Anaphosia majori Ströhle, 2018

Volynkin, Anton V. & Takano, Hitoshi, 2024, Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Anaphosia Hampson with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini: Lithosiina), Ecologica Montenegrina 73, pp. 391-403 : 401-403

Anaphosia majori Ströhle, 2018

( Figs 7, 8 , 11 , 14 )

Anaphosia majori Ströhle, 2018 , Neue Entomologische Nachrichten, 75: 149, figs 1–8, 12, and 13 (Type locality: “ Ethiopia, Southern Nations, Dorze , 2401 m, N 06°10'839'', E 037°34'793'' [06°10.839'N 37°34.793'E]”).

Material examined. Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, Ethiopia, 2401m, near Dorze, N 06°10'848'' E 37°34'793'' [06°10.848'N 37°34.793'E], 07–16.iv.2016, Ströhle [M.] leg. / Anaphosia majori ( Ströhle, 2018) PARATYPUS (red label) / African Natural History research Trust ANHRT : 2023.9, unique IDs: ANHRTUK 00339417 and 00339418, gen. prep. Nos.: AV7262 ♂, AV7263 ♀ ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 21.0 mm in the male and 24.0 mm in the female examined (according to the original description ( Ströhle 2018), the wingspan ranges from 3.8–4.5 cm). Anaphosia majori Ströhle, 2018 is an unmistakable species clearly differing from two other congeners in the lack of the medial line of the forewing. The male genital capsule of A. majori differs from A. cyanogramma in the slightly broader valva with a more convex ventral margin, the somewhat longer distal saccular process, and the more curved lamella centralis; compared to A. smithi sp. n., it has a shorter juxta, a considerably broader valva with a broader apex and a medially convex ventral margin (whereas it is only distally convex in the congener), and a curved and dorsally narrower lamella centralis. The phallus of A. majori is somewhat anteriorly downcurved whereas it is nearly straight in A. cyanogramma and A. smithi sp. n. The vesica of A. majori is remarkably shorter and slightly narrower than in A. smithi sp. n. and has a shorter and narrower medial cluster of finer graniculi, and a markedly shorter and conical dorsal diverticulum, which is elongate and utricular in the congener. The vesica of A. majori is most similar to A. cyanogramma , from which it is distinguished by the slightly finer graniculi of the medial cluster, and the somewhat shorter, narrower, and more apically tapered dorsal diverticulum. In the female genitalia, A. majori differs from A. cyanogramma and A. smithi sp. n. in the shorter gonapophyses, the shorter and narrower corpus bursae bearing markedly shorter and narrower signa, and the longer and narrower distal section of the appendix bursae. The ductus bursae of A. majori is similar to A. smithi sp. n. and narrower than in A. cyanogramma . The postvaginal plate of A. majori is similar to A. cyanogramma but shorter and has a narrower and deeper medial posterior incision, while A. smithi sp. n. has a posterior protrusion instead.

Distribution. The species is currently known only from southern Ethiopia ( Ströhle 2018).

Conclusions

Examination of a series of Anaphosia specimens in the ANHRT collections has resulted in the identification and description of a beautiful new species. Although numerous historic specimens of A. smithi sp. n. were found in institutional collections, it was presumably overlooked due to its similarity with A. cyanogramma , perhaps only being considered as a variant with a differing medial line on the forewing. It is assumed that this new species (and A. majori ) were two of the three species that Krüger (2015) had identified as being undescribed, but it is uncertain what the third species may be. Recent revisions of other groups of Afrotropical Lithosiini (e.g., Volynkin & László 2020 a, 2020b, 2021; Volynkin 2022 a, 2022b, 2023) have revealed a hidden diversity of species thus suggesting that many species in this tribe await description; however, for one as large and as striking as A. smithi sp. n. to have remained undescribed is somewhat surprising.

Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere thanks to the following for their kind assistance during visits to collections under their care: Alberto Zilli and Geoff Martin (NHMUK), James Hogan (OUMNH), and Axel Hausmann, Ulf Buchsbaum and Mei-Yu Chen (ZSM).

The following collaborative partners are thanked for the diverse administrative and technical assistance provided during fieldwork: Ms Rhoda Kachali (Department of National Parks and Wildlife – ZAWA, Lusaka), Ms Claire Mateke and Ms Martha Imakando (Livingstone Museum, Livingstone). The authors declare that to the best of their knowledge they conform to the national regulations and meet with the conditions and requirements of International Conventions concerning collecting/export and handling of the specimens presented in this Article.

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Figures

Figures 1–8. Anaphosia spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 5 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2–4 and 6–8 in ANHRT.

Figures 9–11. Anaphosia spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 12–14. Anaphosia spp.: female genitalia and their postvaginal plates magnified (below). The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.