Metarctia (Hebena) lukaszi Fiebig, László, Volynkin & Taberer, 2023

Fiebig, Ralf, László, Gyula M., Volynkin, Anton V. & Taberer, Tabitha R., 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the Metarctia Walker, 1855 subgenus Hebena Walker, 1856, with descriptions of six new species and one new subspecies (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini), Zootaxa 5339 (4), pp. 301-354 : 329-331

Metarctia (Hebena) lukaszi Fiebig, László, Volynkin & Taberer sp. n.

(Figs adults 11a–f, 22, 32; genitalia 50a–b, 60; habitats 67–68, 75–76)

Holotype. male “ Angola, prov. Benguela, btw. Ganda & Dende, 1307.773`` S / 1442.033`E, 1210 m, 25. March. 2014, leg. Sulak, Naumann & Ott, DNA barcode id.: BC ZSM Lep 111901, BOLD process id.: GWOUH526-21, gen. slide No.: GP 28.685 ( RCRF, later ZSM).

Paratypes (14 males, 2 females in total). Angola. 5 males, 2 females, same data as in the holotype, DNA barcode id.: BC ZSM Lep 111902, BOLD process id.: GWOUH506-21, gen. slide No.: GP 36.770 (female), gen. slide No. : GP 28.690 (female), RF 659.2021, GP 28.689; 9 males, Huambo prov., 6 km N Chnigenge, Serra do Dembi , 1246.681’S, 1454.377’E, 1400m, 26.iii.2014, leg. Sulak, Naumann & Ott, DNA barcode id.: BC ZSM Lep 111900, BOLD process id.: GWOUH504-21, gen. slide No. : GP 28.686 ( RCRF, RCHS, MWW, ZSM) .

Diagnosis. Metarctia lukaszi sp. n. is a West Angolan sibling of M. henrardi and the two species are distinguished only in the different configuration of their copulatory organs.

In the male genitalia, the new species has a markedly larger, basally much broader basal lobe of the valva costa with its apex covered in longer and thinner, more dense setae. The anellus (fultura superior) of M. lukaszi is smaller, reverse-trapezoidal (it is quadrangular in M. henrardi ) with a much broader proximal margin, and the distal part of the juxta is considerably narrower in the new species than in its congener. In the female genitalia, the two species are distinguished by the larger, distally more quadrangular lamella antevaginalis and the deeper and broader sinus vaginalis of M. lukaszi .

Description. Adult. Forewing length 15–17 mm in males, 19–21 mm in females. The adults of M. lukaszi and M. henrardi share identical external habitus, therefore the description of the latter taxon is applied here for the new species, too.

Male genitalia. Uncus stout, moderately long, ventromedially dilated, subapically slightly curved, and produced into a pointed apex. Tegumen short and narrow, arms fused in distal half. Valva very broad at base, transtilla reduced, costal margin with a robust, elongate-trapezoidal basal projection with distal half covered in long, dense setae; distal valva margin short, concave, terminal process of valva long, narrow, apically rounded. Sacculus short and narrow, medially with very short, elongate, sparsely setose distal crest. Anellus (fultura superior) quadrangular inverse-trapezoidal with narrow distal and lateral and very broad proximal margins, fused with basally bifurcate, distally ribbon-like juxta (fultura inferior). Vinculum short, V-shaped, apically rounded. Phallus short and thin, dilated proximally with very broad, T-shaped coecum, medially slightly curved, apex with short, rounded carina process. Vesica dilated basally, gradually tapered into narrow vesica ejaculatorius, medial section with narrow longitudal field of tiny spinules.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis short, rounded-quadrangular, barely setose; posterior apophysis short (ca. two-thirds as long as papilla analis), thin, pointed. Eighth tergite very short, evenly arched, ribbon-like; anterior apophysis very small, almost fully reduced. Ostium bursae broad, goblet-shaped, with very narrow sclerotized distal margin, lamella antevaginalis large, rounded quadrangular with distal section outreaching ostium bursae. Ductus bursae relatively thick, short, tubular, moderately sclerotized, cervix bursae unmodified. Tubular distal part of corpus bursae membranous, ca. twice as long as ductus bursae, gradually dilated proximad; dilated proximal section of corpus bursae large, ovoid; signum bursae represented by a long and broad, anteriorly gradually dilated, very finely spinulose longitudinal field.

Genetic information. Metarctia lukaszi is BIN sharing with M. henrardi , and belongs to the BIN URI: BOLD: AAU0236. The infraspecific variability of M. lukaszi is 0.46−0.77%.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Łukasz Przybyłowicz, Krakow, Poland acknowledging his outstanding merits in the studies of the Afrotropical Syntomini .

Distribution ( Map 4 ). M. lukaszi is known only from the western highlands of Angola.

Figures

MAP 4. Distribution of Metarctia (Hebena) henrardi and M. (H.) lukaszi.