Gracililema proleuca ( Hampson, 1914 )

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Gracililema Krüger with descriptions of three new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5115 (1), pp. 63-78 : 66-67

Gracililema proleuca ( Hampson, 1914)

( Figs 1–3 , 17, 18 , 25 )

Ilema proleuca Hampson, 1914 , Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Supplement Volume 1: 499, pl. 27: fig. 15 (Type locality: [ Ghana] “Gold Coast, Aburi ”).

Type material examined. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 17 ): male, “ Gold Coast. Aburi. 3.III.1911 L.Armstrong. 1913-14.” / “ Ilema proleuca type ♂. Hmpsn.” / red ring “Type H. T.” label / “ Arctiidae genitalia slide No. 25” / QR-code label with unique number “ NHMUK 010889644 ” ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined (16 males and 12 females). GUINEA: 2 males, 1 female, 540–600m, 619km ESE of Conakry, Nzerekore Region, Prefecture de Lola, Ziela env., x.2017, 7˚42’N, 8˚221’W, local collectors leg. ( ANHRT) ; LIBERIA: 3 males, 2 females, 1165m, Nimba county, ENNR , Nimba Mts camp, 7˚31’45’’N, 8˚31’37’’W, 3–13.xii.2017, MV (125w) & blended bulb (250w) light traps, Aristophanous, M., Sáfián , Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5301 ; 1 male, 1 female, 1000–1100m, Nimba Mts, ENNR , Nimba county ( Cellcom road), 7˚32’45.88’’N, 8˚31’21.04’’W, 02–14.xii.2017, Cold Cathode Light Bucket, Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ; 1 female, 1000–1100m, ENNR , Nimba Mts, Cellcom Rd. , 7˚32’45.9’’N, 8˚31’21’’W, 27.iii.–04.iv.2017, light trap (250w blended bulb) & cold cathode UV light bucket trap (8w), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg.; 1 male, 865m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge camp, 8˚07’10’’N, 9˚57’11’’W, 24–29.xi.2017, Light Trap (blended bulb 250w), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 883m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge camp 2, 8˚7’20.79’’N, 9˚56’50.75’’W, 22–31.xi.2018, Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8w), Sáfián, Sz. , Simonics, G. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5303 ; 1 male, 1002m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Elephant Ridge , 8˚7’1.46’’N, 9˚55’24.18’’W, 23–26.xi.2018, Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8w), Sáfián, Sz. , Simonics, G. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5302 ; IVORY COAST: 6 males, 5 females, 1171m, Mt. Tonkoui Peak , 07˚27’15.2’’N, 07˚38’12.5’’W, 1–8.xi.2015, light trap, Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV4549 (male) ; 1 male, 1 female, same locality and collectors as previous, 12–18.vii.2015, gen. prep. No.: AV4559 (female) ; 1 female, same locality as previous, 19–27.xi.2019, MV light trap, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V ., Moretto , P., Ouattara, S. leg. ; 1 female, same locality as previous, 20–27.v.2018, MV light trap, Aristophanous, M., Miles, W., Moretto, P., Ouattara, S. leg. ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11.5–13.0 mm in males and 12.0–14.5 mm in females. The species is characterized by the relatively narrow forewing with a thin pale yellow costal stripe ( Figs 1–3 ). The male genitalia of the species ( Figs 17, 18 ) are most similar to those of G. bettoni sp. n. ( Figs 19, 20 ), the distinctive features between the two taxa are discussed in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to G. lydiae sp. n. ( Figs 21, 22 ) and G. smithi sp. n. ( Figs 23, 24 ), the male genital capsule of G. proleuca has a basally wider valva. In the vesica, the lateral diverticulum is very short and the cornutus is markedly more robust than in G. lydiae sp. n. and G. smithi sp. n. The female genitalia of G. proleuca ( Fig. 25 ) are similar to those of G. proleucodes ( Fig. 26 ) and G. bettoni sp. n. ( Fig. 27 ), the comparisons are provided below under the diagnoses of the species.

Distribution. Known from Ghana ( Hampson 1914), Ivory Coast, Liberia and Guinea (new records) ( Fig. 31 ).

Figures

FIGURE 31. Distribution map of Gracililema spp.

FIGURES 1–8. Gracililema spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 4–6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 2, 3 and 8 in ANHRT; 7 in ZSM.

FIGURES 17–20. Gracililema spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 17 and 19 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 18 in ANHRT; 20 in ZSM.

FIGURES 25–29. Gracililema spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 25, 28 and 29 in ANHRT; 26 and 27 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

FIGURES 21–24. Gracililema spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 21, 23 and 24 in ANHRT; 22 in ZSM.