Strigocossus sanbenai Yakovlev & László, 2020

Yakovlev, Roman V. & László, Gyula M., 2020, Two new species of Strigocossus Houlbert, 1916 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Togo and Zambia, Ecologica Montenegrina 34, pp. 64-72 : 67-70

Strigocossus sanbenai Yakovlev & László , sp. n.

Figs 3 , 6 , 8 .

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D4D4B38D-DE59-4500-BE56-FC27DF3104C3

Holotype. Male , “ Togo, 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, slide ANHRT 00060 , unique number ANHRTUK 00047587 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (all in ANHRT). Togo. 37 males, with the same data as the holotype, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00046216, 00047378, 00047557-00047573, 00047577-00047586, 00047588-00047595; 8 males, Fazao-Malfakassa NP, Point de vue campsite (Sudanian savannah), 415m, 8°48'50"N, 0°49'3.2"E, 16- 23.viii.2018, MV Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P., Sanbena, B. leg. ANHRT:2018.31, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00046219-00046226 .

Description. Male ( Fig. 3 ). Length of forewing 52 mm in holotype, 43-54 mm in paratypes. Wingspan 90- 115 mm. Antenna typical of the genus: bipectinate from base to middle, rami 3−4 times longer than antenna rod diameter, shortened distally, apical half of antenna filiform.

Head moderately large, palps very short and thin, slightly upcurved, shining anthracite black; frons reversed trapezoidal; compound eyes large, globular; vertex pale brown frontally, graphite grey dorsally. Patagia pale brownish grey with admixture of shining black scales, tegulae dark brownish grey; thorax dark brown with some reddish sheen, bearing two short but conspicuous prominences posteriorly consisting of admixture of long black, creamy yellow, pale brown and off white hair scales; abdomen uniformly greyish brown, somewhat paler along anterior margins of each segments.

Forewing pale grey with dense reticulated pattern defined by numerous short, thin, undulate darkgrey transverse lines throughout the wing area with a conspicuous, short longitudinal light brown streak discally at base of cubital veins and with a relatively thick, dark brownish crescent band submarginally; costal margin pale grey, with dark brown narrow streaks of various length. Hindwing brownish grey, with dense, very fine, dark brownish reticulate pattern throughout the wing except for the anal angle.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Uncus elongate-trigonal, robust, relatively broad at base, gradually tapered distally, apically rounded; gnathos arms short, basally wide, apically narrowing without medial plate of gnathos; valva broad costal margin almost straight, ventral margin conspicuously angled medially, apex broadly rounded; juxta large semicircular basally, with two long narrow ribbon-like lateral processes directed ventro-distally; saccus large, semicircular; phallus robust, extremely short, thick; vesica with longitudinally rugose, largely dilated, globular basal section, smooth surfaced, inflated medial section bearing a short sacklike lateral diverticulum and gradually tapered distal section.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis. The new species’ closest relative is S. otti , from which it differs in the following characters:

- the abdomen is covered in its whole length in paler greyish brown scales dorsally, whereas in S. otti , the abdomen is covered in darker brown scales, only apically in light-grey scales;

- the hindwing is paler grey, with dense reticulate brownish pattern throughout the wing surface except for the anal edge, while in S. otti , the hindwing is considerably darker brown almost without pattern;

- the ventral margin of the valva is strongly angled medially, while that is only slightly curved medially in S. otti .

Distribution ( Fig. 6 ). S. sanbenai was collected in dry Sudanian Savannah habitat in the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park in Togo, during the rainy season.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Banibéa Bassan Sanbena (Laboratoire d’Entomologie Appliquée, Département de Zoologie et de Biologie Animale, Université de Lomé, Togo) as a thank for his epic effort made during the field work organized by ANHRT in Togo.

Figures

Figures 1−3. Adult specimens of Strigocossus (coll. ANHRT): 1. S. takanoi sp. n., holotype, male; 2. S. takanoi sp. n., paratype, female; 3. S. sanbenai sp. n., holotype, male.

Figures 4−6. Genitalia of Strigocossus (coll. ANHRT): 4. S. takanoi sp. n., holotype; 5. S. takanoi sp. n., paratype, female; 6. S. sanbenai sp. n., holotype.

Figures 7−8. Habitats of the new Strigocossus species: 7. Hillwood Farm, Ikelenge, NW Zambia, habitat of S. takanoi (photo by Lydia Mulvaney); 8. Fazao-Malfakassa National Park, Togo, habitat of S. sanbenai (photo by Marios Aristophanous).