Gibbalaria mabalingwae (Razowski)

Brown, John W., Aarvik, Leif & Timm, Alicia, 2023, Gibbalaria: A new genus of Olethreutini from the Afrotropical Region (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), and a new combination in Cosmopoda Diakonoff, Zootaxa 5263 (2), pp. 217-239 : 231

Gibbalaria mabalingwae (Razowski) , revised status, new combination

Figs 9 , 18 , 25

Afroploce mabalingwae Razowski, 2008a: 63 ; 2015: 34.

Afroploce mabalinguae Razowski, 2008a: 57 , 63, 66, 67, 68. [misspelling]

Diagnosis. Gibbalaria mabalingwae is nearly identical to G. scabellana , with a comparable forewing length and pattern ( Figs 9 , 18 ). However, the male genitalia can be distinguished from those of its relatives by the greatly reduced uncus ( Fig. 25 ).

Types. Holotype ♁ ( mabalingwae ), South Africa, Limpopo [Northern] Province, Mabalingwe, 25 km W Warmbaths, SE 24 28 Cd , [ca. 1115 m], 21 Mar 1996, B. Dombrowsky, light trap, Razowski slide 311 ( DMP).

Paratypes (5♁, 3♀). South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal: Royal Natal National Park, Tendele camp, 1600 m, 6–13 Dec 2004, M. Kopec, 23 Oct 2003, 25 Oct 2003, 27 Oct 2003, at light, L. Przybylowicz ( ISEZ). Drakensberg Park, Cathedral Peak, Didima, 1400 m, 26 Nov–2 Dec 2004 (1♁), M. Kopec ( ISEZ). [These paratypes listed by Razowski are of uncertain species assignment.]

Remarks. The male holotype was collected near Warmbaths in far northern South Africa. The paratypes were collected further south, in Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal. Consequently, it is uncertain whether the paratypes are conspecific with the holotype. Further research may show that G. mabalingwae falls within the variation of scabellana . However, we provisionally treat it as a separate species because the greatly reduced uncus of the holotype appears to be unique to the genus.

In his original description of Afroploce mabalingwae, Razowski (2008a) indicates 5♁ and 3♀ paratypes (cited above); however, in his list of paratypes, there is no indication of which are males and which are females; and it is uncertain whether all of the females represent the same species. In a later paper, Razowski (2015) assigned the following specimens to Afroploce mabalingwae : Three specimens from Republic of South Africa (Cape Province, Knysna, 5.II.1996, at light, GS 6441; Free State, Clarens, 1750 m, 10.II.1996, at light, GS 6454; and KwaZulu-Natal, Champagne Castle Hotel, Winterton, 1600 m, 12‒13.II.1996, all leg. G. BASSI GBC). We examined the male from Knysna (GBC) and it is smaller than the holotype of A. mabalingwae , and the phallus is considerably longer than that of any congener. Hence, it is described as a new species ( G. longiphallus ) above.

Figures

FIGURES 3‒10. Adults of Gibbalaria. 3. G. divergana holotype female; 4. G. chiloanei holotype male; 5. G. occidentana paratype female; 6. G. occidentana holotype male; 7. G. occidentana paratype female; 8. G. longiphallus holotype male; 9. G. mabalingwae holotype male; 10. G. scabellana male, South Africa.

FIGURES 11‒18. Adults of Gibbalaria. 11. G. scabellana female, South Africa; 12. G. bagamoyo male, Tanzania; 13. G. bagamoyo female, Tanzania; 14. G. analcis male, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 15. G. analcis female, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 16. G. scabellana male underside, South Africa; 17. G. bagamoyo male underside, Kenya; 18. G. mabalingwae holotype male, underside.

FIGURES 25‒29. Male genitalia of Gibbalaria. 25. G. mabalingwae, Razowski slide 311; 26. G. bagamoyo, USNM slide 144,518; 27. G. bagamoyo, USNM slide 145,796; 28. G. analcis, GS 6476 (HT); 29. G. analcis, USNM slide 145,604.