Gracililema lydiae, 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 : 68-70

Gracililema lydiae sp. n.

( Figs 8–11 , 21, 22 , 28 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 8 , 21 ): male, “ Zambia 1460m Mutinondo Wilderness Area , Mpika, Northern Prov. 12˚27’06’’S, 31˚17’30’’E 14–17.ii.2019 MV Light Trap Dérozier, V.,Mulvaney, L.,Takano, H. Leg. ANHRT:2019.4”, unique number: ANHRTUK 00191483, gen. prep. No.: AV6417 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (46 males and 34 females): ZAMBIA : 7 males, 2 females, same data as in holotype, MV and Actinic light traps, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00094755, 00094970, 00100945, 00100948, 00111089, 00111090, 00139622, 00191479, 00192181, gen. prep. No.: AV6444 (female) ; 2 females, 1340m, Jiwundu Swamp ( Miombo / riverine forest mosaic), 11˚51’54’’S, 25˚33’20’’E, 29.x.–4.xi.2018, Actinic and LepiLED light traps, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V ., László , G., Oram, D. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00056933, 00058226 ; 1 female, same locality, 21–24.xi.2014, Smith, R . & Takano, H. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201083; 1 male, 2 females, 1147m, Lukwakwa, West Lunga NP, 12˚39’40’’S, 24˚26’13’’E, 23–26.viii.2013, Smith, R . & Takano, H. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00201084–00201086, gen. prep Nos.: AV4560 (male), AV4561 (female); 1 male, 1147m, Lukwakwa, West Lunga NP. ( Cryptosepalum forest / Dambo ), 12˚39’40’’S, 24˚26’13’’E, 9–15.xi.2018, LepiLED light trap, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V ., László , G., Oram, D. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00061638 ; 2 males, 1684m, Danger Hill , 30 km North of Mpika, Muchinga Province, 11˚37’38’’S, 31˚33’56’’E, 27–30.iv.2019, MV and LepiLED light traps, Dérozier, V ., László , G., Miles, W. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00083509, 00083492 ; 3 males, 1566m, Senka Hill, Mukulizi Forest Reserve , Muchinga Province, 09˚05’43’’S, 32˚05’06’’E, 1–6.v.2019, MV and LepiLED light traps, Dérozier, V ., László , G., Miles, W. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00082345, 00082352, 00083658 ; 2 males, 1280m, Kalungu, North of Isoka , Muchinga Province, 09˚40’52’’S, 32˚42’50’’E, 30.iv.–1.v.2019, LepiLED and Actinic light traps, Dérozier, V ., László , G., Miles, W. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00094656, 00136107 ; 2 females, 1416m, Lunzua Falls , 20 km South of Mpulungu, Northern Province, 08˚55’38’’S, 31˚09’31’’E, 11–16.v.2019, MV light trap, Dérozier, V ., László , G., Miles, W. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00083164, 00083167 ; 1 female, 1187m, Lumangwe Falls, Kalungwishi River , 09˚32’33’’S, 29˚23’17’’E, 4–7.ii.2019, MV light trap, Dérozier, V ., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R ., Takano, H. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00076553; 1 female, 1420m, Chilambwe Falls, Kafubu River , 09 50’13’’S, 30˚43’35’’E, 8–12.ii.2019, MV light trap, Dérozier, V., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R., Takano, H. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00072401 ; 1 male, 1316m, Nkwaji, Mwinilunga , 11˚36’22’’S, 24˚33’17’’E, 29.x.–3.xi.2013, light trap, Smith, R., Takano, H., Chmurova , L. & Smith, L., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201087, gen. prep. No.: AV4565 ; 1 male, the same locality but 27.viii.2013, Smith, R ., Takano, H. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201088 ( ANHRT); TANZANIA: 1 male, 1759m, Maskati, Nguru Mountains , 06˚03’29.3’’S, 37˚29’08.4’’E, 4–7.vii.2010, light trap, Smith, R . & Takano, H. leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201046, gen. prep. No.: AV4548; 1 male, 1964m, Giting, Mt. Hanang , 04˚24’14’’S, 35˚24’56’’E, 31.vii.–4.viii.2012, light trap, Smith, Takano & Garner leg., unique number: ANHRTUK 00201045, gen. prep. No.: AV4562 ( ANHRT) ; KENYA: 1 male, Nairobi , 5.iv.1919, Dr. van Someren leg., Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1, unique number: NHMUK 010916142 , gen. prep. No.: BMNH Arctiidae 5630 ( NHMUK); 1 female, Central Province, Thika District, 8 km SW Thika, Karamaini Estate , 1500m, S01˚02’764’’, E36˚59’472’’, 24.ix.2011, A.J. Kingston [leg.], gen. prep. No.: AV6535 ( AKW) ; ETHIOPIA: 6 males, 1 female, 05˚18’47’’N, 36˚44’07’’E, 12 km W of Jinka, border of Mago National Park , 6.v. 2008, 930m, at light, H. Hacker & Schreier H.-P. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2020-217, 2020-218, 2020-219 (males), ZSM Arct. 2020- 220 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( ZSM) ; ZIMBABWE: 5 females, 1900m, Manicaland Province, Vukutu , 18˚21’52’’S, 32˚36’29’’E, 25–26.iv.2011, R . Yakovlev leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00143189, 00143194, 00143202, 00143222, 00143235; 1 male, 1580m, Manicaland Province, Bvumbe, Seldomseen Holiday Cottages , 19˚06’14’’S, 32˚45’17’’E, 12–14.iv.2011, R . Yakovlev leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00138016 ( ANHRT); MOZAMBIQUE: 12 males, 11 females, 937m, Sofala Province, Gorongosa NP, Mt. Gorongosa SE slope (Riverine Forest / Grassland ), 18˚28’58.9’’S, 34˚02’40.6’’E, 8–9.viii.2018, Actinic light trap, László, G., Miles, W., Vetina, A. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00046474–00046478, 00074325–00074328, 00075628–00075630, 00075668– 00075672, 00075708, 00075715, 00075874, 00075882, 00075900, 00078990, gen. prep. Nos.: AV5296 (male), AV5297 (female) ; 2 males, 1 female, 1245m, Zambezia Province, Mt. Namuli SW slopes near Mucunha village (forest remnant), 15˚22’33’’S, 37˚05’05.7’’E, 15–16.viii.2018, MV and Actinic light traps, László, G., Miles , W., Vetina, A. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00049402, 00049449, 00049450 ; 3 males, 1 female, Zambezia Province, Mt. Namuli SW slopes near Mucunha village (secondary vegetation / farmland), 15˚21’27’’S, 37˚05’18’’E, 14–15.viii.2018, MV light trap, László, G., Miles , W., Vetina, A. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00050579, 00050583, 00050584, 00050589, gen. prep. No.: AV5298 (male) ; 1 male, 4 females, 630m, Manica Province, Chimanimani National Reserve, Moribane Forest, Ndzou Camp ( Moist Forest ), 19˚44’01.4’’S, 33˚20’15.1’’E, 3– 5.viii.2018, MV light trap, László, G., Miles , W., Vetina, A. leg., unique numbers:ANHRTUK 00047082, 00047821, 00049150, 00049152, gen. prep. No.: AV5299 (male) ; 3 females, 708m, Manica Province, Chimanimani National Reserve, Nyabawa village ( Eastern Miombo Woodland ), 19˚42’09.4’’S, 33˚01’53.1’’E, 5–6.viii.2018, LepiLED light trap, László, G., Miles, W., Vetina, A. leg., unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00046392–00046394 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11.0–14.0 mm in males and 12.0–15.0 mm in females. The new species ( Figs 8–11 ) is distinguished externally from G. bettoni sp. n. ( Figs 5–7 ) by the smaller size and the less acute forewing apex. Compared to other congeners ( Figs 1–4 , 12–16 ), G. lydiae sp. n. has a wider and deeper yellow costal stripe which is pale yellow in other species. The genitalia of both sexes of G. lydiae sp. n. ( Figs 21, 22 , 28 ) resemble those of G. bettoni sp. n. ( Figs 19, 20 , 27 ), the distinctive features between the two taxa are discussed in the diagnosis of the latter species. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Figs 21, 22 ) is also reminiscent of G. proleuca ( Figs 17, 18 ), but is distinguished by the narrower valva with a narrower distal lobe and a somewhat longer distal saccular process. The phallus of the new species is shorter than in G. proleuca (in proportion to the length of the tegumenvinculum complex) and more curved ventrally. The main chamber of the vesica of G. lydiae sp. n. is shorter and narrower than in G. proleuca , the lateral diverticulum is more elongate and the cornutus is markedly thinner. The female genitalia of the new species ( Fig. 28 ) differ from those of G. proleuca ( Fig. 25 ) in the narrower antrum, the narrower anterior sclerotised section of the ductus bursae, and the considerably shorter posterior diverticulum of the corpus bursae. Female genitalia differences with G. bettoni sp. n. ( Fig. 27 ), another similar species, are given previously under this species.

Distribution. Known from northern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia ( Fig. 31 ).

Etymology. The new species is named after Mrs Lydia Mulvaney, curator and researcher at the African Natural History Research Trust, and collector of the holotype and a part of the paratype series.

Figures

FIGURE 31. Distribution map of Gracililema spp.

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 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 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.