Rhynchobombyx levi, Prozorov & Saldaitis & Sulak & Yakovlev & Murphy & Petrányi & Revay & Volkova & Prozorova & Müller, 2023

Prozorov, Alexey M., Saldaitis, Aidas, Sulak, Harald, Yakovlev, Roman V., Murphy, Raymond J., Petrányi, Gergely, Revay, Edita E., Volkova, Julia S., Prozorova, Tatiana A. & Müller, Günter C., 2023, Two new species of the genus Rhynchobombyx from Central and East Africa (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae, Lasiocampinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 70, pp. 24-37 : 26-31

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.37828/em.2023.70.4

publication LSID

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2DF97B1B-F823-4654-9A2F-1EEFDB50B4D4

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CED345F3-6410-416D-B7CA-ADBA613033FF

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:CED345F3-6410-416D-B7CA-ADBA613033FF

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Rhynchobombyx levi
status

sp. nov.

Rhynchobombyx levi View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CED345F3-6410-416D-B7CA-ADBA613033FF

( Figs 1–12 View Figures 1–15 , 28–30 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 , 41 View Figures 41–45 , 46–48 View Figures 46–49 )

Holotype: ♂, Malawi, Lilongwe District, Dzalanyama Ranch , 14.21666 S, 33.5 E, 1220 m, 29.I.2005, leg. R. J. Murphy, GS 0625 ( CGM / USTTB) GoogleMaps . Paratypes (39♂, 8♀). Tanzania : ♂, Biharamulo District, Nyakanazi , 3.03556 S, 31.2197 E, 1245 m, 17.III.1990, leg. Bjørnstad, GS 2012-021 ( NHMO) GoogleMaps ; ♀, Mpanda District, 33 km S Uvinza , 1450 m, 13.X.1989, leg. Bjørnstad ( NHMO) . Malawi: ♂, same data as HT ( CGM / USTTB) ; ♀, Mzimba District, Mzuzu, Nkhorongo , 11.38333 S, 33.98333 E, 1375 m, 18.II.2000, leg. R. J. Murphy, GS 0626 ( CGM / USTTB) GoogleMaps ; ♂, Northern Province, Karonga District, Vinthukutu Forest , 646 m, 10.41666 S, 34.18333 E, 29.XI.2000, leg. R. J. Murphy, GS Las-24 ( DMNH) GoogleMaps . DRC, Haut-Katanga Province: ♂, Luina River, Kibomboma , 12.IX.1989, leg. Th. Bouyer, GS 2011-153 ( RMCA) ; 8♂, Mikembo , 11.469806 S, 27.669333 E, 1175 m, 19.IX.2022, 22.IX.2022, GS LazLas 027 ( CAC) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, Mikembo , 11.469806 S, 27.669333 E, 1175 m, 26.II.2022, leg. A. Cipolla ( CAC) GoogleMaps ; ♂, Kipushi, Karibu , 11.482778 S, 27.861972 E, 1148 m, 27.III.2022, leg. A. Cipolla ( CAC) GoogleMaps ; ♂, Kipushi, Kisamfu area , 10.660556 S, 25.918333 E, 1464 m, 2.XII.2022, leg. Th. Bouyer ( CAC) GoogleMaps . Zimbabwe: ♂, Bulawayo, Shangani, Naletale , 19.88278 S, 29.52527 E, 1410 m, 20.XII.2011, leg. Snižek, GS 0627 ( CGM / USTTB) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, Harare, 17.82162 S, 31.04922 E, 1490 m, [label data incomplete], leg. N. J. Duke, GS Las-25 ( DMNH) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, Harare, Christon Bank , 17.60637 S, 31.00197 E, 1405 m, 1.XII.1994, leg. N. J. Duke, GS Las-25 ( DMNH) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, Mutare, Vumba Mts , 19.11994 S, 32.77675 E, 1650 m, [label data incomplete] ( NHMZ) GoogleMaps ; ♂, Mutare District, [label data incomplete] ( NHMZ) ; 10♂, ♀, Harare, 17.82162 S, 31.04922 E, 1490 m, IV.1963, III.1965, 31.V.1965, III.1969, GS Las-15, Las-16, Las-17, Las-19 ( NHMZ) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, 4♀, Marondera , [label data incomplete], 18.18851 S, 31.54874 E, 1665 m, GS Las-18 ( NHMZ) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, Hahare [?, label data incomplete] ( NHMZ) ; ♂, Mutare District, Bunga Forest , 19.13366 S, 32.75201 E, 1250 m, 22.VI.1990, leg. Bjørnstad ( NHMO) GoogleMaps ; ♂, Mashonaland East Province, 12 km E Marondera, Gosho Park , 18.170556 S, 31.627778 E, 1635 m, 11.IV.2011, leg. R. Yakovlev ( CAS) GoogleMaps . RSA: ♀, Lundi , 25.2135 S, 31.09369 E, 725 m, [label data incomplete] ( DMNH) GoogleMaps .

Description. Male ( Figs 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10–12 View Figures 1–15 ). Head and thorax reddish brown with longitudinal greyish line. Abdomen cream-colored. Forewing. Forewing length: 13–14 mm. Semilanceolate, apex obtuse, external margin smooth. Background color reddish brown. Pattern consists of dark brown crenulate antemedial, postmedial and external lines, and dark discal dot on R-Cu cell outer margin. Cilia speckled brown and grey. Hindwing. Oval-shaped, external margin rounded, slightly waved. Cream-colored, costal and tornal fields darker. Cilia brownish. Male genitalia ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ). Tegumen band-shaped, dorsolaterally bears a pair of sclerotized socii with blunt apexes, covered with setae. Vinculum thin, ventrally widened into cup-like form. Sacculus elongated, finger-like, c-shaped with blunt apex. Cucullus tubercle-like, covered with chaetae. Juxta fused with aedeagus. Aedeagus cylindrical with uneven dorsal sclerotized field and ventrobasal rather s-shaped spur. Vesica bag-shaped. Female ( Figs 2, 5, 7, 9 View Figures 1–15 ). Forewing length: 16–17 mm. Pattern similar to male, but hindwings darker. Female genitalia ( Figs 29–30 View Figures 28–31 , 41 View Figures 41–45 ). Papillae anales semispherical, densely covered with chaetae. Posterior apophyses about one third longer anterior ones. Lamella antevaginalis wrinkled, semimembranous, medially cup-like fitting ventoapical spur of male’s aedeagus. Lamella postvaginalis a narrow w-shaped band. Ductus bursae uneven, wrinkled, inflated. Corpus bursae elongated, membranous, wrinkled. Ductus bursae and corpus bursae together reach impressive 14 mm length.

Variability. Background color of forewings may be lighter ( Figs 5, 11 View Figures 1–15 ) or darker ( Figs 4, 9 View Figures 1–15 ). Socii may be pointed ( Fig. 28 View Figures 28–31 ) or rounded ( Fig. 39 View Figures 32–40 ) apically.

Diagnosis. Adults of Rh. levi sp. n. have reddish brown forewings with low contrast pattern ( Figs 1–12 View Figures 1–15 ), shorter bursa, lack sclerotized band around ductus ( Figs 29–30 View Figures 28–31 , 41 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adults of Rh. nasuta have orange to brown forewings with darker contrasting pattern ( Figs 16–18 View Figures 16–27 ), longer bursa, sclerotized band around ductus ( Fig. 45 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Angola, Congo, and Tshuapa and Mai-Ndombe Provinces, DRC, and CAR (new record).

Adult males of Rh. levi sp. n. have reddish brown forewings ( Figs 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10–12 View Figures 1–15 ), lack cornutus on vesica ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult males of Rh. gavinfilippone have orangish forewings ( Fig. 19 View Figures 16–27 ), cornutus on vesica ( Fig. 33 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Haut-Uele Province, DRC.

Adults of Rh. levi sp. n. have reddish brown forewings ( Figs 1–12 View Figures 1–15 ), short socii, c-shaped cucullus, tubercle-like sacculus ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), narrow membranous ductus ( Figs 29–30 View Figures 28–31 , 41 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult males of Rh. avadomenicarocchio have orangish brown forewings ( Figs 20–21 View Figures 16–27 ), elongated claw-like socii, cucullus, and sacculus ( Fig. 36 View Figures 32–40 ), expanded sclerotized ductus ( Fig. 44 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Kasaï and Mai-Ndombe Provinces, DRC.

Adults of Rh. levi sp. n. have reddish brown forewings ( Figs 1–12 View Figures 1–15 ), lack cornutus on vesica ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), have narrow membranous ductus and long bursa ( Figs 29–30 View Figures 28–31 , 41 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult males of Rh. julianjameseaton have brown forewings ( Figs 22–23 View Figures 16–27 ), cornutus on vesica ( Fig. 35 View Figures 32–40 ), wide sclerotized ductus and short bursa ( Fig. 42 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Congo and Kasaï and Mai-Ndombe Provinces, DRC.

Adult males of Rh. levi sp. n. have reddish brown forewings with smooth outer margin ( Figs 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10–12 View Figures 1–15 ), overall smaller genitalia ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult males of Rh. anthonychristophereaton have orange forewings with concavity between CuA 2 and 1A ( Fig. 24 View Figures 16–27 ), overall larger genitalia ( Fig. 38 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Kasaï and Mai-Ndombe Provinces, DRC.

Adult males of Rh. levi sp. n. have smooth outer margin of forewings ( Figs 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10–12 View Figures 1–15 ), lack cornutus on vesica ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult males of Rh. nicolasroberteaton have concavity between CuA 2 and 1A on forewings ( Fig. 25 View Figures 16–27 ), cornutus on vesica ( Fig. 32 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Kasaï and Mai-Ndombe Provinces, DRC.

Adult males of Rh. levi sp. n. have crenulated postmedial lines on forewings ( Figs 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10– 12 View Figures 1–15 ), lack cornutus on vesica ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult male of Rh. arijakefriend has smooth postmedial line on forewings ( Fig. 27 View Figures 16–27 ), cornutus on vesica ( Fig. 34 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Haut-Uele Province, DRC.

Adult females of Rh. levi sp. n. are overall bigger with crenulated dark medial lines on reddish brown forewings ( Figs 2, 5, 7, 9 View Figures 1–15 ), narrow membranous ductus and long bursa ( Figs 29–30 View Figures 28–31 , 41 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult female of Rh. madisonellafriend is overall smaller with blurred contrasting medial lines on brown forewings ( Fig. 26 View Figures 16–27 ), has wide sclerotized ductus and short bursa ( Fig. 43 View Figures 41–45 ), and distributed in Kasaï Province, DRC.

Adult males of Rh. levi sp. n. have reddish brown forewings ( Figs 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10–12 View Figures 1–15 ), socii with single apex ( Figs 28 View Figures 28–31 , 39 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Eastern Africa and Katanga Province, DRC ( Fig. 48 View Figures 46–49 ); while adult males of Rh. maddox sp. n. have brown to reddish brown forewings ( Figs 13–15 View Figures 1–15 ), socii with more or less pronounced two apexes ( Figs 31 View Figures 28–31 , 40 View Figures 32–40 ), and distributed in Angola ( Fig. 49 View Figures 46–49 ).

Distribution (Fig. 56). Central Zambezian wet miombo woodlands in Tanzania, Malawi, DRC; dry miombo woodlands and Zambezian-Limpopo mixed woodlands in Zimbabwe; Limpopo lowveld in RSA. Similar wide distribution in East Africa is also known for Theophasida superba ( Aurivillius, 1915) ; Stenophatna marshalli Aurivillius, 1909 ; Stenophatna cymographa Hampson, 1910 ; Stenophatna rotschildi ( Tams, 1936) ; Eucraera salammbo ( Vuillot, 1892) ; Odontopacha fenestrata Aurivillius, 1909 ; Soligena juna Prozorov & Zolotuhin, 2016 ; Typhonoya longipennis Hering, 1941 ; Estigena africana Holland, 1893; Dollmania cuprea ( Distant, 1897) ; Revaya edita Prozorov et al., 2023 and Revaya yahya Prozorov et al., 2023 ( Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010; Prozorov, 2011; Prozorov, 2016c; Prozorov & Zolotuhin, 2016; Prozorov et al., 2021b, 2023e, 2023f, 2023g).

Biology. Adults were collected in February – June and September – December from an altitude of 646 to 1665 meters a.s.l. Preimaginal stages are unknown.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Levi Margiotta (Nesconset, USA).

Taxonomic note. We did not manage to document labels of the specimens of Rh. levi sp. n. during our visit in 2016 to NHMZ (as unidentified species within Pseudometa Aurivillius, 1901 ) and DMNH (identified as Pseudometa viola Aurivillius, 1901 and “Genus_insertum”), but did take overview photos of the drawers

( Figs 46–47 View Figures 46–49 ). Here we added all specimens from NHMZ and DMNH to the type series regardless whether the label data is complete or not.

NHMO

Natural History Museum, University of Oslo

DMNH

Delaware Museum of Natural History

RMCA

Royal Museum for Central Africa

CAS

California Academy of Sciences

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