Sonitha alucard Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010

Prozorov, Alexey M., Mckenzie, Karen, Prozorova, Tatiana A., Saldaitis, Aidas, Sulak, Harald, Volkova, Julia S., Yakovlev, Roman V., Revay, Edita E. & Müller, Günter C., 2023, Description of two new species close to Sonitha alucard from the Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae, Lasiocampinae, Gastropachini), Ecologica Montenegrina 67, pp. 17-25 : 23-24

Sonitha alucard Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010

( Figs 5–6 , 15–16 , 21–22 , 25 )

Sonitha alucard Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010 , Atalanta , 41 (3/4), 427. Type locality: “[D. R. C.] Leopoldville” [ DRC, Kinshasa, 4.2982S, 15.3123E]. Holotype ♂ (RMCA).

Taxonomical note. The species was described from two male specimens: holotype collected in DRC ( Figs 5 , 21 ) and paratype collected in Gabon (see Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010: genitalia on Fig. 109; adult on Color plate 23, Fig. 147). Authors did not pay attention that the lobes of juxta of the paratype specimen are shorter and medially wider than that of the holotype, additionally, the holotype has pale discal dots which the paratype lacks. Above we reattributed the paratype male to the new species Sonitha sophia sp. n. Other specimens matching habitus and genitalia of the holotype of S. alucard were found ( Figs 6 , 22 ; see Material examined below), two of them are from CAR, which is a new record for the species.

Material examined: holotype ♂, DRC, Kinshasa, 30.IV.1949, leg. Dr. Fontaine, GS 2010-04 ( RMCA) ; ♂, DRC, Mai-Ndombe, Ekongo camp, 2.75613S, 20.31538E, 350 m, II.2018, leg. A. Prozorov, T. Prozorova et al., GS 1005 ( CGM / USTTB) ; 2♂, CAR, Sébokélé , 6.XI.1980, 6.XI.1983, leg. P. Basquin ( CPB) .

Figures

Figures 1–8. Adult ♂ of Sonitha spp., DRC. 1–2. S. sophia, Ekongo camp, GS 1009, 1010 (CGM/USTTB). 3–4, 7–8. S. sara, Ekongo camp, GS 1008, 0871 (CGM/USTTB). 5–6. S. alucard. 5. HT, Kinshasa, GS 2010-04 (RMCA). 6. Ekongo camp, GS 1005 (CGM/USTTB). Scale bar – 1 cm.

Figures 9–16. Terminology used for ♂ genitalia description and the 8th sternites of Sonitha spp., DRC. 9–12. S. sara, Ekongo camp, GS 0871, 1007, 1008, 0589 (CGM/USTTB). 13–14. S. sophia, Ekongo camp, GS 1009, 1010 (CGM/USTTB). 15–16. S. alucard. 15. Kinshasa, GS 2010-04 (RMCA). 16. Ekongo camp, GS 1005 (CGM/USTTB). Scale bar – 1 mm.

Figures 17–22. ♂ genitalia of Sonitha spp., DRC. 17–18. S. sophia, Ekongo camp, GS 1009, 1010 (CGM/USTTB). 19– 20. S. sara, Ekongo camp, GS 1008, 0871 (CGM/USTTB). 21–22. S. alucard. 21. HT, Kinshasa, GS 2010-04 (RMCA). 22. Ekongo camp, GS 1005 (CGM/USTTB). Scale bar – 1 cm.

Figures 23–25. Collecting sites of Sonitha spp. (for details visit bit.ly/twonewsonitha).