Azygophleps defreinai Yakovlev & Witt, 2017

Yakovlev, Roman V. & Witt, Thomas J., 2017, Four new species of Azygophleps Hampson, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Africa, Zootaxa 4303 (3), pp. 437-444 : 441

Azygophleps defreinai Yakovlev & Witt , sp. nov.

( Figs. 5 , 14 , 16 )

Material. Holotype: ♂, Südafrica [ South Africa], KwaZulu Natal Prov. , Südl. Drakensberge Region, 30 km SSW Underberg, Coleford Nature Reserve, 1750¯ 1900 m, 24.¯ 25.i.2002, leg. J. de Freina (GenPr MWM: 25.287; MWM); paratype: 1 ♂, Krantzkloof, Natal, 2.ii. [19]18, L. Hargreaves ( TMSA).

Description. Length of forewing 18 mm. Antennae bipectinate in proximal half, filiform in distal half. Thorax, tegula and patagia covered with white scales. Fore wing white with reticulated pattern of black undulated transverse strokes, evenly distributed throughout wing surface excluding narrow white band without pattern in medial area. Hind wing with intensive grey spraying and the same reticulated black pattern. Anal edge of hind wing white without pattern. Fringe on wings of cream colour, unicolorous.

Male genitalia. Uncus long, triangle, with uncinate tapered apex; gnathos arms thin, ribbon-like, narrowing to apices, not fused; valva simple, leaf-like, with even edges; juxta large, with rounded abdominal edge and two long dorsally directed lateral processes with narrowing in middle third (like sand glass); saccus small, semicircular; phallus 1,5 x shorter than valva, thick; vesica with large lobe-like sclerite in lateral surface.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis. The new species is externally distinguished from all known Azygophleps species by the following features: thin reticulated pattern on the forewing, grey spraying and thin reticulated pattern on the hindwing and also by the details of the juxta structure: the lateral processes have an expressed narrowing in the middle third.

Distribution. Republic of South Africa, KwaZulu Natal Prov., Drakensberg Mts.

Etymology. The new species is named after Josef de Freina, a prominent German entomologist, specialist in Macroheterocera, who collected the holotype of the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Azygophleps species (adult specimens): 1. A. snizeki, holotype; 2. A. snizeki, paratype, ♀, Kenya, NW of Garsen, 14.–17.xii.2009, leg. Snizek (MWM); 3. A. wahlbergi, holotype; 4. A. wahlbergi, paratype, ♀, Kenya, Garissa, S of Bura, 24.vi.2011, leg. Snizek (MWM); 5. A. defreinai, holotype; 6. A. junkeri, holotype (MWM); 7. A. junkeri, paratype, ♂, Tanzanie, Rukwa Province, Mbizi Mts., entre Kisungu et Muze, 1415 m, 07°43.826S 031°32.482E, 14.v.2004, leg. Ph. Darge (MWM); 8. A. liturata (Aurivillius, 1879), holotype, ♂; Damara (NHMS); 9. A. liturata, ♂, Nordost-Namibia, Westl. Caprivi, Okavango Region, 1050 m, 27.i.1998, leg. J. de Freina (MWM); 10. A. sheikh Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011, holotype, ♂, W Saudi Arabia, N-Asir, 40 km W Taif, 1000 m, 27.x.1997, leg. A. Legrain (MWM); 11. A. sheikh Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2011, paratype, ♀, Saudi Arabia, Asir, Muhayl, 800 m, 8.x.1983, A. R. Pittaway (BMNH).

FIGURES 12–15. Azygophleps species (male genitalia): 12. A. snizeki, holotype (GenPr MWM: 25.285); 13. A. wahlbergi, holotype (GenPr MWM: 25.286); 14. A. defreinai, holotype (GenPr MWM: 25.287); 15. A. junkeri, holotype (GenPr MWM: 26759).

FIGURES 16–17. Azygophleps species (female genitalia): 16. A. snizeki, paratype (GenPr MWM: 30.891); 17. A. wahlbergi, paratype (GenPr MWM: 30.890).