Metarctia (Hebena) manfredi Fiebig, László, Volynkin & Taberer, 2023

Fiebig, Ralf, László, Gyula M., Volynkin, Anton V. & Taberer, Tabitha R., 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the Metarctia Walker, 1855 subgenus Hebena Walker, 1856, with descriptions of six new species and one new subspecies (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini), Zootaxa 5339 (4), pp. 301-354 : 317-318

Metarctia (Hebena) manfredi Fiebig, László, Volynkin & Taberer sp. n.

(Figs adults 3a–c, 15, 25; genitalia 42, 54)

Holotype. male, “ Kenya Kibwezi 700 m 15- 31.12.2000 leg. Dr. Politzar ”, gen. slide No.: GP 36.549 ( RCRF, later ZSM).

Paratypes (1 male, 1 female in total). Kenya. 1 male, 1 female, SE Kilimanjaro Region , E of Tsavo, ca. 1800– 2100m, F1 e.o. August 1989, cult. G. Flauger, gen. slide Nos: GP 37.208 (male) ( MWW), GP 36.548 (female) ( RCRF).

Diagnosis. Metarctia manfredi sp. n. is known from its male holotype and a male and a female paratype specimens only. The types all display monochromatic pastel forewings without contrasting venation, reminiscent of the unicoloured forms of M. rubra (described as cinnamomea Wallengren, 1860 and lateritia ab. lateritiola Strand, 1917) and M. hebena (described as subincarnata Kiriakoff, 1954 ). Although it has not been recovered yet, it cannot be ruled out that M. manfredi also has lateritia -like form displaying contrasting venation.

The male genitalia of the new species are easily distinguished from all other species of the subgenus by the dorsally largely dilated, crescent-shaped uncus, the extremely long setae of the short basal projection of the valva costa, and the broad, apically dilated terminal process of the valva, reminiscent somewhat of those of M. smithi and M. haraldsulaki . The female genitalia of M. manfredi may suggest a closer affinity to M. lateritia based on the lack of the distal sclerotization of the 8 th sternite and the lamella postvaginalis. The new species is readily distinguished from M. lateritia by the evenly sclerotized, somewhat trapezoidal lamella antevaginalis (it is amorphous with rugose surface, in M. lateritia ), the broad, postero-medially pointed sclerotization of the ostium bursae (it is narrow Ushaped in M. lateritia ), the markedly deeper and broader sinus vaginalis, the somewhat longer ductus bursae and the less extensive scobinate field of the signum bursae. Compared to M. rubra , the new species has somewhat shorter 8 th segment, markedly larger lamella antevaginalis, substantially deeper and broader, trapezoidal sinus vaginalis (it is shallow, semi-circular in M. rubra ), broader, postero-medially pointed sclerotization of the ostium bursae (it is narrower, evenly concave in M. rubra ), considerably longer and less sclerotized ductus bursae and narrower, less sclerotized scobinate field of the signum bursae.

Description. Adult. Forewing length 21−22 mm in male, 23 mm in female. Male antenna bipectinate-ciliate, black, rami ca. 4.8−5 times longer than diameter of shaft, cilia very short, white. Female antenna serrate, rather thick, black. Head. Small, proboscis small, labial palp short, brick-red. Compound eye small, spherical, frons and vertex brick-red. Thorax. Collar and tegula brick-red with admixture of brownish hair-scales; mesothorax orange-red. Legs. Fore- and midleg coxa, femur and tibia covered in thick brick-red to orange-red hairs; tarsus entirely black (hindleg could not be examined); index of spurs: 0-2-2. Forewing. Moderately broad, elongate, especially in female, dorsal margin almost straight, subapically slightly convex, apex rounded, outer margin long, evenly arcuate, anal margin short, slightly arcuate. Ground colour pastel red-brown with pinkish hue; veins unmarked; transverse lines absent; fringe short, monochromatic ochreous-yellow. Underside. Similar to upperside but forewing paler with orange costa. Hindwing. Well-developed, short and narrow, apically rounded, uniformly pale ochreous brown with pinkish tinge without marking; fringe short, ochreous-yellow. Underside as upperside. Abdomen. Stout, orange-red, ringed with black proximally.

Male genitalia. Uncus stout, rather short, dorso-medially largely dilated and evenly rounded, apically pointed, crescent moon-shaped. Tegumen short and narrow, arms fused in distal half. Valva very broad at base, transtilla short, costal margin with a broad-based, short triangular basal projection covered in narrow belt of setae forming an extremely long, narrow paintbrush-like tuft apically; setae gradually shortened towards transtilla; distal margin concave, terminal process of valva stout, long apically dilated into very short, rounded ventral lobe and short, triangular dorsal process. Sacculus short and narrow with a setose distal crest. Anellus (fultura superior) quadrangular with very broad distal and narrow lateral margins, fused with basally bifurcate, distally broad quadrangular juxta (fultura inferior). Vinculum moderately long, medially tapered, apically rounded. Phallus short and thin, slighlty dilated proximally with short and rounded coecum, medially gently curved, apex without carina process. Vesica with slightly dilated proximal section bearing a small, finely spinulose subbasal field ventrally, distal section of vesica narrow, tubular.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis short, rounded-trapezoidal, finely setose; posterior apophysis moderately long (ca. as long as papilla analis), thin, pointed. Eighth tergite short, ribbon-like; anterior apophysis very short. Ostium bursae narrow with relatively wide postero-medially pointed distal margin, lamella antevaginalis large, rounded triangular with distal section outreaching ostium bursae. Ductus bursae narrow, short, tubular, weakly sclerotized, cervix bursae unmodified. Tubular distal part of corpus bursae membranous, third as long as ductus bursae; dilated proximal section of corpus bursae large, spherical; signum bursae represented by an elongate ovoid, longitudinally rugose, finely scobinate field.

Genetic information. This species has not been DNA barcoded. The male genital morphology may suggest a distinct phylogenetic position displaying a transition between M. lateritia and the M. smithi lineage due to the combined presence of the long setation stretching along the valva costa (a character of M. lateritia ) and the distally dilated terminal process of the valva (typical for M. smithi and M. haraldsulaki ).

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Manfred Fiebig (Rossleben-Wiehe, Germany), father of the first author, in gratitude for the support of his entomological research.

Distribution ( Map 2 ). Metarctia manfredi is currently only known from southern Kenya.

Figures

MAP 2. Distribution of Metarctia (Hebena) rubra, M. (H.) manfredi, M. (H.) kelleni, M. (H.) elleni and M. (H.) brigitta.