Neomardara africana, Holland, 1893

László, Gyula M. & Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, Review of the genus Neomardara Hering, 1926 with descriptions of two new species and updated information on the distribution of the genus (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Lymantriinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 103-126 : 105-111

Neomardara africana ( Holland, 1893)

( Figs 1–6 , 19–21 , 32–35 , 44–46 , 59–60 , 71–73 , 83–85 )

Lepasta africana Holland, 1893, Entomological News 4(10): 343. Type locality: [ Gabon] Kangwé , Valley of the Ogooué River. Holotype, male in coll. CMNH.

Type material examined.

Holotype. Male, [label with double-lined pink margins, with handwritten] “ Lepasta / africana, Holl. / Type. Ogoué. / Good. // “217” ( CMNH).

Additional material examined.

Cameroon. 1 male, Ebogo , 23/ 29.xi.1992 ( RMCA) ; 1 female, Bitje , 2000’, leg. G. L. Bates ; 1 female, Bitje, Ja River , 2000 ft., xi.-xii.1912 ( NHMUK) . DRC. 1 male, Isanghi , 22.vi.1953, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 male, Sankuru, Katako-Kombe , 26.xii.1951, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine; further males, same site and collector but collected at 23.xi.1951, 6.ix.1952; 5.i.1952 ; 1 female, Uele, Paulis 16.iv.1956, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine, QR code label with unique id.: RMCA ENT 000049543 , gen. slide No.: LG 6201; 1 female, same site and collector, 29.viii.1959, QR code label with unique id.: RMCA ENT 000049544 , gen. slide No.: LG 6202; 1 male, Ubangi, Region Bumba , 10.ix.1955, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 male, Ruthshuru, Kilinga , 1.vi.1936, leg. L. Lippens ; 1 male, Sankuru, Luluabourg , 2.xi.1951, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 male, Sankuru, Djeka , 18.xii.1952, leg. Dr. Fontaine ; 1 male, same site, 13.ix.1952; 1 male, Sankuru, Dimbelenge , 29.iii.1951 ; 1 female, Tshuapa, Flandria , 29.iv.1948, leg. Rév. G. Hulstaert ; 1 male, Lukolela , 5.x.1913, leg. L. Burgeon ; 1 female, Eala , 29.xii.1938, leg. G. Couteaux ; 1 female, Kafakumba , ix.1933, leg. F. G. Overlaet ( RMCA) ; 1 female, Lusambo , 10.ix.1950, leg. Dr. Fontaine ; 1 male, Bopoto, Upp. Congo , leg. Rév. Smith ; 1 male, Sankuru, Katako-Kombe , 3.i.1952, leg. Dr. Fontaine ( NHMUK) . Gabon. 4 males, Mikongo (Rougier), Monts de Cristal ( Secondary Forest ), 430m, 0°29’47”N, 11°10’42”E, 28.vii.–12.viii.2019, MV Light Trap, Albert, JL., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT :2019.17, gen. slide No.: LG 6041; 1 male, Nyonie ( Lowland Forest ), 10m, 0°2’22”S, 9°20’25”E, 23–28.viii.2019, MV Light Trap, Albert, J-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT :2019.17; 1 male, Ogooue Ivindo P.N. Ivindo, Station de Recherche , d'Ipassa 450m, 0°30’43”N, 12°48’12”E, 14–26.vi.2016, Light Trap, Ruzzier, E., Tasane, T. leg., ANHRT : 2017.19, gen. slide No. : LG 6041 ( ANHRT) . Ghana. 1 male, Ashanti, Bobiri , 4 km NE Kubease, 6°41’N, 1°20’W, 230m, 25.v.2011, leg. J. & W. De Prins ( RMCA) ; 1 male, Takwa , Gold Coast, R. D. James ; 1 male, Secondi , Gold Coast ( NHMUK) . Guinea. 5 males, Dalaba, Foret de Goubel , 1413m, 10°39’27”N, 12°15’44”W, 10–18.ix.2019, MV Light Trap, Geiser, M., Leno, M., Koivagui, S., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Sáfián, Sz. leg., ANHRT :2019.19, gen. slide No.: LG 6043; 3 males, Guinee Forestiere, Foret Classee de Ziama, Seredou ( Lowland Forest-Farmland ), 625m, 08°21’26”N, 09°17’48”W, 9–16.vii.2019, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Koivagui, S., Miles, W., Sáfián, Sz., Warner, L. leg., ANHRT :2019.11, gen. slide No.: LG 6051; 2 males, Guinee Forestiere, Bossou Forest and Institut de Recherche Environmentale de Bossou ( Lowland Forest-Farmland ), 690m, 07°38’32”N, 08°30’30”W, 24–30.vi.2019, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Suah Dore, J., Koivagui, S., Miles, W., Sáfián, S., Warner, R. leg., ANHRT :2019.11; 1 male, Dalaba, Foret de Tinka , 10°43’14”N, 12°15’22”W, 1289m, 25–28.ix.2019, MV Light Trap, Geiser, M., Leno, M., Koivagui, S., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Sáfián, Sz. Leg., ANHRT :2019.19; 1 male, Geipa Camp, Foret de Diecke , 7°26’7.06”N, 8°50’47.87”W, 435m, 05– 14.iv.2019, Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8W), Sáfián, Sz., Koivogui, S, leg., ANHRT :2019.7; 1 male, 619km ESE of Conakry, Nzerekore Region, Prefecture de Lola, Ziela env., 540-600m, x.2017, 7°42’N, 8°21’W, local collectors leg., ANHRT :2020.6 ( ANHRT); 2 males, Conakry, Forêt Classée de Diecké , 7– 16.v.2004, leg. E. Vingerhoedt ( RMCA) . Ivory Coast. 2 males, Tai NP, Tai Research Station , 174m, 05°49’59.8”N, 07°20’32.0”W, 14–23.xi.2015, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg. ; 1 male, same site, 25.iii.–17.iv.2017, MV light trap, leg. Aristophanous A. & M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P.; 2 males, Parc national du Mont Sàngbé ( Forest / Savannah mosaic), 08°07’05”N, 07°19’09”W, 14–20.xi.2021, MV Light Trap, Moretto, M., Mulvaney, L., Takano, H. leg., ANHRT :2021.8; 14 males, Park National d'Azagny, entrée Sonaye ( Secondary forest ), 60m, 05°14’32”N, 04°48’05”W, 25–28.xi.2021, MV Light Trap, Moretto, P., Mulvaney, L., Takano, H. leg. ANHRT : 2021.8 ( ANHRT); 2 males, Mokta , 5/ 14.vi.1964, leg. P. Griveaud ; 1 male, Bingerville , 19.i.1963, leg. J. Decelle ; 1 male, Lamto , 29.xii.1967, leg. R. Vuattoux ; 1 female, same site, 29.iii.1968 ( RMCA) ; 1 female, Bingerville , 1915 leg. G. Melou ( NHMUK) . Liberia. 2 males, Grand Cape Mount County, Lake Piso area (Bomi forest - savannah mosaic), 15m, 6°39’19.19”N, 11°7’71.35(sic!)”W, 2–9.i.2018, MV Light Trap, Sáfián, Sz. Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2017.33, gen. slide No.: LG 6050; 1 male, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Sinoe County, Juboe River , 7.5km South West Pellokon Town, 140m, 5°39’4”N, 8°39’4”W, 14–21.i.2018, MV Light Trap, Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2017.33; 3 males, Sinoe County, 6.5km NW of Jacksonville, Forest near Solve Problem village , 103m, 5°26’25”N, 9°7’39.9”W, 23–27.i.2018, MV Light Trap, Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2017.33; 4 males, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area , 530m, 7°56’36”N, 10°16’36”W, 10–19.xi.2017, MV light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ANHRT : 2017.33 ( ANHRT). Nigeria. 1 female, R. Niger, Sapele, leg. F.W. Sampson ; 1 male, 1 female, Lagos dist., S. Nigeria, Apr. 1953, leg. P. Roche, gen. slide No. BM 955 (male) ; 3 males, same site and collector, v.1953; 1 male, site and collector, i.1953; 1 male, site and collector, ii.1953 ( NHMUK) . Republic of Congo. 1 male, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Mondika camp, 365m, 02°21’50.63”N, 16°16’25.82”E, 07–14.ii.2023, actinic light trap, Bakala N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg., ANHRT :2023.3, gen. slide No.: LG 6134; 2 males, Sangha Prov., Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Ndoki formation ( Secondary forest ), 352m, 02°12’47.7”N, 16°23’45.8”E, 29.ix.–1.x.2022 LepiLED and MV light trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. ANHRT :2022.14, gen. slide No.: LG 6132; 2 males, Sangha Prov., Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Bomassa camp ( Secondary forest ), 341m, 02°12’36.9”N, 16°11’30.2”E, 16–23.ix.2022, MV light trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. ANHRT : 2022.14, gen. slide No. : LG 6133 ( ANHRT) . Sierra Leone. Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve , 180m, 24.x.2015, 08°20’57”N, 13°10’42”W, Light Trap, R. Goff coll., leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, Clements , 21.vi.1895 ( NHMUK) . Uganda. 1 male, Zika , light trap, 5.vi.1961, leg. K.W. Brown ( NHMUK) . Zambia. 1 male, Nyangombe Falls, (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 1300m, 11°48’25”S, 24°32’12”E, 17–23.xi.2019, MV Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, R., Smith, R. leg., ANHRT :2019.25, gen. slide No.: LG 6131; 1 male, Camp near Kanyama, ( Miombo / Riverine / Dambo mosaic), 1375m, 11°25’36”S, 24°40’00”E, 4–7.xii.2019, MV Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L. leg., ANHRT :2019.25; 1 female, Nkwaji, Mwinilunga , 1316m, 11°36’22”S, 24°33’17”E, 29.x.–3.xi.2013, Light Trap, leg. Smith, R., Takano, H., Chmurova, L., Smith, L., ANHRT : 2017.10, gen. slide No. : LG 6215 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. Neomardara africana is rather variable in size, with the forewing length in the range of 12–17 mm in males and 17–20 mm in females. The species is easily distinguished from other taxa of the genus based on the continuous subterminal band being gently arched following the termen and connected with the large, wedge-shaped marking in the lower part of the forewing, whereas the direction and length of the subterminal band is different in other taxa and never joins the wedge-like streak. The characteristic longitudinal triangular marking in the postmedial area is not connected with the subterminal band and deeply filled with dark greyish scales in N. africana , unlike in the other species of the genus where this patch is either fully whitish or just a little posterior notch is darkened. The majority of the examined N. africana specimens also have a whitish dash covering part of the vein R5, which character is not observed in other taxa of the genus.

In the male genitalia, the species is distinguished from other taxa of the genus by the narrowest, most elongate tegumen, the largest rounded carinal lobe situated apically in the aedeagus and the largest diverticulum of the vesica.

In the female genitalia, N. africana has the broadest, more or less straight peri-ostial lobes which are narrower, more curved or absent in other Neomardara species.

Bionomics and distribution. Neomardara africana is widely distributed in Equatorial Africa with confirmed records from Guinea to Kakamega Forest in Kenya ( Dall’Asta 2008) and the Ikelenge pedicle in northwest Zambia with only Benin and Togo in the Dahomey Gap where the species has not yet been reported from.

The Burundi and Rwanda specimens reported by Dall’Asta (2008) refer to N. fontainei sp. n. described below. The male specimen illustrated by the author is indeed a N. africana , whereas the female belongs to N. divergens . Typical habitats of the species are the equatorial rainforests and riverine forest strips in dryer regions (e.g. NW Zambia). Neomardara africana appears to be a polyvoltine species with adults on the wing throughout the year regardless of the season, although it was collected only at the beginning of the rainy season in the southernmost localities in Zambia.

Figures

Figures 1–9. Adults, male. 1. Neomardara africana, holotype of Lepasta africana Holland, 1893, Gabon (CMNH). 2. Idem, Gabon (ANHRT). 3. Idem, Republic of Congo (ANHRT). 4. Idem, Republic of Congo (ANHRT). 5. Idem, Ivory Coast (ANHRT). 6. Idem, Guinea (ANHRT). 7. N. fontainei sp. n., holotype, Burundi (RMCA). 8. Idem, paratype, Burundi (RMCA). 9. Idem, paratype, Burundi (RMCA).

Figures 19–25. Adults, female. 19. Neomardara africana, Ivory Coast (NHMUK). 20. Idem, Zambia (ANHRT). 21. Idem, DRC (RMCA). 22. N. fontainei, sp. n., paratype, DRC (RMCA). 23. Idem, paratype, DRC (RMCA). 24. Idem, paratype, DRC (NHMUK). 25. N. congolana sp. n., paratype, DRC (RMCA).

Figures 32–37. Male genitalia, a: clasping apparatus, b: aedeagus. 32. Neomardara africana, Gabon, LG 6042 (ANHRT). 33. Idem, Gabon, LG 6041 (ANHRT). 34. Idem, Liberia, LG 6050 (ANHRT). 35. Idem, Republic of Congo, LG 6132 (ANHRT). 36. N. fontainei sp. n., HT, Burundi, LG 6196 (RMCA). 37. Idem, PT, Burundi, LG 6198 (RMCA).

Figures 44–52. Male genitalia, details of uncus-gnathos-tegumen complex. 44. Neomardara africana, Gabon, LG 6042 (ANHRT). 45. Idem, Liberia, LG 6050 (ANHRT). 46. Idem, Republic of Congo, LG 6133 (ANHRT). 47. N. fontainei, sp. n., holotype, Burundi, LG 6196 (RMCA). 48. Idem, paratype, Burundi, LG 6197 (RMCA). 49. Idem, paratype, Burundi, LG 6198 (RMCA). 50. N. congolana, sp. n., holotype, Republic of Congo, LG 6125 (ANHRT). 51. Idem, paratype, Republic of Congo, LG 6126 (ANHRT). 52. Idem, paratype, DRC, LG 6127 (RCHS).

Figures 59–64. Male genitalia, distal end of aedeagus. 59. Neomardara africana, Republic of Congo, LG 6133 (ANHRT) 60. Idem, Liberia, LG 6050 (ANHRT). 61. N. fontainei sp. n., holotype, Burundi, LG 6196 (RMCA). 62. Idem, paratype, Burundi, LG 6198 (RMCA). 63. N. congolana sp. n., holotype, Republic of Congo, LG 6125 (ANHRT). 64. Idem, paratype, DRC, LG 6127 (RCHS).

Figures 71–76. Female genitalia. 71. Neomardara africana, DRC, LG 6201 (ANHRT). 72. Idem, Zambia, LG 6215 (ANHRT). 73. Idem, W Africa, Ivory Coast, NHMUK 014331760 (prepared by Laszlo) (NHMUK). 74. N. fontainei sp. n., paratype, Burundi, LG 6199 (RMCA). 75. Idem, paratype, Burundi, LG 6200 (RMCA). 76. N. congolana, sp. n., paratype, DRC, LG 6203 (RMCA).

Figures 83–88. Female genitalia. 83. Neomardara africana, DRC, LG 6201 (RMCA). 84. Idem, Zambia, LG 6215 (ANHRT). 85. Idem, Ivory Coast, NHMUK014331760 (prepared by Laszlo) (NHMUK). 86. N. fontainei, paratype, DRC, LG 6199 (RMCA). 87. N. fontainei, paratype, DRC, LG 6200 (RMCA). 88. N. congolana, paratype, DRC, LG 6203 (RMCA).