Aethalopteryx spurrelli Yakovlev, 2020

Yakovlev, Roman V., 2020, Two new species of Aethalopteryx Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Western Africa, Ecologica Montenegrina 31, pp. 23-27 : 24-25

Aethalopteryx spurrelli Yakovlev , sp. n.

Figs 1 , 3

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:66A410DA-6183-4D0A-8541-B3A49BDC13BA

Material. Holotype, male, Gold Coast [ Ghana], Bibianaha , 700 ft., 3.ii.[19]12, H.G.F. Spurrell ( NHMUK). Individual photo number NHMUK 012832460 . Slide number NHMUK 010315493 .

Description. Length of fore wing 17 mm. Wingspan – 36 mm. Antenna bipectinate in proximal half, serrated in distal half. Thorax and abdomen covered with light scales. Fore wing light-yellow, with pattern of thin brown undulated transverse strokes, almost evenly distributed throughout wing area (strokes more dense submarginally, more rare discally). Fringe mottled, light-yellow between veins, brown at veins. Hind wing light-yellow without pattern. Fringe mottled, light-yellow between veins, brown at veins.

Male genitalia. Uncus short, robust, apically semicircular; tegumen massive; gnathos arms thick, apically narrowing, not fused; valve wide, leaf-like, slightly narrowing apically, apex semicircular; juxta semilunar, with robust lateral processes; saccus semicircular. robust; phallus thick, slightly shorter than valve, curved in middle third, longitudinal folding on lateral surface of phallus, large finger-like cornutus in lateral surface of vesica.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis. The new species differs well from other representatives of the genus by its external characters: light color, the pattern of fine strokes on the fore wing.

Distribution. Known only from Ghana.

Etymology. The new species is named after its collector, Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell (1877–1918), a British biologist, physician and author whose work in South America and Africa led to the discovery of several new species of animals. After a year serving as temporary medical officer at Obuasi on the Gold Coast, Spurrell joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a lieutenant (later, a captain) in 1917. He died of pneumonia at Alexandria, Egypt, on 8 November 1918.

Figures

Figures 1−2. Adult specimens of Aethalopteryx: 1. A. spurrelli Yakovlev, sp. n., holotype (NHMUK). Individual photo number NHMUK 012832460; 2. A. schoorli Yakovlev, sp. n., holotype (NHMUK). Individual photo number NHMUK 012832461.