Gibbalaria mabalingwae (Razowski), revised status, new combination

Figs 9, 18, 25

Afroploce mabalingwae Razowski, 2008a: 63; 2015: 34.

Afroploce mabalinguae Razowski, 2008a: 57, 63, 66, 67, 68. [misspelling]

Diagnosis. Gibbalaria mabalingwae is nearly identical to G. scabellana, with a comparable forewing length and pattern (Figs 9, 18). However, the male genitalia can be distinguished from those of its relatives by the greatly reduced uncus (Fig. 25).

Types. Holotype ♁ ( mabalingwae), South Africa, Limpopo [Northern] Province, Mabalingwe, 25 km W Warmbaths, SE 24 28 Cd, [ca. 1115 m], 21 Mar 1996, B. Dombrowsky, light trap, Razowski slide 311 (DMP).

Paratypes (5♁, 3♀). South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal: Royal Natal National Park, Tendele camp, 1600 m, 6–13 Dec 2004, M. Kopec, 23 Oct 2003, 25 Oct 2003, 27 Oct 2003, at light, L. Przybylowicz (ISEZ). Drakensberg Park, Cathedral Peak, Didima, 1400 m, 26 Nov–2 Dec 2004 (1♁), M. Kopec (ISEZ). [These paratypes listed by Razowski are of uncertain species assignment.]

Remarks. The male holotype was collected near Warmbaths in far northern South Africa. The paratypes were collected further south, in Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal. Consequently, it is uncertain whether the paratypes are conspecific with the holotype. Further research may show that G. mabalingwae falls within the variation of scabellana . However, we provisionally treat it as a separate species because the greatly reduced uncus of the holotype appears to be unique to the genus.

In his original description of Afroploce mabalingwae, Razowski (2008a) indicates 5♁ and 3♀ paratypes (cited above); however, in his list of paratypes, there is no indication of which are males and which are females; and it is uncertain whether all of the females represent the same species. In a later paper, Razowski (2015) assigned the following specimens to Afroploce mabalingwae: Three specimens from Republic of South Africa (Cape Province, Knysna, 5.II.1996, at light, GS 6441; Free State, Clarens, 1750 m, 10.II.1996, at light, GS 6454; and KwaZulu-Natal, Champagne Castle Hotel, Winterton, 1600 m, 12‒13.II.1996, all leg. G. BASSI GBC). We examined the male from Knysna (GBC) and it is smaller than the holotype of A. mabalingwae, and the phallus is considerably longer than that of any congener. Hence, it is described as a new species ( G. longiphallus) above.