Sarothroceras banaka (Plötz, 1880)

Takano, Hitoshi & Volynkin, Anton V., 2024, On the taxonomy of the genus Sarothroceras Mabille, 1889 (Erebidae: Calpinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 71, pp. 210-216 : 211-213

Sarothroceras banaka (Plötz, 1880)

( Figs 1–4 , 9, 10 , 13, 14 , 17 )

? Dichromia banaka Plötz, 1880 , Stettiner entomologische Zeitung, 41 (7–9): 300 (Type locality: [ Cameroon] ‘Victoria’).

= Phaegorista pallida Druce, 1883 , Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 20: 156 (Type locality: [ Gabon] ‘Ogowai, East Central Africa’).

= Sarothroceras rhomboidea Weymer, 1892 , Stettiner entomologische Zeitung, 53 (4–6): 104–105 (Type locality: ‘Cameroon’).

Material examined. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Nouabalé- Ndoki National Park , Bomassa camp, 341m, 02°12’36.9”N, 16°11’30.2”E, 10–16.x.2022, leg. V. Dérozier, B. Fouka, A. Kirk-Spriggs & H. Takano (3♂♂) ; same data but Makao forest , 349m, 02°36’24.5”N, 17°09’23.8”E, 24–29.ix.2022 (1♂ 1♀) ; same data but Mbeli camp, 372m, 02°14’23.8”N, 16°23’52.1”E, 02–10.x.2022 (4♂♂ 1♀) ; same data but Ndoki formation, 352m, 02°12’47.7”N, 16°23’45.8”E, 29.ix–01.x.2022 (1♂) ; same data but Mondika camp, 365m, 02°21’50.63”N, 16°16’25.82”E, 27.iv–06.v.2023, leg. V. Dérozier, A. KirkSpriggs, G. László & S. Mvouende (1♂ 1♀) ; UGANDA: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , Cuckooland Lodge, 1700m, 01°00’17”S, 29°43’06”E, 28–29.vi.2022, leg. S. Naumann, E. Ott, A. Schintlmeister & H. Sulak (1♂) ; Kalinzu Forest , iii.1938, leg. T. H.E. Jackson (1♀, OUMNH) .

Diagnosis. Both sexes of Sarothroceras have variable upperside markings, some specimens with reduced (or wholly absent) white postmedial markings on the forewing ( Figs 6, 7 ) and the hindwing basal patch varying in colour from red ( Figs 1, 4 ) to yellow ( Figs 2, 3 ). On the forewing underside, S. banaka has a suffusion of pale reddish-yellow scales in the space between veins Cu1b and CuP ( Figs 9, 10 ) which is absent in S. alluaudi ( Figs 11, 12 ). This feature is most noticeable in fresh specimens but nevertheless visible in older specimens. In the male genitalia, S. banaka ( Figs 13, 14 ) differs from S. alluaudi ( Figs 15, 16 ) in the somewhat narrower valva with a more tapered apex, and the somewhat narrower distal diverticulum of the vesica. The female genitalia of the two species display more substantial differences and, unlike S. alluaudi ( Fig. 18 ), S. banaka ( Fig. 17 ) has a shorter apophysis anterioris, a somewhat longer and broader antrum, and a longer signum bursae.

DNA divergences. Sarothroceras banaka has been assigned the BIN BOLD:ABV9064. Intraspecific PWD were between 0.0–1.1% (n=5) and interspecific PWD between S. banaka and S. alluaudi were 2.3–3.3%. Distribution. Forested regions of central Africa east of the Dahomey Gap ( Fig. 19 ).

Figures

Figure 19. Distribution map of Sarothroceras alluaudi (red circles) and S. banaka (blue triangles). Stars indicate type localities. The single black open triangle is a specimen from Nigeria cited in Lödl (2010) that has not been examined but is believed to be S. banaka.

Figures 1–8. Sarothroceras spp.: adults, dorsal view. The specimens are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 9–12. Sarothroceras spp.: forewing underside. Arrows indicate the presence (S. banaka: 9, 10) and the lack (S. alluaudi: 11, 12) of the suffusion of pale reddish-yellow scales in the space between veins Cu1b and CuP. The specimens are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 13–16. Sarothroceras spp.: male genitalia, ventral view. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 17–18. Sarothroceras spp.: female genitalia, ventral view. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.