Meganaclia johannae Ignatev & Sulak, 2023

Ignatev, Nikolai, László, Gyula M., Paśnik, Anna, Fric, Zděnek Faltýnek, Sulak, Harald & Müller, Günter C., 2023, Five new species of the genus Meganaclia Aurivillius, 1892 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini), Zootaxa 5296 (3), pp. 457-474 : 468-471

Meganaclia johannae Ignatev & Sulak , sp. n.

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( Figs. 8, 9 , 13 , 19, 25, 30, 36, 38, 39)

Holotype. ♁, “W– Africa , Guinea, Konakri , Macenta prefecture, Ziama forest 550 m, 250 watt, April 2017; leg. Petrányi G; Muller GC; Kravchenko VD et al. ”, gen. slide No. GP 34.678 ( MWW).

Paratypes (310J, 34♀ in total).

Guinea. 1 94♁, 5♀, with the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide Nos GP 34.763(♁), 34.692(♁); 26♁, same data, “ 17.xi–01.xii.2016 ”, gen. slide Nos GP 34.675; 34.677; 34.680; 34.681; 34.689 ; 2♀, same data, gen. slide No. GP 34.684; 1♁, 1♀, same data, “ iii.2017 ”, gen. slide No. GP 34.693 (♁); 2♁, 2♀, same data, “ v.2017 ”, gen. slide Nos GP 34.762 (♁); 34.766 (♁); 1♁, same data “ vi.2017 ”; 61♁, 4♀, Nzerekore Region , Mt. Nimba, Ziela, 550 m, 7,716°N, 8,36°W, iv.2017, leg Petranyi G, Müller G.C. & Kravchenko V.D.; 3♁, Ziela Mnt. Nimba area, ix.2012 ; 4♁, 3♀, same data, “ xi.2012 ” ( CHS). 4♁, Nzerekore Region , 619km ESE of Conakry, Prefecture de Lola, Ziela env. 540–600m, X.2017, 7°42′N, 8°21′W, local collectors leg., ANHRT:2020.6; 1♁, Forêt Classée de Ziama , Sérédou camp, 870m, 08°21′26″N, 09°17′48″W, 24.ii.–6.iii.2019, Light Trap, Blended bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G., Florczyk, K., Koivogui, S. leg., ANHRT:2019.10; 1♁, Nimba Mts , SMFG concession area, (Societé des Mines de Fer de Guinée), Cité 1, 700m, 7°42′2.83″N, 8°23′58.6″W, 25.viii–05.ix.2017, General Coll., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2017.36 ( ANHRT) .

Ghana. 2♁, Bobiri forest and Butterfly sanctuary, 06°41′13.4″N, 001°20′37.2″W, 222 m, 07–15.iii.2013, leg. Kurshakov & Prozorov ( MWW) . 1♁ Eastern Region, Bunso Arboretum , x.2011, leg. Sáfián, Sz., LN 012, gen. slide No. S 478 ( ISEA PAS) .

Nigeria. 1♁, Ore , 27.xii.1970, leg. Dr. Politzar ( ZSM) .

Cameroon. 1♀, Centre Akamantan , 20.xii.2005 – 10.i.2006 ; 1♀, Dept. Meme Ediki (südl. Kumba) ca. 50m ., 24.i.1995, LF leg. Aistleitner, coll. De Freina ( MWW). 1 ♁, 6♀, “ Efulen “, 31.xii.1918 (1#), 19.x.1922, 03–09.iv.1922, 14–20.iv.1923, 23.v.1925, H.L. Weber leg. ( CMNH) .

Liberia. 1♁, Nimba county, Yarwein – Mehnsohnneh District , East Nimba Nature reserve, 7.52934°N, 8.52623°W, 1150 m., 15–21.xi.2022, Z.F. Fric leg. ( MWW); 1♁, Sinoe County, Krahn–Bassa Reserve, Juboe River , 7.5km South West Pellokon Town, 140m, 5°39′4″N, 8°39′4″W, 14–21.i.2018, Cold Cathode UV Bucket Light Trap, Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2017.33; 1♁, Nimba County, Yekepa residential area, 508m, 7°34′26.3″N, 8°32′31.6″W, Ex-Pupa hatched on 10–31.iii.2017, Sáfián Sz. leg., ANHRT:2017.36; 1♁, Nimba county, Nimba Mts., ENNR, Grassfield FDA Field Station , 494m, 7°29′32.45″N, 8°34′54.05″W, 22.xi.2018, Light Trap, Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2018.43; 2♀, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area , 530m, 7°56′36″N, 10°16′36″W, 10–19.xi.2017, MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ANHRT:2017.33; 1♀, Lofa county, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp , 865m, 8°07′10″N, 9°57′11″W, 24–29.xi.2017, Light Trap (blended bulb 250W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT:2017.33; 1♀, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp 2, 883m, 8°07′20.79″N, 9°56′50.75″W, 22–30.xi.2018, Light Trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2018.43, gen. slide No. LG 6002 ( ANHRT). 1♀, Nimba Mountains, Gbarpa–Grassfield , CMC office for ENNR, 494 m, 7°29′32.45”N 8°34′54.05”W, at light, 13.xi.2022, D. Bartsch leg. ( SMNS) .

Ivory Coast. 3♁, 4♀, Tai National Park , Tai Research Station ( SRET), 174m, 05°50′00″N, 07°20′32″W, 25.iii.– 17.iv.2017, MV light trap, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT:2017.25 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The habitus and colouration of the wings of M. johannae sp. n. are almost identical to those of M. gaerberfesti sp. n. ( Figs 8–11 ). However, the two species are readily distinguished in the colouration of the antenna, where M. gaerberfesti sp. n. in contrast to M. johannae sp. n. has distinctly brighter antennae, without an admixture of dark brown scales. The allopatric distribution pattern ( Fig. 38 ) of the two species allows an easy separation as M. johannae displays a wider West African distribution, whilst M. gaerberfesti sp. n. seems to be confined to the Congolian Basin with confirmed records from Gabon and Congo only. However, examination of additional material from adjacent regions may reveal a possible sympatry of these two taxa. Examination of male genitalia structures allows an easy separation of the two species where M. johannae has markedly smaller, simple thorn-like, acute dorsal appendages of the uncus, whereas these structures are much larger and bifurcate in M. gaerberfesti sp. n. (Figs 19–20).

Description. Male ( Fig. 8 ). Wingspan: 42–46 mm; FW length: 23 mm, width: 10 mm, ratio 2.3: 1; HW length: 13 mm, width: 9 mm, ratio 1.4: 1. Antenna bipectinate, brownish-yellow. Head and patagia light brown. Tegula light brown with a mixture of yellow elongate scales. Thorax covered by pale brown and pale yellow scales with two black spots near patagia. Abdomen dorsally pale brown, or brown with a black round spot on each segment. Forewing brown, slightly transparent; spots m1, m2 yellowish-white, strongly blurred without clear outlines; m3, m4, m5 dirty white, rounded, m3 and m5 markedly smaller than m4. Forewing base with small black dot. Hindwing pale brown, slightly transparent, basal part with an admixture of pale yellow scales; hindwing spots light grey; m1 absent; m2 small, round, m3, m4 larger, oval.

Male genitalia (Figs. 19, 25, 30). Uncus dorso-ventrally C-shaped with short, but heavily sclerotized dorsal appendages; dorsal process rather elongate, tapered distally, strongly curved subapically, pointed apically, basal part covered by moderately long setae; ventral process of uncus gently curved, slightly dilated distally, rounded apically, shorter than dorsal process; dorsal appendage of uncus divided into two, distally diverging short, acute thorn-shaped projections. Tegumen short and broad, dome-shaped. Valva rather elongate, narrow at base, slightly dilated ventro-medially, pointed apically; valva costa heavily sclerotized, somewhat S-shaped, relatively narrow, somewhat dilated ventro-medially, costal margin concave in basal half, distal half strongly convex. Ventral margin straight in basal half, gently arched in distal half. Sacculus very narrow, medially slightly constricted, distally dilated into a broadtriangular setose plate reaching the center of valva. Juxta well developed, short and broad tubular. Saccus extremely long and thin, thread-like, distal part slightly dilated. Aedeagus extremely long and thin, needle-like, proximally slightly dilated with short, rounded coecum penis, tapered distally, pointed apically; vesica without cornuti ( Fig. 30 ).

Description. Female ( Fig. 9 ). Wingspan: 50–54 mm; FW length: 26 mm, width: 11 mm, ratio 2.4: 1; HW length: 15 mm, width: 9 mm, ratio 1.6: 1. Antenna bipectinate, light brown. Head and patagia pale brown, tegula light yellow. Thorax covered by pale brown scales, with two rounded black spots near patagia. Abdomen dorsally brown, with an admixture of grey scales and black round spot on each segment. Forewing brownish-grey, spots m1 and m2 blurred, with admixture of pale yellow scales; m3 teardrop shaped, whitish-grey; m4, m5 rounded, whitish-grey, m3 and m5 markedly smaller than m4. Forewing base with a small, black dot. Hindwing brownish-grey, slightly transparent; spot m1 absent; m2, m3 and m4 oval shaped, m2 markedly smaller than m3 and m5; all spots whitish-grey.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 36 ). Papilla analis rounded trapezoidal, covered in short, sparse setae; apophysis posterioris relatively long, thin, noticeably dilated subapically, rounded apically. Eighth sternite short, weakly sclerotized, with more or less straight margins; apophysis anterioris well-developed, short, ca. half as long as apophysis posterioris, equally broad in entire length, apex pointed. Lamella postvaginalis rather large and heavily sclerotized, inverse trapezoidal. Ostium bursae very narrow with plate-like lateral sclerotization connecting with base of posterior apophysis. Ductus bursae very narrow and long, heavily sclerotized, slightly dilated proximally, distal three-quarters straight, proximal quarter curved; cervix bursae moderately sclerotized, elongate sack-like. Corpus bursae membranous, ovoid; signum bursae large elongate ribbon-like, finely scobinate, covering three-quarters of bursa copulatrix.

Etymology. It is with a great honor to name this new species after Johanna Sulak (Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Germany), beloved mother of Harald Sulak.

Figures

FIGURE 38. Comparison of the forewing shapes. Left—Meganaclia josephi sp. n.; right—Meganaclia johannae sp. n.

FIGURES 1–11. Adults of Meganaclia Aurivillius, 1892 species. 1. Meganaclia sippia, lectotype ♁ of Naclia sippia Pl̂tz, 1880 Cameroon (ZIMG); 2. M. smithi sp. n., holotype ♁, Uganda (ANHRT); 3. M. smithi sp. n., paratype ♀, Uganda (SMNS); 4. M. grehani sp. n., holotype ♁, Guinea (MWW); 5. M. grehani sp. n., paratype ♀, Guinea (CHS); 6. M. josephi sp. n., holotype ♁, Guinea (MWW); 7. M. josephi sp. n., paratype ♀, Liberia (ANHRT); 8. M. johannae sp. n., holotype ♁, Guinea (MWW); 9. M. johannae sp. n., paratype ♀, Guinea (CHS); 10. M. gaerberfesti sp. n., holotype ♁, Republic of Congo (MWW); 11. M. gaerberfesti sp. n., paratype ♀, Republic of Congo (MWW).

FIGURES 13–14. Terminology of genital structures of Meganaclia spp. 13. Male genitalia of M. johannae sp. n., ventral view: uc—uncus; da—dorsal appendage of uncus; te—tegumen; va—valva; cm—costal margin of valva; sm—saccular mar- gin of valva; sp—saccular plate of valva; ju—juxta; sa—saccus; ae—aedeagus; co—coecum penis;. 14. Female genitalia of M. grehani sp. n., ventral view: cb—corpus bursae; pa—papilla analis; ap—apophysis posterioris; aa—apophysis anterioris; db—ductus bursae; crb—cervix bursae; os—ostium bursae; si—signum bursae; lp—lamella postvaginalis.

FIGURES 27–32. Male genitalia of Meganaclia spp. 27. M. smithi sp. n. holotype, gen. slide No. LG 6005, Uganda (ANHRT); 28. M. grehani sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.692, Guinea (CHS); 29. M. josephi sp. n. holotype, gen. slide No. GP 34.764, Guinea (MWW); 30. M. johannae sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.763, Guinea (CHS); 31. M. gaerberfesti sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.676, Republic of Congo (MWW); 32. M. sippia, gen. slide No. S476, Liberia (ISEA PAS).

FIGURES 33–37. Female genitalia of Meganaclia spp. 33. M. grehani sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.683, Guinea (CHS); 34. M. smithi sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. 3898, Uganda (SMNS); 35. M. josephi sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.687, Côte d’Ivoire (ZSM); 36. M. johannae sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.684, Guinea (CHS); 37. M. gaerberfesti sp. n. paratype, gen. slide No. GP 34.688, Republic of Congo (MWW).