Prasinocyma getachewi, Hausmann, Axel, Sciarretta, Andrea & Parisi, Francesco, 2016

Hausmann, Axel, Sciarretta, Andrea & Parisi, Francesco, 2016, The Geometrinae of Ethiopia II: Tribus Hemistolini, genus Prasinocyma (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Geometrinae), Zootaxa 4065 (1), pp. 1-63 : 15

Prasinocyma getachewi sp. n.

( Figs 7 , 48 )

Holotype. 1♂, S. Ethiopia [Southern Nations], Arba Minch, 16 – 26.IX.2000, leg. R. Beck ( BC ZSM Lep 13169; gen.prp. ZSM G 19398).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Wingspan. Male 22 mm. Ground colour green, slightly irrorated with white strigulae; with conspicuous white spot at ½ of the inner margin. On fore- and hindwings, discal dots developed as elongate dark green streaks towards costa. Terminal dots absent from fore- and hindwings. Hindwing termen rounded. Length of male palpi 1.2 times diameter of eye, tip pale brown. Male antennae bipectinate with pale ochre branches. Male frenulum very weak. Male hindtibia with weak pencil and four spurs.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 48 ). Uncus short, broad, bill-shaped. Socci setose, flat, but extended. Gnathos and tegumen subdivided to four sclerites. Saccus narrowly projecting. Valva comparatively long and narrow, with basal elongate triangular process, membranous ventral lobe of valva very small. Aedeagus long (1.65 mm), straight and very narrow, with a single elongate cornutus. Sternum A8 not sclerotized, without modifications at posterior margin.

Differential diagnosis. In several details of male genitalia (shape of valve, uncus, gnathos and aedeagus) reminiscent of P. simiaria ( Guenée, 1858) from Senegal, but differing in the broader uncus, different shape of tegumen, longer projection of sacchus, unmodified sternum A8 and the conspicuous white spot of the inner margin of forewing. Basal projection of valva perhaps homologous to equivalents in P. pumilata and P. immaculata .

Genetic data. No BIN assigned in Ethiopia (short sequence), but BOLD:ABY5085 with specimens from Ghana and Sierra Leone apparently refers to this species. Nearest neighbour in Ethiopia: P. baumgaertneri sp. n. (1.7%).

Etymology. The name refers to Dr. Getachew Tikubet, Addis Ababa, supporting the research projects of the University of Molise in Ethiopia.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. Adults of Ethiopian Prasinocyma species. Scale Bar— 1 cm. In parantheses the ID-numbers of genitalia slides, and / or DNA barcoding, and / or nomenclatural status of the illustrated specimen are given. 7. Prasinocyma getachewi sp. n. (BC ZSM Lep 13169; Holotype); 8. Prasinocyma baumgaertneri sp. n. (BC ZSM Lep 81479; Holotype); 9. Prasinocyma oblita Prout, 1930 (gen. prp. ZSM G 16002); 10. Prasinocyma hailei Debauche, 1937 (BC ZSM Lep 85812 - 83226); 11. Prasinocyma loveridgei Prout, 1926 (cf. perpulverata Prout, 1916); 12. Prasinocyma nereis Townsend, 1952 (comb. n.) (BC ZSM Lep 83221).

FIGURES 47 – 50. Male genitalia of Ethiopian Prasinocyma species. Scale Bar (s) — 1 mm. In parantheses the ID – numbers of genitalia slides are given. 47. Prasinocyma tranquilla Prout, 1917 (gen. prp. ZSM G 19642); 48. Prasinocyma getachewi sp. n. (gen. prp. ZSM G 19398); 49. Prasinocyma baumgaertneri sp. n. (gen. prp. DAEF GP); 50. Prasinocyma oblita Prout, 1930 (gen. prp. ZSM G 16001).