Mutinondia, Volynkin & Takano, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V. & Takano, Hitoshi, 2023, Mutinondia, a new genus for a new species from Zambia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 70, pp. 70-76 : 71-72

Genus Mutinondia gen. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9A9CABBC-F4FC-43DE-BDE7-3AE4B73987A6

Type species: Mutinondia smithi sp. n.

Diagnosis. The type species of the new genus ( Figs 1, 2 ) is externally reminiscent of members of the genus Anaphosia (type species: Anaphosia cyanogramma Hampson, 1903 ) ( Figs 7, 8 ) but distinguished by its noticeably smaller size, and the narrower forewing lacking the subterminal longitudinal stripes. The male genital capsule of Mutinondia gen. n. ( Fig. 9 ) differs clearly from Anaphosia ( Fig. 10 ) as well as other known Afrotropical Lithosiina genera in the presence of the apical thorn-shaped process of the costa. Among the known Old World Lithosiina genera, a similar thorn-shaped apical costal process is known in the Asiatic genera Dubatoloviana Bucsek, 2012 and Leucanithosia Volynkin & Černý, 2023, but they are fundamentally different from Mutinondia gen. n. in both their external and genital morphology ( Figs 3–6 , 11, 12 , 15, 16 ). The vesica of Mutinondia gen. n. has a distal plate, a feature typical of the subtribes Cistheniina, Clemensiina and most Nudariina but found only in very few Lithosiina genera. Additionally, compared to Anaphosia , the male genitalia of the new genus have a more elongate and distally slenderer uncus, a shorter, rectangular, and more weakly sclerotised vinculum (it is V-shaped in Anaphosia ), and a vesica with a large distal diverticulum bearing a cluster of short but robust triangular cornuti whereas the vesica of Anaphosia is globular and bears a cluster of graniculi medially. In the female genitalia, Mutinondia gen. n. ( Fig. 13 ) is distinct from Anaphosia ( Fig. 14 ) due to the short and broad uncus, which is sclerotised posteriorly and gelatinous with a lateral pocket anteriorly whereas the corresponding structure of Anaphosia is elongate and evenly sclerotised. The corpus bursae of the new genus is pyriform, has a sclerotised posterior section, and an anterior section bearing two elliptical signa whereas that of Anaphosia is globular with a weakly sclerotised and rugose posterior end bearing two long ribbon-like signa.

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1, 2 ). Sexual dimorphism limited: female with somewhat more expressed forewing markings than male. Head ochreous yellow. Antenna blackish, filiform in both sexes. Thorax ochreous yellow. Forewing elongate and narrow, with almost parallel costal and anal margins; outer margin slightly convex. Forewing ground colour creamy-yellow, all margins edged with carbon black. Ante- and postmedial transverse lines broad, slightly oblique, and dilated at anal margin. Forewing cilia carbon black. Hindwing uniform ochreous yellow. Abdomen ochreous yellow. Male genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). Uncus elongate and slender, laterally flattened, evenly downcurved, gradually tapered distally and apically pointed. Tegumen with narrow and moderately sclerotised arms fused in posterior quarter. Vinculum equal to tegumen in length, with short and more or less rectangular saccus. Valva lobular, slightly distally dilated. Costa distally dilated and forming short and rounded cucullus-like protrusion bearing short thorn-shaped apical process ventrally. Ventral plate of costa situated medially and directed perpendicularly to the valva axis. Processus distalis plicae broad, semiglobular, and setose. Sacculus narrow, somewhat dilated medially, and with short, upcurved and apically pointed distal process distally not reaching the apical costal process. Juxta weakly sclerotised, shield-like with deep triangular anterior notch. Phallus somewhat shorter than tegumen-vinculum complex, broad and cylindrical, slightly dilated medially, and with short and rounded coecum. Vesica broad, basally curved ventrad, with three large diverticula. Subbasal dorsal diverticulum narrow and conical, weakly granulose basally, directed distally. Subbasal lateral diverticulum sack-like and curved, and directed dorsally. Medial diverticulum broad, with somewhat conical dorsal end, and bearing broad cluster of scobination and numerous short but robust triangular cornuti of various sizes. Distal plate of vesica (basal plate of vesica ejaculatorius) elongate and narrow, distally tapered, heavily sclerotised. Female genitalia ( Fig. 13 ). Papilla analis trapezoidal with rounded corners, weakly setose. Apophyses thin, apophysis posterioris somewhat thinner and ca. twice longer than apophysis anterioris. 8 th abdominal segment ventrally modified: with two triangular and setose lateral lobes and membranous postvaginal area. 7 th abdominal segment membranous around ostium bursae. Ostium bursae broad. Ductus bursae short, its posterior section sclerotised and with longer dorsal wall having rugose posterior end slightly protruding into postvaginal area if 8 th segment. Anterior section of ductus bursae gelatinous and with rounded lateral pocket anteriorly on left side. Corpus bursae pyriform, it posterior, narrower section sclerotised. Anterior section of corpus bursae elliptical, membranous with two elliptical and serrulate signa of different lengths. Appendix bursae originating from posterior section of corpus bursae ventro-laterally, with broad and basally sclerotised, sack-like proximal section, and short and conical membranous distal section curved posteriorly.

Etymology. The genus name is derived from the type locality of its type species, Mutinondo Wilderness Area in northeast Zambia. The gender is feminine.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Lithosiina spp., type species of the corresponding genera: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2, 7 and 8 in ANHRT; 3–6 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 9–12. Lithosiina spp., type species of the corresponding genera: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 9 and 10 in ANHRT; 11 and 12 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 13–16. Lithosiina spp., type species of the corresponding genera: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 13 and 14 in ANHRT; 15 in MWM/ZSM; 16 in OUMNH.