Dinometa Aurivillius, 1927

Prozorov, Alexey M., Prozorova, Tatiana A., Yakovlev, Roman V., Volkova, Julia S., Saldaitis, Aidas, Sulak, Harald, Revay, Edita E. & Müller, Günter C., 2024, Description of two new species of Dinometa from East Africa with remarks on D. maputuana (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae, Lasiocampinae), Zootaxa 5397 (4), pp. 486-496 : 488

Dinometa Aurivillius, 1927

In: Seitz, A. (ed.), Die Groβschmetterlinge der Erde, 14, 275. Type-species: Gastroplakaeis maputuana Wichgraf, 1906 , Insektenbörse, 23 (21), 83, by monotypy. Type locality: “ Maputoland ” [ Mozambique, may be Maputo or nearby, 25.96924S, 32.57317E] .

Diagnosis. Dinometa contains rather large and robust species reminiscent of the genus Gonometa Walker, 1855 (type species Gonometa postica Walker, 1855 ), but none of Gonometa has the characteristic speckled creamybrown pattern on its forewings. The pattern is similar to that of Gastroplakaeis meridionalis Aurivillius, 1901 ( Figs 9–10 ) from the genus Gastroplakaeis Möschler, 1887 (type species Gastroplakaeis forficulatus Möschler , 11887), however, males of Dinometa do not have a striped abdomen ( Fig. 9 ), sclerotized elongated socii, elongated distal extensions of vinculum or distal dents on the eight sternite ( Fig. 19 ).

Redescription. Male ( Figs 1, 4–7 , 11–15 ). Flagellum covered with speckled creamy and brown scales, rami orangish-brown. Head, thorax and abdomen speckled creamy and brown, tegulae may be darker. Forewing. Forewing length: 30–45 mm; wingspan: 62–103 mm. Narrow, elongated, semilanceolate with nearly pointed apex. Background color is light-creamy with brown speckles. Pattern consist of doubled wavy ante- and postmedial lines, with more or less pronounced black discal spot, and pale wavy external line. Fringe speckled creamy and brown. Hindwing. Somewhat trapezoid with well pronounced anal angle. Background color creamy with brown speckles, dark medioanal spot may be pronounced. Fringe speckled creamy and brown. Genitalia ( Figs 16–18 , 20–22 ). Tegumen a wide band, mediolaterally bears a pair of knob-like socii covered with setae. Cucullus claw like, basally covered with setae. Sacculus large, somewhat reniform, has medial extension covered with setae. Vinculum a band, ventrally expands into saccus. Juxta stem like, fused with aedeagus. Aedeagus c-shaped, narrows towards apex, apex blunt. Vesica very small, may bear tiny cornuti. The eight sternite somewhat trapezoid with more or less pronounced mediodistal pair of very short extensions. The eighth tergite somewhat rectangle with very short lateroproximal apodemes. Female ( Figs 2–3, 8 ). Habitus similar to male. Forewing length: 50–62 mm; wingspan: 108–132 mm. Genitalia were not studied.

Included species: D. maputuana , D. ethani sp. n., and D. abigailae sp. n.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Adults. 1–8. Dinometa maputuana. 1–2. Mozambique, near Maputo (NHML). 1. LT ♁, GS 1335. 2. ♀. 3–5. RSA. 3. ♀, Rooisand (MfNB). 4–5. ♁, Thabazimbi, LBEOW945-11, LBEOW946-11, GS 0305, 0306 (CGM/USTTB). 6–8. Namibia. 6. ♁, Windhoek (MfNB). 7. ♁, unknown location, GS 1336 (NHML). 8. ♀, Eileen Farm, LBEOW 1188-11 (MfNB). 9–10. Gastroplakaeis meridionalis. 9. ♀, Zambia, Kashitu (NHML). 10. ♁, Zimbabwe, Mutare (NHML). Scale bar – 1 cm.

FIGURES 16–19. ♁ genitalia.16–18.Dinometa maputuana.16.LT,Mozambique, nearMaputo GS 1335 (NHML). 17. Namibia, GS 1336 (NHML). 18. RSA, Thabazimbi, LBEOW945-11, GS 0305 (CGM/USTTB). 19. Gastroplakaeis meridionalis, DRC, Lubumbashi, GS 2010-60 (CGM/USTTB). Scale bar – 1 mm.

FIGURES 11–15. Adult ♁ of Dinometa spp. 11–12. D. ethani, Tanzania, road Dar es Salaam – Chalinze (CGM/USTTB). 11. PT, LBEOW723-10. 12. HT, LBEOW722-10, GS 0304. 13–15. D. abigailae. 13. HT, Banagi Hill, GS 1337 (NHML). 14. PT, Kenya, Kibwezi, GS 0303 (CGM/USTTB). 15. PT, Kenya, Ol Donjo Orok Mt. (CGM/USTTB). Scale bar – 1 cm.

FIGURES 20–22. ♁ genitalia of Dinometa spp. 20. D. ethani, HT, Tanzania, road Dar-es-Salaam – Chalinze, LBEOW722-10, GS 0304 (CGM/USTTB). 21–22. D. abigailae. 21. PT, Kenya, Kibwezi, GS 0303 (CGM/USTTB). 22. HT, Banagi Hill, GS 1337 (NHML). Scale bar – 1 mm.