Afroracotis (Afroracotis) angulosa ( Herbulot, 1973 ) László & Hausmann & Karisch, 2023

László, Gyula M., Hausmann, Axel & Karisch, Timm, 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the African taxa of the Racotis Moore, 1887 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Boarmiini), Zootaxa 5308 (1), pp. 1-109 : 22-25

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5308.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CCA5F817-6B5F-4BE5-BEFB-EDE98C07A0EE

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8110749

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EB442B-5D28-FFA4-57F5-519DFD4FF881

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Afroracotis (Afroracotis) angulosa ( Herbulot, 1973 )
status

comb. nov.

Afroracotis (Afroracotis) angulosa ( Herbulot, 1973) comb. n.

( Figs 22–26 View FIGURES 21–40 , 140–141 View FIGURES 131–150 , 218–222 View FIGURES 217–224 , 298–299 View FIGURES 298–305 )

Racotis angulosa Herbulot, 1973 View in CoL , Annales de la Faculté des Sciences Université fédérale du Cameroun 14: 142, figs 2,9. Holotype male (ZSM). Type locality: Cameroon: Bafut, Nguemba Forest, 9 km SE of Bamenda, 2080 m.

Taxonomic note. The species was treated as ‘ Antiracotis’ in Scoble (1999). Antiracotis is a manuscript name proposed by Prout, thus unavailable.

Type material examined

Holotype, male, “ CAMEROUN Forêt de Bafut Nguemba 9 km S. E. de Bamenda 2080 m —3 au 5.IV.1972 C. Herbulot ” / [red label with handwritten] “ Racotis angulosa Hrblt HOLOTYPE” / “Photographed for the project “ Geometridae mundi ”, DNA barcode id.: BC ZSM Lep 81691, gen. slide No.: LG 4612 ( ZSM).

Paratype, male, with the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide No.: LG 5072 ( ZSM).

Additional material examined

Cameroon. 1 male, Mt. Cameroon, Onyanga , 5,400 ft, 28.i.1932, M. Steele, gen. slide No.: NHMUK010314257 About NHMUK (prepared by László) ( NHMUK) ; 3 males, 1 female, Mt. Cameroon ( SW slope), Bamboo camp, 4.0879152°N, 9.0505144°E, 350m asl, 17–22.iv.2015, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek, gen. slide Nos.: LG 4416, LG 4417, LG 5068 (males), LG 5069 (female) GoogleMaps ; 2 males, same site and collectors, but 13.xii.2014, gen. slide No.: LG 4704, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 96648/GWOTT597-17, gen. slide No.: LG 4710, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 96650/GWOTT599-17 ; 1 male, 1 female, same site and collectors, but 19.xii.2014, gen. slide Nos.: LG 4733 (male), LG 5049 ( ZSM G 20999 View Materials ) ; 1 male, Mt. Cameroon ( SW slope), Elephant camp, 4.145333°N, 9.087000°E, 1850m asl, 18.xi.2014, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek, gen. slide No.: LG 4712 GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Bimbia-Bonadikombo Forest, Mexico camp, 3.98183°N, 9.2625°E, 0m asl, 27.xii.2014, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek, gen. slide No.: LG 4705 GoogleMaps ; 1 male, 1800m, Mt Cameroun, Musake , 19.i.–3.ii.1997, E. Vingerhoedt leg., gen. slide No.: LG 5033 ( ZSM G 20983 View Materials ) , DNA barcode/ BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep add 57920/GWOTE584-12 ; 1 female, Mt. Cameroon ( SW slope) Mann’s spring, 2200 m asl, 4.1428338°N, 9.1225914°E, 20.iv.2017, leg. V. Maicher, P. Potocky, S. Delabye, gen. slide No.: ZSM G 20982 View Materials (prepared by László) GoogleMaps ; 1 female, Massif du Manengouba, Versant N.E., 2120m, 5°02’N, 9°51’E, 17–18.iv.1976, C. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 5035 ( ZSM G 20985 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; 1 female, Mt. Cameroun, Musake Hut (= Hutte 1), 1830m, 23–30.x.1972, Ph. Darge & A. Evoe, gen. slide No.: LG 5036 ( ZSM G 20986 View Materials ) ; 1 female, Foret de Bafout-Nguemba, 9 km S.E. de Bamenda, 2000m, 3–5.iv.1972, C. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 5072; additional long series of undissected specimens from Mt. Cameroon ( ZSM) ; 1 male, Southwestern Province , Mt. Cameroon, SE side, 9 km NW Limbe, 776m, 4°4’47.5”N, 9°10’16.5”E, 13.v.2009, light trap, leg. M. Ochse, gen. slide No.: LG 5082, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 38705/GWOSH369-10 GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Southwestern Province, Mount Kupe , 3 km W of Nyasoso, 1575m, 4°49’9.3”N, 9°42’27.3”E, 18.v.2009, leg. M. Ochse, gen. slide No.: LG 5095, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 38696/GWOSH360-10 ( RCMO) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Mount Cameroon, Bonenza , 9°5.3’E, 4°3.6’N 14.i. 1989, 180m, Primary lowland rain forest, gen. slide No.: LG 5868 ( RMCA) GoogleMaps . Central African Republic. 1 male, Mbeko , 10.vi.1995, ex S.C. Collins, gen. slide No.: LG 5538 ( RCHS) . DRC. 1 male, Sankuru, Lusambo , 16.vii.1950, Dr Fontaine, Coll. Mus. Congo, gen. slide No.: LG 4091 ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, Sankuru, Lusambo 21.viii.1949, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 male, same site and collector, 12.viii.1950; 1 male, same site and collector, 17.vi.1949, gen. slide No.: LG 5852; 1 female, same site and collector, 10.ix.1949; 1 male, Léopoldville [Kinshasa], 13.ii.1956, leg. P. Jobels ; 1 male, Kibali-Ituri: Nioka , 26.ix.1954, leg. J. Hecq ; 1 male, Uele-Itimbiri : La Kulu 5.IV.1930 J. Van den Branden, gen. slide No.: LG 5851 ; 1 male, Uele: Paulis [Isiro], 21.x.1955, leg. Dr M. Fontaine, gen. slide No.: LG 5853 ; 1 male, Stan à Coq. , xi.1921, leg. L. Verlaine, gen. slide No.: LG 5864 ( RMCA) ; Kivu, Umgebung [near] Goma , station Rumangabo 15 km N town, about 2000m, 1°34’S, 29°16’E, 26.viii.1991, leg. T. Karisch ( SDEI) GoogleMaps . Equatorial Guinea, Bioko . 1 male, (Fernando Poo), Gran Caldera Volcanica de Luba u Ose , NNE-slope ca 4 km SSW Ruiche, 5 km S Luba, Mountain Cloud Forest, ca. 1700m, NN, 3°22’30”N, 8°32’30”E, 15.viii.1994, LT (125 W HQL) GoogleMaps , T. Karisch leg., gen. slide No.: LG 5034 ( ZSM G 20984 View Materials ) , DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 74423/GWORK1351-15 ( SDEI) . Ethiopia. 1 male, Region of Southern Nations, road Shishinda-Bonga , 6 km West of Wushwush, 7°18’32.12”N, 36°5’13.60”E, 12.v.2016, 1990m, LT, leg. D. Stadie & R. Fiebig, gen. slide No.: DS 222/2019 (prepared by László), DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 113002/GWOUH086-21 GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Region of Southern Nations, Bonga vic., Mankira Forest , near Andracha village , 07°11.138’N, 36°16.976’E, 14.v.2016, 1550m, LT, leg. Fiebig & Stadie, gen. slide No.: DS 223/2019 (prepared by László), DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 113003/GWOUH087-21 ( RCDS) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, 25 km SW of Bonga , 7.294°N, 36.376°E, 1860m, leg. Beck, R. & Riedel, G., DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109457/GWOUD721-20 ( ZSM) GoogleMaps . Kenya. 1 male, Central Aberdare Range, Kieni , 0.88666N, 36.75783E, 23.iv.2012, leg. M. Eisenring, gen. slide No.: LG 4428, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 71746/GWOTA680-13 ( ZSM) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Kakamega Forest N.R., Buyangu Hill , 17.x.2001 (Light trap), leg. L. Kühne, gen. slide No.: TK 3629 ( RCLK) ; 1 male, Kakamega Forest Reserve, Yala river section, Afromontane forest , 00°12’20.9”N, 34°52’52.3”E, 1530m, 18.vi.2004, leg. H.S. Staude, gen. slide No.: LG 5545 GoogleMaps ; 1 male, 1 female, Aberdare mountains, Gatamayu forest, 00°58’10.3”S, 36°41’40.9”E, 2276m, 09.xi.2007, Afromontane forest , leg. H.S. Staude, gen. slide No.: LG 5546 (male), LG 5547 (female) GoogleMaps ; 2 males, 6 females, Chyulu Hills , Afromontane forest on top, 1941m, 02°39’22.2”S, 37°52’15.2”E, 20.ii.2015, leg. H.S. Staude, gen. slide Nos.: LG 5552 (male), LG 5542, LG 5555, LG 5556, LG 5558 (females) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, 14 HSS 73 pup 28/02/15 em 12/03/15, gen. slide No.: LG 5553, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: HS6452/ANLMN5065-21 ( RCHS) . Republic of the Congo. 1 male, Sangha Prov., Noubale-Ndoki N.P., Ndoki formation camp ( Secondary forest ), 356m, 02°12’51.5”N, 16°23’40.1”E, 23.vi.2022, Actinic Light Trap, Dérozier, V. Leg. ANHRT:2022.9, gen. slide No.: LG 5914 ( ANHRT) GoogleMaps . Uganda. 1 male, Semliki NP, Semliki Camp Side , 00°49.236’N, 30°09.359’E, 22–23.iii.2013, LT, 697m, leg. R. Fiebig & D. Stadie, gen. slide No.: DS 227/2019 (prepared by László) ( RCDS) GoogleMaps ; 2 males, Masindi district, Butiaba, Budongo Forest, 01°42’56.7”N, 31°28’12.8”E, 1094m, Lake Victoria Moist Forest , 24.xi.2006, leg. H.S. Staude, gen. slide No.: LG 5543 ( RCHS) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Mpanga Forest, Camp site by ecotourism centre, gest̂rter Primärregenwald [disturbed primary rain forest], 0°12.4’N, 31°18.1’E, 1200m, 26.x.2014, leg. T. Karisch ( SDEI) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, Kibale Forest, 0.2 km N of Biological Field Station, gest̂rter Regenwald [disturbed rain forest], 1500m, 0°33’50.3”N, 30°21’23.6”E, 20.x.2014, leg. T. Karisch ( MNVD) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, same locality, 23.x.2014, leg. T. Karisch ( SDEI) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Forewing length 21–26 mm. Although A. angulosa has a somewhat more pointed forewing apex than the other taxa in the species-group, this feature is often difficult to recognise, especially in worn specimens. Therefore, reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia as A. angulosa occurs sympatrically with A. fiebigi sp. n. In the male genitalia, the distinctive features are clearly expressed in the configuration of the cornuti: A. angulosa has an elongate, medial cornuti field consisting of very dense, short cornuti and a stout, evenly curved, claw-shaped cornutus erected distally near the base of the vesica ejaculatorius. In comparison to A. angulosa , in A. fiebigi , the medial cornuti field of the vesica is markedly more extensive and the distal cornutus is substantially longer, more robust and straight along its entire length. In the female genitalia, the configuration of the cervix bursae is markedly different in the two species: it is clearly separated from the corpus bursae in A. angulosa , forming an elongate, heavily sclerotised and wrinkled swollen bulge, whereas it is fully integrated into the corpus bursae, covering two-thirds of the bursa copulatrix in A. fiebigi . Based on the genital morphology, the closest relative of A. angulosa is its East African allopatric sister species A. stadiei sp. n. from which it is distinguished by the shape of the distal cornutus: it is relatively thin and evenly curved along its entire length in A. angulosa , while it is gently curved only subbasally and straight in its distal two-thirds in A. stadiei . A further difference between A. angulosa and A. stadiei is observed in the configuration of the cornuti field of the vesica which is larger, consisting of somewhat longer spinules in A. angulosa than in its allied species. In the clasping apparatus, A. angulosa has an uncus distally produced into a Y-shaped apical projection, while the uncus of A. stadiei has a short and narrow, bifid tip. The ground plan of the female genitalia is basically identical in both species, the only difference being found in the shape of the cervix bursae which is larger, more elongate with an evenly arched right margin in A. angulosa , while it is markedly shorter with only a slightly arcuate right margin in A. stadiei .

Genetic information. Afroracotis angulosa has been assigned the BIN URI: BOLD:ADR6500.The intraspecific divergence ranges between 0.00–0.66%. The species is BIN-sharing with A. violetteae sp. n. at a pairwise distance of 0.00–0.77%; the nearest neighbours of A. angulosa are A. fiebigi sp. n. and A. stadiei sp. n. diverging at pairwise distances of 1.32–1.99% and 1.11–1.65%, respectively.

Distribution ( Map 2 View MAP 2 ). Afroracotis angulosa is widely distributed in central Africa with records from Bioko Island, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The species has not been recorded west of the Cameroon Line. In the Upper Guinea Forest region, the species is substituted by its West African allopatric sibling A. violetteae sp. n.

ZSM

Bavarian State Collection of Zoology

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

RMCA

Royal Museum for Central Africa

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Geometridae

Genus

Afroracotis

Loc

Afroracotis (Afroracotis) angulosa ( Herbulot, 1973 )

László, Gyula M., Hausmann, Axel & Karisch, Timm 2023
2023
Loc

Racotis angulosa

Herbulot 1973
1973
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