Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) yao, Volynkin & László, 2020

Volynkin, Anton V. & László, Gyula M., 2020, Review of the Cyana rejecta (Walker, 1854) species-group, with descriptions of three new species from mainland Africa and a new subspecies from Madagascar (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4890 (3), pp. 330-346 : 336

Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) yao sp. n.

( Figs 11–15 , 30–32 , 41 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 11 , 30 ): male, “ Mozambique, 1139m, 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. ANHRT:2018.30” / “ANHRTUK 00050582”, gen. slide No.: AV5204 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (2 males and 3 females in total). MALAWI: 1 male, 1 female, Nyasaland, Mt. Mlanje , 24.III.1913, S.A. Neave, 1914-171., in cop., NHMUK unique numbers 010914205 (male) and 010914206 (female), gen. slide Nos: NHMUK010315739 (male) and NHMUK010315761 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; KENYA: 1 male, 56.30 Mt. Kenya, north-east to south-east, VII.[19]30, E. Barns / Joicey Bequest. Brit. Mus. 1934-120., NHMUK unique number 010918069, gen. slide No.: NHMUK010315731 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 2 females, 56. 30. Mt. Kenya, West to North, 13–30.VI. [19]30, E. Barns / Joicey Bequest. Brit. Mus. 1934-120., NHMUK unique number 010918119, gen. slide No.: NHMUK010315760 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK).

Remark. The male exemplar from Mount Kenya has a smaller 1 st medial diverticulum and slightly larger cornuti in the distal diverticulum than the specimens from Mozambique and Malawi. Clarification of the taxonomic status of this population requires examination of further material.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11–13 mm in males and 12.5–14 mm in females. Cyana yao sp. n. is nearly identical externally with the sympatric C. cornutissima sp. n. The reliable identification of the two species requires the examination of their genitalia morphology. The male genitalia of C. yao sp. n. have a somewhat shorter and broader uncus and fundamentally different configuration of vesica, bearing a conspicuously larger and longer 2 nd medial diverticulum compared to those characters of C. cornutissima sp. n. The vesica structure of C. yao sp. n. resembles that of C. rejecta , but can be easily distinguished by its more heavily granulated 1 st medial diverticulum, the larger, longer and more heavily scobinated 2 nd medial diverticulum (which is short, broad and weakly scobinated in C. rejecta ), the presence of the 3 rd medial diverticulum (absent in C. rejecta ), the absence of a subdistal diverticulum (present in C. rejecta ), and a shorter, narrower, membranous distal diverticulum bearing two short rows of smaller cornuti connected at the apex of diverticulum (whereas in C. rejecta the distal diverticulum is broad, heavily scobinated, bearing two rows of longer and more robust spine-like cornuti which are almost joined at the apex of the diverticulum). The female genitalia of C. yao sp. n. are reminiscent of those of C. rejecta , but differ by the slightly shorter sclerotized wrinkles in the posterior section of the corpus bursae at the connection with the ductus bursae, the absence of a lateral area of rugose sclerotization in the corpus bursae (present in both subspecies of C. rejecta ), and the presence of a weak scobination evenly spread in the medial and anterior sections of the corpus bursae (absent in both subspecies of C. rejecta ). In addition, the female genitalia of C. yao sp. n. lack a band-like area of heavy scobination, which is present in the corpus bursae of C. rejecta rejecta .

Distribution. Northern Mozambique, Malawi and Kenya.

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the Yao people inhabiting northern Mozambique, Malawi and southern Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURES 11–18. Cyana spp.: adults. Depositories of specimens: 11, 16 and 17 in ANHRT; 12–15 and 18 in NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 30–32. Cyana yao sp. n.: male genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 30 in ANHRT; 31 and 32 in NHMUK (©).

FIGURES 39–43. Cyana spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of specimens: 39–41 in NHMUK (©); 42 and 43 in ANHRT.