Gracililema smithi, Volynkin, 2022

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Gracililema Krüger with descriptions of three new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5115 (1), pp. 63-78 : 70-77

Gracililema smithi sp. n.

( Figs 12–16 , 23, 24 , 29 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 12 , 23 ): male, “ Mozambique, 15m Maputo Special Reserve, Ponta Milibangalala, ( Dune Grassland ) 26˚26’58.6’’S, 32˚55’29.8’’E 25–30.V.2017. MV Light Trap. Aristophanous, M., Laszlo, G., Miles, W., Vetina, A. leg. ANHRT: 2017:26”, unique number: ANHRTUK 00001848, gen. prep. No.: AV6416 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (26 males and 14 females): MOZAMBIQUE : 3 males, 5 females, same data as in holotype, MV and Actinic light traps, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00001846, 00001847, 00001849–00001851, 00001853, 00201089, 00201090, gen. prep Nos.: AV4566 (male) and AV4567 (female) ; 11 males, 22m, Maputo Special Reserve, West Gate ( Sand Thicket ), 26°30’14.2’’S, 32°42’59.6’’E, 30.v.–9.vi.2017, MV and Actinic light traps, Aristophanous, M., László, G., Miles , W., Vetina, A. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00001540, 00001543, 00001839, 00006949, 00007120, 00007122, 00007477, 00007478, 00007555, 00010811, 00201091, gen. prep. Nos.: AV4440, AV4570 ; 5 males, 4 females, same locality as previous, 21–30.xi.2016, light trap, Aristophanous, M., Cristóvão, J., László, G., Miles, W. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00002166, 00002179, 00007498, 00010715, 00014800, 00014965, 00015761, 00015861, 00015914, gen. prep. Nos.: AV4568 (male), AV4569 (female) ; 3 males, same locality as previous, 21–22.ii.2018, Actinic light trap, László, G., Mulvaney, J., Smith, L. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00019330–00019332 ; 1 male, 9m, Maputo Special Reserve, Mangrove Camp ( Mangrove–Woodland Mosaic ), 26°19’35.9’’S, 32°42’35.7’’E, 7–9.xii.2016, MV, Aristophanous, M., Cristóvão , J., László, G., Miles, W. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00004550 ; 1 female, 17m, Maputo Special Reserve, Futi Corridor ( Sand Forest Woodland Mosaic), 26°32’10.1’’S, 32°43’09.7’’E, 23–24.ii.2018, 125W MV Light Trap , László, G., Mulvaney, J., Smith, L. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00027709 ; 1 female, 11m, Maputo Special Reserve, forest clearing campsite ( Sand Forest ), 26°17’24’’S, 32°45’45’’E, 9–12.vi.2017, MV Light Trap. Aristophanous, M., László, G., Miles, W., Vetina, A. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201047 ( ANHRT) ; SOUTH AFRICA: 1 male, 1 female, 410m, KwaZulu-Natal, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve , 30˚16’29’’S, 30˚36’32’’E, 11–14.iii.2018, Kovtunovich, V ., Yakovlev , R . leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00111790, 00111817, gen. prep. No.: AV6445 (female); 1 female, 430m, KwaZulu-Natal, Pongola, Belvedere Game Ranch , 27˚31’S, 31˚45’E, 22–26.ii.2018, Kovtunovich, V ., Yakovlev , R . leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00104311; 2 males, 1 female, 94m, Eastern Cape, Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma , 34˚01’S, 23˚53’E, 8–11.iii.2018, Kovtunovich, V ., Yakovlev , R . leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00135214, 00135237, 00135256, 00140923 ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 10.0–13.0 mm in males and 11.0–13.5 mm in females. The new species ( Figs 12–16 ) is reminiscent of G. lydiae sp. n. ( Figs 8–11 ), but can be distinguished by its narrower and paler yellow costal stripe. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Figs 23, 24 ) differs from those of its congeners ( Figs 17–22 ) in the wider intervincular area, the more convex costa and the thinner distal saccular process. Additionally, compared to G. lydiae sp. n. ( Figs 21, 22 ), the valva of G. smithi sp. n. is distally narrower and the distal saccular process is shorter. The phallus of the new species is thicker than those of G. proleuca and G. lydiae sp. n. and has a shorter coecum. The vesica of G. smithi sp. n. is longer and markedly broader than those of its congeners with two additional lateral diverticula covered in fine spinulose scobination (whereas the vesica of G. proleuca and G. lydiae sp. n. is granulated). The cornutus of the new species is basally thinner than in G. proleuca ( Figs 17, 18 ) and G. bettoni sp. n. ( Figs 19, 20 ) and somewhat longer and thicker compared to that of G. lydiae sp. n. ( Figs 21, 22 ). The female genitalia of G. smithi sp. n. ( Fig. 29 ) are similar to those of G. lydiae sp. n. ( Fig. 28 ) but distinguished by the somewhat broader antrum, the slightly narrower and longer anterior sclerotised section of the ductus bursae, and the shorter and narrower posterior diverticulum of the corpus bursae.

Distribution. Known from southern Mozambique and South Africa (provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape) ( Fig. 31 ).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Richard Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, African Natural History Research Trust, who, through organising and undertaking numerous entomological expeditions to Sub-Saharan Africa has enabled the discovery of numerous species new to science.

Figures

FIGURE 31. Distribution map of Gracililema spp.

FIGURES 9–16. Gracililema spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9, 11–16 in ANHRT; 10 in ZSM.

FIGURES 21–24. Gracililema spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21, 23 and 24 in ANHRT; 22 in ZSM.

FIGURES 25–29. Gracililema spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25, 28 and 29 in ANHRT; 26 and 27 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 1–8. Gracililema spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 4–6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2, 3 and 8 in ANHRT; 7 in ZSM.

FIGURES 17–20. Gracililema spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 17 and 19 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 18 in ANHRT; 20 in ZSM.