Pericaliella melanodisca ( Hampson, 1907 )

Dubаtolov, Vlаdimir V., 2017, Two new tiger-moth species from Afrotropics with reviews of genera Pericaliella and Monstruncusarctia (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea: Erebidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4353 (3), pp. 577-583 : 578

Pericaliella melanodisca ( Hampson, 1907)

( Fig. 1 )

Diacrisia melanodisca Hampson, 1907: 236 . Type locality: Uganda, Ruwenzori , 6000'.

Spilosoma melanodisca, Debauche, 1942: 21 (Parc National Albert, Nyarusambo (Mikeno), altitude 2.000 m.). Spilosoma melanodiscum, Kiriakoff, 1952: 22 (Ruwenzori: Bugoye, 4500 ft […]; Bwamba pass (west side), 5500–7500 ft.)

Material examined. 1 ♂ (syntype), Uganda, Ruwenzori Range, 6000 ft., 30.i.1906, Ruwenzori Expedition ( BMNH, figured in AfroMoths) ; 1 ♂, Uganda, Western Region , Kibale Distr., Kibale Biol. Field Station of MakerSU, N 00° 33' 68", W 030° 21' 42", h= 1511 m, on light, 19– 24.10.2014, leg. V. V. Аnikin ( SZMN) .

Diagnosis. Forewing length 13 mm; wing pattern is wider and better expressed than in the other species of the genus. It consists of a dark basal spot, a V-shaped curved series of spots of subbasal row, an antemedial V-shaped curved band, connected by its angle with a wide discal spot, two diffuse subapical spots of postdiscal row, with a separate spot of this row situated between veins Cu2 and А, apical line directed towards vein M1, and a series of marginal internervular spots. Moreover, forewing is speckled by darker scales. Hindwings light brown with three or more submarginal and one small discal spots. Male genitalia ( Figs. 5–6 ): uncus long and narrow, slightly curved, with a large dorsal projection. This projection is curved basally and broadly rounded at apex. Valves consisting of a wide base and two narrow and roundly curved downwards processes, basal one shorter, apical one twice as long and slightly bulbous at apex. Juxta broad, saccus triangular, aedeagus straight, with small spines on apex, vesica bag-like, with three separate apical portions, two of them covered with small granulation.

Remarks. The nominotypical species differs from the new one by narrower hook like dorsal process on tegumen, curved basally; longer (only twice shorter than apical process) and curved basal processes on valves, slightly bulbous apical valve processes.

Distribution. Uganda, Zaire and Cameroon ( Goodger & Watson, 1995); the latter record most probably belongs to a separate species as being widely distant from the type locality. Records by Debauche (1942) and Kiriakoff (1965) from East Zaire, Kivu Province cannot be correctly determined without seeing material.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Pericaliella and Monstruncusarctia spp., males. 1, P. melanodisca, Uganda, Kibale; 2, P. popoudinae sp. n., holotype, Rwanda,Butare; 3, M.aurantiaca, Guinea, Kindia, 4, M. anikini sp. n., Uganda, Kibale.

FIGURES 5–8. Pericaliella, male genitalia. 5–6, P. melanodisca, Uganda, Kibale, 7–8, P. popoudinae sp. n., holotype, Rwanda, Butare.5, 7, general view, 6, 8, aedeagus.