Mutinondia smithi, Volynkin & Takano, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V. & Takano, Hitoshi, 2023, Mutinondia, a new genus for a new species from Zambia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 70, pp. 70-76 : 75-76

Mutinondia smithi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:808FDFD2-BF0C-4CE0-A142-42F058FAC33A

( Figs 1, 2 , 9 , 13 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 9 ): male, “ Zambia 1460m | Mutinondo Wilderness Area , | Mpika, Northern Prov. | 12˚27'06''S, 31˚17'30''E | 14–17.ii.2019 MV Light Trap | Dérozier, V., Mulvaney, L., | Takano, H. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.4” / “ANHRTUK | 00229302” / “Slide | AV7061 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes: 2 males and 17 females, the same data as in the holotype, MV , Actinic and LepiLED Light Traps, gen. prep. No.: AV7146 ♀ ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11.5–12.0 mm in both sexes. Mutinondia smithi sp. n. is externally vaguely reminiscent of members of the genus Anaphosia and the detailed diagnosis is provided above under the new genus description.

Distribution and bionomics. The new species is currently known only from its type locality, Mutinondo Wilderness Area in Muchinga Province, Zambia. The site lies on the Mesoproterozoic Irumide Belt to the west of the Luangwa Valley and consists of an undulating landscape of distinctive large granite inselbergs interspersed with undisturbed Miombo woodland and seasonally inundated grassland ( Fig. 17 ). Specimens of the new species were caught at light traps set directly at the summit of or at the foot of these inselbergs and it is possible that the larvae feed on lichens that grow on these exposed outcrops. Moreover, despite sampling at this site for many years in different seasons, the type series was captured during one short sampling event during the rainy season which may suggest it has a short flight period. Numerous endemic species are known from this region including the butterfly Charaxes mutinondoensis Collins, Congdon & Bampton, 2017 and it is likely that this new species has a similarly restricted distribution.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Richard Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ANHRT, who through organising and undertaking numerous entomological expeditions to Sub-Saharan Africa has enabled the discovery of numerous species new to science. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figure 17. Mutinondo Wilderness Area, northeast Zambia, type locality of the new species.

Figures 1–8. Lithosiina spp., type species of the corresponding genera: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 2, 7 and 8 in ANHRT; 3–6 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 9–12. Lithosiina spp., type species of the corresponding genera: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 9 and 10 in ANHRT; 11 and 12 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 13–16. Lithosiina spp., type species of the corresponding genera: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 13 and 14 in ANHRT; 15 in MWM/ZSM; 16 in OUMNH.