Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) takanoi, Volynkin, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V., 2021, Cyana takanoi, a new species from Tanzania (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5004 (3), pp. 493-497 : 493-496

Cyana (Cornutivulpecula) takanoi sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 , 7 , 11 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 7 ): male, “ Tanzania, 1100m, Tegetero, Uluguru Mountains, S06°55´03´´; E37°43´16´´, 30.iv.–1.v.[20]11, Light Trap, leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H.”, unique number: ANHRTUK 00201051, gen. prep. No.: AV3008 (prepared by Volynkin ) ( ANHRT).

Paratypes: 2 females, with the same data as the holotype, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00201052 and 00201053, gen. prep. No.: AV3009 (prepared by Volynkin) ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The new species ( Figs 1, 2 ) is superficially most reminiscent of C. usambara ( Figs 5, 6 ) but can easily be distinguished by the less curved postmedial line, the more sinuous antemedial line, the absence of an inner black dot in the cell and the presence of a dark grey discal spot on the hindwing. The male genitalia of C. takanoi ( Fig. 7 ) are fundamentally different from those of C. usambara ( Fig. 10 ) and surprisingly very similar to the externally different C. nyika (Figs

3, 8). However, in the male genital capsule of C. takanoi , the inner crest of the valva is somewhat shorter and the distal saccular process is wider distally than in C. nyika . In the aedeagus of the new species, the coecum is markedly wider than that of C. nyika . The vesica structures of the two species are similar but in C. takanoi , the cornuti are more numerous in each cluster. Since the female of C. nyika is unknown, the copulatory organ of the new species is compared to C. rejecta ( Figs 4 , 9 , 12 ) instead. The female genitalia of C. takanoi ( Fig. 11 ) are characterised by the corpus bursae subdivided into a membranous anterior and gelatinous and rugose posterior section by a medial constriction whereas the corpus bursae of C. rejecta is sack-like and weakly gelatinous. The appendix bursae of the new species is directed latero-anteriad, its basal section gelatinous and rugose while the distal section is membranous; in C. rejecta it is entirely weakly gelatinous with sclerotised wrinkles and directed posteriad. Additionally, the ductus bursae of the new species is membranous whereas it is anteriorly weakly sclerotised and rugose in C. rejecta .

Description. External morphology of adults ( Figs 1, 2 ). Forewing length 10.5 mm in holotype male and 12 mm in females. Sexual dimorphism limited: female forewing somewhat wider with slightly less sinuous antemedial transverse line. Antenna whitish. Thorax white with crimson spot medially; tegula and patagia with one crimson spot on each. Abdomen white. Forewing ground colour white. Costa crimson basally. Subbasal line crimson, interrupted into a larger spot on costa and a smaller spot on medial vein. Antemedial line crimson, irregularly sinuous. Postmedial line crimson, costal half sinuous, anal half arcuate. Subterminal line represented by three cuneal crimson spots subapically. Discal spot black, round. Hindwing white, discal spot dark grey, semilunar and diffuse. Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Uncus relatively short and narrow, dorso-ventrally flattened and apically rounded. Tuba analis wide with setose subscaphium. Tegumen relatively short with narrow arms. Juxta trapezoidal with deep basal depression. Vinculum short, U-shaped with heavily sclerotised arms and short saccus. Valva lobe-like with rounded and weakly setose apex. Medio-ventral protrusion of costa short but wide with concave margin, its process (ampulla) short, triangular with rounded tip. Sacculus narrow. Distal saccular process strongly elongate and robust, nearly straight with thorn-like tip. Aedeagus elongate, somewhat dilated distally with short and narrow coecum. Vesica relatively short with globular and granulated distal diverticulum and three clusters of spine-like cornuti of different sizes. Female genitalia ( Fig. 11 ). Papillae anales trapezoidal with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses long and thin, of equal length. Ostium bursae moderately broad with membranous margin. Ductus bursae narrow, tubular, membranous. Corpus bursae subdivided into two sections separated by medial constriction. Posterior section elliptical, weakly sclerotised and rugose. Anterior section globular, membranous and bearing round and shortly dentate signum laterally. Appendix bursae positioned postero-laterally on the left side and directed laterad, its basal section weakly sclerotised and rugose. Distal section of appendix bursae narrow, globular, membranous, directed anteriad.

Distribution. The species is known only from its type locality in the Uluguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the knowledgeable entomologist Dr Hitoshi Takano (ANHRT), organiser and participant of several entomological expeditions in Africa and one of the collectors of the type series.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Cyana spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in ANHRT; 3 in MWM/ZSM; 4 and 5 in NHMUK (© The Trustees of NHMUK); 6 in ZSM.

FIGURES 7–10. Cyana spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 7 in ANHRT; 8 in MWM/ZSM; 9 and 10 in NH- MUK (© The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 11–13. Cyana spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 11 in ANHRT; 12 and 13 in NHMUK (© The Trustees of NHMUK).