Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) occidentalis, Volynkin & László, 2020

Volynkin, Anton V. & László, Gyula M., 2020, Review of the Cyana rejecta (Walker, 1854) species-group, with descriptions of three new species from mainland Africa and a new subspecies from Madagascar (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4890 (3), pp. 330-346 : 336-339

Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) occidentalis sp. n.

( Figs 16–20 , 33–35 , 42 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 16 , 33 ): male, “ Liberia, 883m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts., Ridge Camp 2, 8°7’20.79’’N 9°56’50.75’’W 22–31.XI.2018, Light Trap, Blended Bulb (250 W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2018.43” / “ANHRTUK 00070119”, gen. slide No.: AV5255 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (9 males and 7 females in total). GUINEA : 1 male, 700m, Guineé Forestiére, Monts Nimba UNESCO World Heritage Site , Serengbara Village to Yie River Valley ( Lowland Forest–Farmland ), 07°36’56’’N, 08°26’54’’W, 1–8.VII.2019, UV Cold Cathode Light Trap , Deroziér, V., Koivagui, S., Miles, W., Sáfián, S., Warner, R. leg, ANHRT:2019.11, unique number: ANHRTUK 00150622, gen. slide No.: AV5997 ( ANHRT) ; LIBERIA: 2 males, 3 females, with the same data as the holotype, unique numbers:ANHRTUK 00070118, 00070120, 00070391, 00101430, 00101431, gen. slide Nos: AV5254 (male), AV5729 (female) ; 1 male, 1327m, Nimba County, ENNR , Nimba Mts. main ridge (montane forest), 7°311.3N, 8°311.0W, 9.XII.2017, Light Tra (blended bulb 250 W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G., Smith, L. leg., ANHRT :2017.33, unique number: ANHRTUK 00148090 ( ANHRT); TOGO: 1 male, 505m, Fazao-Malfakassa NP, Mare aux crocodiles campsite ( Sudanian savannah/dry forest), 8°44’58.8’N 0°48’51.8’’E, 26.VIII.–7.IX.2018, MV Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Geiser , M., Moretto, P., Sanbena, B. leg., ANHRT :2018.31, unique number:ANHRTUK 00062251, gen. slide No.: AV5231; 1 female, 415m, Fazao-Malfakassa NP, Point de vue campsite ( Sundanian savannah), 8°48’50’’N 0°49’3.2’’E, 16–23.VIII.2018, Actinic Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P., Sanbena, B. leg., ANHRT : 2018.31, unique number: ANHRTUK 00062316, gen. slide No.: AV5232 ( ANHRT) ; CAMEROON: 1 male, 1246m, Adamawa Region, Adamawa Plateau, 7.3 km West of Bazanga, Chute De Tello , 07°13’50.6’’N 13°56’29.2’’E, 24–30.IX.2018, MV Light Trap, Sáfián , Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT : 2018.36, unique number: ANHRTUK 00078429, gen. slide No.: AV5731 ( ANHRT) ; ANGOLA: 1 male, Libollo, Angola [Pemberton] / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique number: NHMUK10918068 , gen. slide No. : NHMUK010315730 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 1 male, N’Dalla Tando , N Angola, 2700 feet, 28.XI.1908, Dr. W.J. Ansorge ; 1 female, same locality and collector, 23.XI.1908 ; 2 females, Fazenda Congulu, Amboim district , 7–800m, 12–16.IV.1934 ; 1 female, Calweha R ., Angola 13. V . [19]96 (Penrice) ( NHMUK) ; ZAMBIA: 1 male, 1400m, Hillwood, Ikelenge , S 11°16’02’’ E 24°18’59’’, 9–16. V .2015, Light Trap, leg. Smith, R ., Takano , H. & Aristophanous, M., ANHRT : 2017.13, unique number: ANHRTUK 00042382, gen. slide No.: AV5233 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 10.5–12 mm in males, 11.5–12.5 mm in females. The new species differs externally from C. yao sp. n. and C. cornutissima sp. n. by its slightly paler coloration, but reliable identification requires examination of genitalia morphology. The male genitalia of the new species are reminiscent of those of C. rejecta , but are distinguished by their more heavily setose anellus, and a more robust aedeagus. The vesica of the new species is markedly shorter, with smaller and unilobate subbasal diverticulum bearing smaller spinules (which is bilobate with longer spinules in its congeners), more heavily scobinated 1 st medial diverticulum and much smaller and more heavily scobinated 2 nd medial diverticulum compared to those of C. rejecta . In addition, C. occidentalis has a 3 rd medial diverticulum of the vesica which is absent in C. rejecta , and its distal diverticulum bears two well-separated rows of robust spine-like cornuti, whereas the two rows of spines of the distal diverticulum are apically connected in C. rejecta . The female genitalia of C. occidentalis differ from those of the other members of the species-group by the markedly wider ostium bursae, the more heavily sclerotized and extended wrinkles of the posterior section of the corpus bursae (which is weakly sclerotized in C. rejecta and C. yao sp. n.; whereas in C. cornutissima sp. n. the wrinkles are also heavily sclerotized, but thinner and longer), the clearly separated corpus and appendix bursae (usually fused, forming a single, unified sack of the corpus and appendix bursae in the other related taxa) and the presence of a small, button-like signum bursae which is also present in C. cornutissima sp. n. In addition, C. occidentalis has a dentate, band-like sclerotization at the base of the appendix bursae (which is absent in other species), and a large, globular, heavily sclerotized and rugose appendix bursae (the appendix bursae is also heavily sclerotized in C. cornutissima sp. n., but is conspicuously elongate with a wrinkled area only on the posterior wall of the basal section).

Distribution. Sierra Leone ( Hampson 1900, as rejecta ), Guinea, Liberia, Togo, Cameroon, northern Angola and north-western Zambia.

Etymology. In Latin, ‘occidentalis’ means ‘western’. The specific epithet refers to the species’ West African distribution.

Figures

FIGURES 11–18. Cyana spp.: adults. Depositories of specimens: 11, 16 and 17 in ANHRT; 12–15 and 18 in NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 19–26. Cyana spp.: adults. Depositories of specimens: 19–24 in ANHRT; 25 in ZSM; 26 in NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 33–35. Cyana occidentalis sp. n.: male genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 33 and 35 in ANHRT; 34 in NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 39–43. Cyana spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 39–41 in NHMUK (©); 42 and 43 in ANHRT.