Nimbamina blei Sáfián & Bartsch, 2022

Sáfián, Szabolcs & Bartsch, Daniel, 2022, Two new genera and species of Synanthedonini from the Nimba Mountains Liberia, West Africa (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), Zootaxa 5141 (1), pp. 87-93 : 90

Nimbamina blei Sáfián & Bartsch sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 3 )

Holotype ♂: ( Fig. 1 ) “ Liberia, Coldwater , ENNR / and Blei Community Forest, / 7°24’49.87”N, 8°35’27.25”W, / 553 m, Pheromone bundle, / 13.IV.2021, leg. Sz. Sáfián ”; “Bartsch GU 2021-07” ( SMNS).

Description. A rather small, extremely slender clearwing moth with the dimensions: wingspan 15 mm, antenna 7 mm, forewing 7 mm, body length 13 mm. Head: labial palpus pale yellow, second segment laterally and distally mixed with dark greyish-brown scales, terminal segment blackish-brown; frons dark bronze with a strong gloss, laterally silver-white; vertex and pericephalic scales glossy black, the latter laterally pale yellow; antenna black, ventrally with some yellow scales at flagellum base, sub-distally with some white scales dorsally, scape ventrally yellow. Thorax: black, laterally pale yellow. Legs: yellow; femora, tibiae and tarsi dorsally brownish-grey. Wings: hyaline; veins, margins and forewing discal spot black; fringes of both wings dark brownish-grey. Abdomen: tergites black; sternites basally pale yellow, caudally white; anal tuft black.

Genitalia ( Fig. 3 ). See description of genus.

Diagnosis. This species cannot be confused with any other Sesiidae in the world, see also genus description.

Habitat. Captured along a semi-shaded forest track in wet lowland forest in the Nimba Mountains foothills.

Behaviour. The holotype was unspecifically attracted to various synthetic pheromones combined to a bundle of lures at around 14:10 hrs in sunny conditions. It had a slow, weaving flight as it approached the lures.

Derivatio nominis. Nominative in apposition. The name of this species is an unaltered adoption of the name of the Blei Community Forest and of the highest mountain (also called Mount Bele) within its boundaries.

Figures

FIGURES 1–2. New Synanthedonini from Liberia, Nimba Mts. 1. Nimbamina blei Sáfián & Bartsch sp. nov., holotype ♂. 2. Chlorosphecia bele Bartsch & Sáfián sp. nov., holotype ♂. Scale: 10 mm.

FIGURES 3–4. Genitalia structure and segment eight of Synanthedonini. 3. Nimbamina blei Sáfián & Bartsch sp. nov., holotype ♂ (vesica double the size). 4. Chlorosphecia bele Bartsch & Sáfián sp. nov., holotype ♂. Scales: 1 mm.