Azygophleps wahlbergi Yakovlev & Witt, 2017

Yakovlev, Roman V. & Witt, Thomas J., 2017, Four new species of Azygophleps Hampson, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Africa, Zootaxa 4303 (3), pp. 437-444 : 438-441

Azygophleps wahlbergi Yakovlev & Witt , sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 ¯4, 13, 17)

Material. Holotype: ♂, Kenya, Garissa, S of Bura, 24.vi.2011, leg. Snizek (GenPr MWM: 25.286; MWM); paratypes: 14 ♂, 1 ♀, same data (GenPr MWM: 30.890; MWM); 1 ♂, Kenya, E of Thika, Mwingiloc. , 30.04.2011, leg. Snizek ( MWM); 1 ♂, Kenya, Garissa, 10 km S Hola, 27.iv.2011, leg. Snizek ( MWM).

Description. Length of forewing of holotype 21 mm (male paratypes 20¯ 22 mm). Antenna bipectinate in proximal half, filiform in distal half. Thorax, tegula and patagia covered with white scales. Fore wing white with black pattern formed of thin transverse undulated strokes. Sparse black strokes on costal edge, in discal and postdiscal area strokes more pronounced and located more frequently; fine undulated black pattern on outer edge; undulated pattern in cubital area, brown gaps between strokes; medial area without pattern. Hind wing white without pattern. Fringe on wings yellow, unicolorous. Female bigger, length of fore wing 21 mm; antenna simple; fore wing with black pattern of thinner than those of male elements.

Male genitalia. Uncus long, triangular, with uncinate tapered apex; gnathos arms thin, ribbon-like, narrowing to apices, not fused; valva simple, leaf-like, with even costal and outer edge, small notch on abdominal edge (in middle third), juxta large, saddle-like, with semicircular abdominal edge and two long lateral processes directed dorsally, with parallel lateral edges; saccus large, semicircular; phallus of medium thickness, in length equal to valva, with poorly expressed longitudinal ribs on lateral surface; vesica with long large sclerite in lateral surface.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor long, anterior apophyses half the length of posterior apophyses, ostium deep, cuplike with poorly sclerotized edges; ductus narrow, short; thin channel with bull on top extends from distal part of ductus; bursa membranous, widening to apex; small stellated signum in apical part of bursa; ductus seminalis falls into apical part of bursa.

Diagnosis. The new species is the most similar to A. sheikh Yakovlev & Saldaitis in Yakovlev, 2011 (Figs. 10¯11) (type locality W Saudi Arabia, N-Asir, 40 km W Taif), widespread in the south of Saudi Arabia and southern Yemen (Yakovlev 2011). E. wahlbergi differs from A. sheikh by the following features: brown gaps between strokes on the forewing (in A. sheikh they arewhite), the triangle uncus (in A. sheikh it iselongated with parallel edges), and by the more convex, semicircular abdominal surface of the juxta as compared to that of A. sheikh in which this structure is flattened.

Distribution. Kenya.

Etymology. The new species is named after Johan August Wahlberg (1810¯1856) a Swedish naturalist who traveled in South Africa from 1838 to 1856, and collected thousands of animal specimens (including 8000 insects) and plants.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Azygophleps species (adult specimens): 1. A. snizeki, holotype; 2. A. snizeki, paratype, ♀, Kenya, NW of Garsen, 14.–17.xii.2009, leg. Snizek (MWM); 3. A. wahlbergi, holotype; 4. A. wahlbergi, paratype, ♀, Kenya, Garissa, S of Bura, 24.vi.2011, leg. Snizek (MWM); 5. A. defreinai, holotype; 6. A. junkeri, holotype (MWM); 7. A. junkeri, paratype, ♂, Tanzanie, Rukwa Province, Mbizi Mts., entre Kisungu et Muze, 1415 m, 07°43.826S 031°32.482E, 14.v.2004, leg. Ph. Darge (MWM); 8. A. liturata (Aurivillius, 1879), holotype, ♂; Damara (NHMS); 9. A. liturata, ♂, Nordost-Namibia, Westl. Caprivi, Okavango Region, 1050 m, 27.i.1998, leg. J. de Freina (MWM); 10. A. sheikh Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011, holotype, ♂, W Saudi Arabia, N-Asir, 40 km W Taif, 1000 m, 27.x.1997, leg. A. Legrain (MWM); 11. A. sheikh Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011, paratype, ♀, Saudi Arabia, Asir, Muhayl, 800 m, 8.x.1983, A. R. Pittaway (BMNH).