Gracililema proleucodes ( Kiriakoff, 1958 )

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 : 67

Gracililema proleucodes ( Kiriakoff, 1958)

( Figs 4 , 26 )

Eilema proleucodes Kiriakoff, 1958 , British Museum (Natural History) Ruwenzori Expedition 1952. Arctiidae (except Nolinae), Thyretidae and Notodontidae, 1 (2): 10 (Type locality: “ Uganda: Bundibugyo, 3440 ft ”).

Type material examined. Holotype ( Figs 4 , 26 ): female, “ Uganda: Ruwenzori Range. Bundibugyo. 3,440 ft. 22.viii–3.ix.1952. D.S.Fletcher. ” / “Ruwenzori Exped. B.M.1952-566.” / “ S. G. Kiriakoff det., 1954 Eilema proleucodes sp.n. ” / red ring “Type” label / “ Arctiidae genitalia slide No. 23” / “Neg. No. 14084” / QR-code label with unique number “ NHMUK 010889648 ” ( NHMUK).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.5 mm in the holotype female. Gracililema proleucodes ( Fig. 4 ) is externally similar to G. proleuca ( Figs 1–3 ) but has a somewhat wider forewing. In the female genitalia of G. proleucodes ( Fig. 26 ), the posterior diverticulum of the corpus bursae is markedly shorter and narrower than in G. proleuca ( Fig. 25 ), and the apophyses anteriores are longer (in proportion to the length of the ovipositor). Additionally, the ductus bursae is anteriorly dilated in G. proleucodes whereas it is tapered in G. proleuca .

Male is unknown.

Distribution. Known only from its type locality in the eastern foothills of the Ruwenzori Range in western Uganda ( 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 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).