Homadaula saharaensis, Mey, 2022

Mey, Wolfram, 2022, Unexpected diversity: ten new species of Homadaula Lower, 1899 from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Galacticoidea: Galacticidae), Metamorphosis 33 (1), pp. 21-33 : 29-30

Homadaula saharaensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:027170F8-35E4-4932-B052-CA43D1EA2D74

Type material: Holotype ♂, Tunisia, “Mauretania, Tunesia-Sud, Oase Tozeur, 1-4.x.1980, leg. M & W. Glaser ” [printed on white card], [33°55′N 08°08′E], genitalia slide Mey 38/21( SMNK) . Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype ( SMNK)

with Cu1a by short vein. Right hind-wing malformed and shortened.

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 21 ). Pleural lobes of segment VIII short and flat, folded laterally, with long, lamellar scales, tergal plate (= segment VIII) deeply split towards its base in dorsal view, forming two elongate, slightly diverging lobes, ventral side of lobes with long, black bristles; segment IX compact, ring-like, vinculum with narrow bridge between bases of valvae; uncus absent, gnathos arms (or derived socii) bulbous, asymmetrical, sclerotised Description: Male ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing length 4 mm, wing span 9.5 mm. Head with appressed, white scales, collar cream-white; labial palpi white, as long as eye diameter; antenna ciliate on ventral and lateral sides. Thorax cremewhite dorsally. Legs white, tarsomeres black with white apices, femora white, with subapically black spot. Forewings ground colour crème-white, with some, semi-erected black scales, arranged in a subterminal streak, surrounded by pale yellow scales; oblique costal streak in the middle of costa length, termen with black spots on end of veins, fringes white; hind-wings white, translucent patch small, fringes white. M3 and Cu1a with short stalk, M2 separated from Cu1a by long vein (= stem of M3).

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 23 ). Pleural lobes of segment VIII short laterally, elongated ventrally forming a membranous flap covering the bases of valvae in ventral view, tergal plate (= segment VIII) with central area membranous, lateral sides sclerotized, confluent apically and terminating into bifid fork in dorsal view, ventral base of tergal plate with short, recurved bristles; segment IX compact, ring-like, vinculum with broad bridge between bases of valvae; uncus absent, gnathos arms (or derived socii) bulbous, asymmetrical, sclerotised apically and encompassing anal tube; anellus small, basal part elongate, appendages of anellus absent; valva long, with short and slender base and large, nearly rectangular apical lobe, dorsal apex extended into acute process directed dorso-caudad, valva in ventral view undivided and apically rounded. Phallus long, curved from a broader base, dagger-like, bulla seminalis not observed.

Female genitalia: ( Fig. 24 ). Tergum VII elongate, distal margin triangular, rounded at apex; henia long and slender, basally broad, slightly curved in ventral view, originating at base of broad pocket within inter-segmental membrane, bulla seminalis present, bursa copulatrix with two pair of indistinct, linear signa, not close to origin of ductus bursae.

Diagnosis: The cream-white colour of the forewings, the erected black scales in subterminal and costal streaks and the row of black spots on termen make the new species unmistakable. In the male genitalia, the new species is unique within the genus by the largely membranous tergal plate and the broad, undivided valva, with a terminal, acute process.

Remarks: The species had to be included in the present taxonomic treatment of the Palaearctic species of Mey (2022). The locality label says “Mauretania” as country of origin, and this country name was the reason to retain the species for its inclusion in the present account. Later, a closer examination of the label data disclosed the famous oasis Tozeur in southern Tunisia as the collecting site of the two specimens. The country name Mauretania [i.e., Mauritania] is misleading. The new species, in fact, belongs to the West Palearctic Region. There are no similar species, which relegates H. saharaensis sp. nov. into an isolated position within Homadaula both in the Palaearctic and in the Afrotropical Region.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Sahara Desert, where the new species was collected.

Figures

Figure 21 – Male genitalia of Homadaula peregovitsi sp. nov., a – lateral, b – dorsal, c – ventral, scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 22 – Homadaula saharaensis sp. nov., male holotype.

Figure 23 – Male genitalia of Homadaula saharaensis sp. nov., a – lateral, b – dorsal, c – ventral, scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 24 – Female genitalia of Homadaula saharaensis sp. nov., a – lateral, b – dorsal, c – ventral, scale bar: 0.5 mm.