Cyana (Idiovulpecula) lowa, Volynkin & László, 2019

Volynkin, Anton V. & László, Gyula M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the subgenera Cyabarda Karisch, 2013, Idiovulpecula Karisch, 2013 and Paravulpeculella Karisch, 2013 of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854, with descriptions of three new species from Africa (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini), Zootaxa 4664 (3), pp. 377-389 : 384

Cyana (Idiovulpecula) lowa sp. nov.

( Figs 10 , 21 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:64ECFDC1-3169-446A-AB90-BA28BB4219FC

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 10 , 21 ): ♂, “35. 24. Lowowo Valley, South Lowa District , W. Kivu, 4000 ft., moun- tain forest, March ’24. Wet season. T.A. Barns ” / “Joicey Coll. Brit. Mus. 1925-157.” / “ NHMUK 010918080 ”, slide NHMUK010315743 Volynkin (Coll. NHMUK).

Diagnosis. Cyana lowa ( Fig. 10 ) is similar externally to C. maculata ( Fig. 9 ), but differs by its significantly smaller size and the absence of a greyish brown suffusion on hindwing. The male genital capsule of C. lowa ( Fig. 21 ) is similar to that of C. maculata ( Fig. 20 ), but differs by its evenly rounded tip of vinculum (that is straight in C. lowa ), more prominent costal protrusion of valva with shorter inner crest, and slightly narrower vinculum compared to those of C. maculata . The aedeagus of C. lowa is broader than that of C. maculata , with unilobate coecum (that is bilobate in C. maculata ) and the more robust carinal process directed dorsally (that is narrower and directed distally in C. maculata ). The vesica of C. lowa is broader than that of C. maculata , has a large bilobate subbasal diverticulum with an elongated and curved distal lobe (the subbasal diverticulum is small, tubercle-like in C. maculata ). The medial and distal sections of vesica of C. lowa is membranous bearing a subapical bunch of long and thin spinules, while in C. maculata the outer surface of vesica is densely covered by numerous relatively short, fine, acute cornuti.

Description. External morphology of male adult ( Fig. 10 ). Forewing length 10.5 mm in male. Body offwhite with brownish suffusion. Forewing ground color creamy white with sparse suffusion of greyish brown scales. Forewing pattern greyish brown. Subbasal spot diffuse, broad. Antemedial line interrupted into three diffuse spots of various sizes, with the largest one at anal wing margin. Cell with one large elongate spot medially and one smaller spot distally. Postmedial line curved opposite the cell, interrupted, represented by diffuse spots between veins. Subterminal line presented as one large, diffuse spot at wing apex and two small barely visible spots between veins at outer wing margin. Cilia creamy white. Hindwing creamy white, without pattern. Male genitalia ( Fig. 21 ). Uncus trigonal, dorso-ventrally flattened, apically rounded, fused with tuba analis basally. Tuba analis broad, subscaphium weakly setose. Tegumen short and narrow. Juxta broad, inverse shield-shaped, with a short, but well developed ventro-medial crest. Vinculum short, broad U-shaped, with robust saccus. Valva narrow basally broadened medially. Transtillae broad, ribbon-like. Costa with large trigonal dorsal protrusion bearing subapical inner crest. Cucullus broad, apically rounded, weakly setose. Sacculus moderately broad, sclerotised, its distal process large, robust, strongly curved dorsad, apically pointed. Aedeagus moderately broad, slightly curved distally; coecum prominent, twice narrower than the main tube; carina with robust, trigonal, thorn-like process directed dorsad. Vesica membranous, broadened medially, curved ventrally, with two small diverticula situated laterally and with subapical field of thin and relatively short acute spinules; subbasal diverticulum bilobate, with a broad, short, rounded dorsal lobe, and a narrow, elongated hook-like curved distal lobe. Vesica ejaculatorius directed anteriorly.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Maniema and Upper Uele Provinces) ( Karisch 2013).

Etymology. The species’ name refers to its type locality, the former Lowa District of the Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Figures

FIGURES 9–15. Cyana spp.: adults. 9, C. maculata, ♂, Rwanda (ZSM); 10, C. lowa, holotype ♂, DR Congo (©NHMUK); 11, C. foya, holotype ♂, Liberia (ANHRT); 12, C. foya, paratype ♀, Liberia (ANHRT); 13, C. magnitrigutta, holotype ♀, Cameroon (©NHMUK); 14, C. pretoriae, lectotype ♂, S Africa (©NHMUK); 15, C. pretoriae, ♀, S Africa (©NHMUK).

FIGURES 20–23. Cyana spp.: male genitalia (genital capsule and aedeagus of each species are given in the same scale). 20, C. maculata, Rwanda, slide ZSM Arct. 176/2017 Volynkin (ZSM); 21, C. lowa, holotype, DR Congo, slide NHMUK010315743 (©NHMUK); 22, C. foya, holotype, Liberia, slide AV4594 (ANHRT); 23, C. pretoriae, Zambia, slide AV3031 (ANHRT).