-shaped in L. smithi ), with slightly longer rounded subventral process arising closer to the ventral margin than in its congener. The phallus of the new species is approximately 20% shorter and narrower than that of L. smithi , bearing slightly shorter cornutus of the vesica. The configuration of the female genitalia of the two species are nearly identical, the only noticeable differences are the less swollen distal section of the ductus bursae with a considerably shorter lateral protrusion, the approximately 50% shorter and narrower tubular distal part of the corpus bursae and the slightly smaller signum bursae of L. malagassa compared to those of its continental congener.

Description. Adult. ( Figs. 7–9 ). Forewing length 7.5–10.0 mm. Antenna fasciculate in males, filiform in females.

Head relatively large, labial palp length 1.2 times the diameter of eye, moderately thick, porrect, dark brown; frons pale brown posteriorly, off-white anteriorly, vertex whitish grey; compound eyes relatively large, globular. Thorax, collar, tegulae and abdomen bright white. Intraspecific variability and sexual dimorphism negligible, expressed only by the somewhat larger size and slightly paler, more diffuse forewing medial fascia of females.

Forewing elongate, rather quadrangular, apically rounded. Basal and antemedial area bright white with two, pale grey costal dashes, proximal one of which larger than distal one. Medial area dark brownish-grey, inner margin straight, oblique, sharply separated from white basal area. Postmedial and tornal areas dark brownish-grey, fading to paler grey distally, dorsal half of postmedial and terminal area creamy-white, subapically with a large, dark ovoidal blotch consisting of a dark diffuse-ochreous anterior patch followed by a narrow black area fading to grey distally, and a dark brown round posterior macule adjoining apex.

Transverse lines deleted except for the narrow, diffuse, interrupted pale grey terminal line. Cilia long, grey, slightly darkened towards tornus. Hindwing of male pale grey, somewhat lighter in basal quarter, that of female dark grey with a small off-white basal area; cilia off-white. Underside of forewing dark grey in the dorsal twothirds, pale greyish-white in the ventral third; hindwing underside grey, somewhat darker near the termen; pattern undetectable.

Male genitalia. ( Fig. 19 ). Uncus relatively short, very broad at base, abruptly tapered in basal third forming a trapezoidal base, gradually tapered in medial third, distal third very narrow, spine-like, apically pointed. Tegumen short with wide arms fused in distal three-quarter. Valva short, narrow, dorso-apically right-angled, ventrally evenly rounded, membranous. Valva costa straight, basally with a large, heavily sclerotized more or less trapezoidal lobe with short, curved pointed apex projecting caudad, costal lobe conjunct with sacculus by narrow sclerotized band, bearing a short, rounded subventral process pointing caudad; distal two-thirds of costa weakly sclerotized, sparsely setose. Sacculus approximately half as long as valva, rather broad, heavily sclerotized, fused with costal process by a narrow ventral band. Transtillae reduced to a membranous ribbon without medial plate. Fultura inferior very small, sclerotized, somewhat U-shaped. Vinculum conspicuously short, medially with a short, rounded anterior projection. Phallus tubular, short and thin, straight, medially slightly dilated, coecum penis short and rounded, heavily sclerotized, apex straight, without carina process; vesica with robust, spike-like cornutus and an elongate moderately sclerotized area.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 25 ). Ovipositor short, conical, papillae anales trapezoidal, apically with a short protracted process, covered in long, dense setae. Apophyses posteriores short, basally broad, apically pointed, apophyses anteriores ca. 20% longer than posterior ones, narrow, gently curved, apically slightly dilated. Eighth tergite heavily sclerotized, short, with straight, parallel distal and proximal margins. Ostium bursae narrow, slitlike, antrum very short, poorly sclerotized, somewhat tapered anteriorly. Ductus bursae short, five times as long as antrum, membranous, medial section slightly dilated with a short lateral, moderately sclerotized protrusion on right side. Cervix bursae unmodified, membranous. Distal quarter of corpus bursae tubular, narrow, gradually dilated proximally, proximal three-quarters ovoidal, without appendix bursae. Signum bursae represented by small, ovoidal scobination.

Genetic divergence. Pairwise distances between L. malagassa and L. smithi is 3.5–4.1% and between L. malagassa and L. semialba , is 7.1%. As only a single specimen sequenced successfully, the intraspecific divergence of L. malagassa could not be calculated.

Distribution ( Fig. 26 ). Leucobaeta malagassa is a species endemic to Madagascar with sporadic records from the island.

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to the Malagasy people of Madagascar, referring to the distribution of the new species.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Distribution of the Afrotropical Leucobaeta species.

FIGURES 1–15.Adults. 1, Leucobaeta semialba, holotype, ♀, Ghana (©NHMUK); 2, Ibidem, ♂, Liberia (ANHRT); 3, Ibidem, ♀, Liberia (ANHRT); 4, L. smithi sp. n., holotype, ♂, Mozambique (ANHRT); 5, Ibidem, paratype ♂, Tanzania (ANHRT); 6, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Tanzania (©NHMUK); 7, L. malagassa sp. n., holotype, ♂, Madagascar (R. Fiebig); 8, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Madagascar (R. Fiebig); 9, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Madagascar (ANHRT); 10, L. hemiphaea, holotype, ♀, Indonesia, Java (©NHMUK); 11, Ibidem, ♂, Thailand (MWM/ZSM); 12, Negeta mesoleuca, syntype, ♂, Gabon (CMNH); 13, Ibidem, ♂, Ivory Coast (ANHRT); 14, N. ruficeps, holotype, ♂, South Africa (©NHMUK); 15, Ibidem, ♂, Mozambique (ANHRT).

FIGURES 16–21. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: phallus. 16, Leucobaeta hemiphaea, Thailand, LGN 761 (G. Ronkay); 17, L. semialba, Liberia, LGNA 955 (ANHRT); 18, L. smithi sp. n., holotype, Mozambique, LGNA 961 (ANHRT); 19, L. malagassa sp. n., holotype, Madagascar, RF 699.2021 (prepared by Gy.M. László) (R. Fiebig) 20, Negeta mesoleuca, Ivory Coast, LGNA 965 (ANHRT); 21, N. ruficeps, Mozambique, LGNA 967 (ANHRT).

FIGURES 22–25. Female genitalia. 22, Leucobaeta hemiphaea, holotype, Indonesia, Java, LGN 724 (©NHMUK); 23, L. semialba, Liberia, LGNA 1293 (ANHRT); 24, L. smithi sp. n., paratype, Tanzania, NHMUK 010316555 (prepared by Gy.M. László) (©NHMUK); 25, L. malagassa sp. n., paratype, Madagascar, RF 698.2021 (prepared by Gy.M. László) (R. Fiebig).