Coccothera nicomacha ( Meyrick, 1921 ) Larsen, 2023

Larsen, Knud, 2023, Description of a new species from Africa in genus Coccothera Meyrick, 1914, with additional taxonomic and faunistic information on two other Coccothera species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Grapholitini), Metamorphosis 34 (1), pp. 50-58 : 53-55

Coccothera nicomacha ( Meyrick, 1921) , comb. nov.

Figs. 7–11 .

Laspeyresia nicomacha Meyrick, 1921 . Ann. Transv. Mus., 8(2): 61; Razowski & Krüger 2007: 135 Figs. 144 & 309.

Material examined

Namibia: 2 spec. E. Caprivi: 15 km NW Ngoma, 930 m, 17˚53' S, 24˚34' E, 26.ii.2006, Li/LiFa, leg. H.Hacker & HP.Schreier, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 3525 & 3535 KL; Tanzania: 1 spec. Morogoro district & town, 550–600 m, 28.x.1992, leg. L. Aarvik, coll. NHMO; gen. prep. ♂ 2719 L. Aarvik; 1 spec. Morogoro district: Bunduki, 1300 m., 20.xi.1992, leg. L. Aarvik, coll. NHMO; gen. prep. ♀ 2721 L. Aarvik; 1 spec., Morogoro district & town, 550–600 m, 13.i.1993, leg. L. Aarvik, coll. NHMO; gen. prep. ♀ 2720 L. Aarvik; 3 spec. Iringa: 12 km. E Iringa, 1400 m, 8– 9.iii.2003, leg. H. Hacker & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 3536 KL, 4368 KL & 4369 KL; 1 spec. Iringa: 12 km. E. Iringa, 1600, 24–25.xi.2004, leg. K. Larsen & T. Zandersen, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♂ 4369 KL;

Ethiopia: 1 spec. Southern, 08°13'49" N, 37°34'53" E, 23 km WSW Welkite, Giber, 28.x.2010, 1090 m, Li, leg. J. De Freina, H. Hacker, H. Peks & H-P. Schreier, coll. KL; gen. prep. ♀ 3540 KL.

Coccothera nicomacha ( Meyrick, 1921) was described based on a single female and later the specimen and the remaining part of the female genitalia were figured ( Razowski & Krüger, 2007).

The slide only contained bursa and half of ductus bursa. In this genus the connection of the ductus bursa to sterigma is extremely fragile and will often break off under preparation of the slide. However, the species is easy to recognize on the wing pattern as well as on the genitalia.

The female holotype is labelled: [ Zimbabwe]: Umtali [Mutare], [Southern] Rhod[esia], 5-I-[19]18 (A.J.T. Janse) gen. prep. 13654; type no. 1040 .

Meyrick (1921) remarked that L. nicomacha is allied to Laspeyresia victrix Meyrick 1918 .

Description

Imago: ( Figs. 7–8 ). Wingspan 8–11 mm, ground colour dark grey to black with fine light beige strigulation. Wing shape triangular. Basal blotch bordered with a shiny metallic line and with a dorsal shiny metallic spot both dark lead coloured. The basal blotch can have darker shadows and marks. Median fascia present at costal half as a nearly square black area against apex with two projections and bordered with a light line. Speculum narrow reaching two thirds of the wing, lighter grey bordered with a fine black line more or less interrupted. Between the median fascia and speculum there is a round blotch divided by three to four fine black lines. The blotch is partially bordered with a fine black line. Three costal strigulae before apex. Termen with a black line interrupted by a postapical strigula. Fringes black. Hindwings dark grey to black, lighter towards basal part. Termen with a black basal line. Fringes divided black and light grey. Wing shape of females are squarer otherwise like males. The species is very variable in size and the markings can be more or less pronounced. The figure of the type has a strong black mark in the basal blotch, but this is not a diagnostic character.

Male genitalia: ( Figs. 9 & 10 ). The male genitalia vary considerable in size. Valva simple elongate with parallel sides, rounded, cucullus hairy, ventrally with a few small thorns, sacculus indistinct straight; vinculum triangular, strongly sclerotized; uncus very weak; pedunculus weak, rounded; length of phallus like the valva, sausage shaped, slightly oblique at the end.

Female genitalia: ( Fig. 11 ). Sterigma rounded; ostium indistinct; subgenital sternite weakly emarginated, broad; ductus bursa long, slender, slightly enlarged before bursa; bursa round with weakly sclerotized structure, two medium sized, thorn-shaped signa.

Diagnosis

Laspeyresia nicomacha Meyrick, 1921 resembles C. spissana (Zell.) and C. albolineana spec. nov.

Imagines differ from C. spissana by the large black area in the upper half of the median fascia and with the round blotch divided by three to four fine black lines placed towards apex; from C. albolineana spec. nov. it differs by the larger size and by the dividing line on the fore wing which is shiny grey, not white. The male genitalia have a short rounded valva with a few thorns ventrally at the cucullus and a sausage shaped phallus. The female genitalia have a semicircular sterigma and two medium sized thorn-shaped signa. The subgenital sternite is broad and less emarginated dorsally.

Biology

Only the ten mentioned specimens and the type specimen from Zimbabwe are known. They are found from October to March. Localities are indistinct dryer savannah or bush land. Host plant is unknown.

Distribution

Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Ethiopia.

Remarks

Coccothera nicomacha was originally placed in the genus Laspeyresia based on a single female although the genus Coccothera was erected already in 1914 by the same author. The definition may be due to the lack of material. The strongly strigulated wing and the shiny metallic lines and spots on the wing have the same structure as in Coccothera spissana ( Zeller, 1852) . The shape of valva and the general structure of both male and female genitalia define the species as belonging to the genus Coccothera .

Figures

Figure 7 – C. nicomacha (Meyr.) ♂ P. 3536 KL, 11 mm. Tanzania, Iringa.

Figure 8 – C. nicomacha (Meyr.) ♀ P. 2720 LA, 11 mm. Tanzania, Morogoro.

Figure 9 – C. nicomacha (Meyr.) ♂ P. 3536 KL, Tanzania, Iringa.

Figure 10 – C. nicomacha (Meyr.) ♂ P. 4368 KL, Tanzania, Iringa.

Figure 11 – C. nicomacha (Meyr.) ♀ P. 2721 LA, Tanzania, Morogoro.