Diogodiasia Yakovlev, 2022

Yakovlev, Roman V., 2022, Diogodiasia Yakovlev - New Genus of Cossinae (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from Madagascar with descriptions of two new species, Ecologica Montenegrina 55, pp. 42-48 : 43

Diogodiasia Yakovlev gen. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:865071AD-A728-413E-AE9F-A4C1C891AF94

Figs 1‒7

Type species (by original designation) Cossus crassilineatus Gaede, 1929 .

Description

Male. Moths of small size, not bigger than 30 mm in wingspan. Antenna short (from 1/3 to 1/2 of fore wing in length), bipectinate (setae 2‒2.5 times longer than antenna rod diameter). Fore wing with poorly expressed pattern of thin lines, hind wing without pattern.

Male genitalia. Uncus narrow, edges almost parallel, apex acute of tapered; tegumen large; gnathos arms of medium thickness, long; gnathos robust, covered with fine spikes; valve with robust crest on costal margin (on border between medium and distal thirds), apex of valve poorly sclerotized, semicircular; transtilla process uncinate, long, apically acute; juxta compact, with long thick lateral processes; saccus semicircular, compact; phallus poorly curved, equal to valve in length, apically acute, vesica aperture in dorso-apical position, vesica without cornuti.

Diagnosis. The new genus clearly differs from all the Madagascar genera of Cossinae .

- Hirtocossus ( Figs 8 , 12 ) is much bigger, light-colored, has a crest with transverse ribs on the costal margin of the valve, on its inner surface;

- Rambuasalama ( Figs 9 , 13 ) is significantly bigger, the fore wing is elongated and narrow, the uncus is apically blunt;

- the species of the genus Planctogystia ( Figs 10‒11 , 14 ) have a triangular uncus and a serrated crest on the costal edge of the valve.

The new species is mostly close to the genera Planctogystia (endemic for Madagascar) and Brachylia , widely distributed in Africa (type species, by monotypy ‒ Brachylia terebroides Felder, 1874 ), from which it differs in the relatively narrow base of the uncus and in the smooth, not serrated crest on the costal margin of the valve.

Composition. The new genus includes three species.

Distribution. Madagascar.

Etymology. I named the new genus in honor of the Diogo Dias, also known as Diogo Gomes, who was a 15th-century Portuguese explorer. Diogo Dias was the first European to sight the island of Madagascar.

Figures

Figures 1‒4. Adult specimens (males) of Diogodiasia Yakovlev, gen. n. (NHMUK): 1. D. crassilineatus (Gaede, 1929), lectotype; 2. D. crassilineatus (Gaede, 1929), paralectotype (NHMUK individual number 012832438); 3. D. catalai Yakovlev sp. n., holotype; 4. D. martini Yakovlev sp. n., holotype.

Figures 5‒7. Male genitalia of Diogodiasia Yakovlev, gen. n.: 5. D. crassilineatus (Gaede, 1929), paralectotype; 6. D. catalai Yakovlev sp. n., holotype; 7. D. martini Yakovlev sp. n., holotype.

Figures 8‒11. Adult specimens (male) of Cossinae: 8. Hirtocossus crucis (Kenrick, [1914]), holotype (NHMUK); 9. Rambuasalama augustasi Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2008, Madagascar, Province Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana National Park, Centre Valbio, 917 m, 21º15.249ʹS, 47º25.313ʹ E, 4‒21.xi.2005, G. Martin, D.L.G. Quicke & L.P. Holland, BMNH(E) 2005-205 (NHMUK individual number 012832543); 10. Planctogystia breviculus (Mabille, 1879), holotype (MNHN); 11. Planctogystia breviculus (Mabille, 1879), Madagascar, Province Mahajanga, Tsingi de Namoroka N.P., 16º28.154ʹS, 45º20.890ʹE, at MV light, 125 m, 02‒12.ix.2012, G. Martin, BMNH(E) 2012-141 (NHMUK individual number 012832538).

Figures 12‒14. Male genitalia of Cossinae: 12. Hirtocossus crucis (Kenrick, [1914]), Madagascar, Ranomafana, 40 km NE Fianarantsoa, 900 m, 16‒22.xi.2003, leg. S. Murzin & A. Shamaev (Genitalpräparat Heterocera Nr. 33.163 MWM), 13. Rambuasalama augustasi Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2008 (slide NHMUK: 010315560); 14. Planctogystia breviculus (Mabille, 1879) (slide NHMUK: 010315555).