Brunneonola, László, 2022

László, Gyula M., 2022, Taxonomic studies on Afrotropical Nolinae: review of the Afrotropical taxa of the genus Hampsonola László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2015, descriptions of five new genera and five new species and introduction of a new synonymy (Lepidoptera, Nolidae), Zootaxa 5169 (2), pp. 147-164 : 157

Brunneonola gen. n.

( Figs 16–17 , 29 )

Type species: Brunneonola nimba sp. n.

Diagnosis. The facies of the type species of the new genus might suggest certain kinship with Hampsonola , however, the genital morphology of the two genera is fundamentally different as Brunneonola gen. n. has a unilobate valva, unlike the bilobate valva of Hampsonola . The external appearance of the new genus is characterised by the relatively short and broad, somewhat quadrangular forewing, and the extensive pale greyish-brown basal area extending towards the postmedial line which runs conspicuously close to the termen and parallel with the subterminal line. The costal area of the forewing bears a large, diffuse dark brown blotch postmedially, and the terminal area is bright red-brown, gradually narrowing towards the tornus.

In the male genitalia, Brunneonola has a unilobate valva with a remarkably broad, sclerotized dorsal margin dilated distally and forming a rounded triangular process apically, a character which is unknown in any other Afrotropical Nolinae , although similar costal valval processes are observed in a several species of the Oriental genus Manoba Walker. The bifurcate harpe is also an uncommon feature in Nolinae , although it has also been found in Meganola . The most unique character of Brunneonola is the presence of a long and thin, apically dilated and dentate process arising from the valval base, a feature which is only known in the Oriental Maculonola László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2015 .

The female is unknown.

Description. Adult. Male ( Figs 16–17 ). Forewing length of type species 5.8–6.7 mm. Head small, antenna short, bipectinate with short, finely ciliate rami, distal quarter filiform; labial palp relatively long, porrect, pale brown; frons and vertex pale brown. Collar rusty-brown, tegula and mesothorax off-white, and abdomen light brown. Forewing relatively broad, elongate-quadrangular, apically rounded, ground colour pale brownish-grey in basal and medial area, dark brown in postmedial and red-brown in terminal area. Basal and subbasal lines deleted, antemedial line gently arched, slightly undulate. Medial line deleted, postmedial line very fine, greyish-brown, evenly arched, interrupted. Subterminal line narrow, ochreous, slightly wavy; terminal line very fine, ochreous. Cilia moderately long, red-brown in dorsal, blackish brown in ventral half. Hindwing pale brownish-grey with slightly darker veins; cilia long, dark brown. Underside of wings dark brownish-grey, hindwing somewhat paler the forewing.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 29 ). Uncus medium long, relatively broad at base, gradually tapered, subapically curved, apically pointed. Tegumen elongate, narrow with very thin arms; subscaphium membranous, with a finely scobinate semi-circular area proximally. Valva relatively narrow in its entire length, dorsal margin concave, very broadly sclerotized, subapically dilated, apically produced into a short, rounded triangular process. Ventral margin membranous, distally slightly dilated, apex truncate. Harpe broad basally, bifurcate, consisting of two short, rounded triangular lobes arising relatively far apart, pointing caudad. Sacculus short and narrow, distally rounded. Valva base possessing a narrow, ribbon-like process, projecting caudad with dilated, roughly dentate ovoid apex curved inwards. Transtilla thin, weakly sclerotized, arms fused medially. Juxta short, simple, quadrangular; vinculum short, rounded. Aedeagus short and thin with long coecum and rounded apex bearing a short carinal dent subapically; vesica without cornuti or scobination.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The prefix in the generic name is derived from the Latin adjective “ brunneus ” meaning “ brown ” referring to the coloration of the type species of the new genus.

Figures

FIGURES 16–21. adults (coll. ANHRT). 16, Brunneonola gen. n. nimba sp. n., holotype, ♂, Liberia; 17, Ibidem, paratype, ♂, Liberia; 18, Ivindonola gen. n. ipassa sp. n., holotype, ♂, Gabon; 19, Cryptonola gen. n. confundata sp. n., holotype, ♂, Ivory Coast; 20, Ibidem, paratype, ♂, Sierra Leone; 21, Ibidem, paratype, ♀, Ivory Coast.

FIGURES 28–31. male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus (coll. ANHRT). 28, Bellanola gen. n. mikongo sp. n., holotype, Gabon, LGNA 1294; 29, Brunneonola gen. n. nimba sp. n., holotype, Liberia, LGNA 1158; 30, Ivindonola gen. n. ipassa sp. n., holotype, Gabon, LGNA 590; 31, Cryptonola gen. n. confundata sp. n., holotype, Ivory Coast, LGNA 1179.