Saalmulleria analameranaensis, Lehmann & Dalsgaard, 2023

Lehmann, Ingo & Dalsgaard, Thure, 2023, Revision of Saalmulleria Mabille, 1891 (Lepidoptera, Metarbelidae) from Madagascar with the description of three new genera and fifteen new species, Evolutionary Systematics 7 (1), pp. 133-182 : 133

Saalmulleria analameranaensis sp. nov.

Figs 4f , 14b

Material examined.

Female , Holotype, " Madagascar Nord", “forêt de Analamerana, 50 km S.E. Diego-Suarez " [Analamerana forest, Western region], "alt. 80 m " [altitude 80 m], "29.I. au 3.II.1959 " [19th January to 03rd February 1959] P. Viette [Pierre Viette leg.]; genitalia slide number 09/102009 Dr. D. Stüning & I. Lehmann (MNHN).

Description.

Female Head: rough-scaled; long hair-like scales of brownish-olive mixed with sepia scales on fronto-clypeus; eyes brownish-olive with small black spots; a pair of small rudimentary pits is present on lower fronto-clypeus, a pair of conical projections absent, pits behind labial palpi absent; lower fronto-clypeus is broad, as broad as half of eye-diameter (viewed anteriorly) and smooth, without any structures; labial palpi brownish-olive, very short and small, much less than half of eye-diameter, narrow, consisting of three segments, basal and central segments are of almost equal length, 1st (basal) segment is very broad, 1.3 × broader than central segment, rectangular, third segment on top is triangular and ca. 85% length of central segment. Antennae bipectinate, narrow and long branches, 4 × longer than width of shaft, branches are slightly longer on lower half of antennae and are widely separated at base with 1.5 × width of branch, dorsal and lateral sides of branches not scaled, but with many setae in pairs ventrally and laterally, dorsal and lateral sides of flagellum scaled deep olive-buff mixed with brownish-olive.

Thorax: Densely covered with hair-like scales and broader scales of olive-brown with sepia towards tip and cream at tip on patagia and on tegulae, sepia scales on tegulae with a light lilac glint; scale crest on metathorax is pronounced with long olive-brown hair-like scales with a slightly broader tip of sepia and light cream. Fore and mid legs olive-brown, dorsally sepia, with long dense hair-like structures and a light lilac glint. Epiphyses present, 2.1 mm long, medium broad and flat. Hind legs are missing. Wingspan is 59.0 mm. Forewing length is 28.0 mm, forewing is large, broad with a rounded apex, upperside without any geometric design, deep olive-buff and towards termen with a light golden glint, a simple scale pattern is present, with a large patch of Saccardo’s umber at center of forewing from base of R3 to middle of CuA1, the patch is not edged inwards by any transparent spot, various terminal, sub-terminal and post-medial patches and bands of Saccardo’s umber, but without a prominent broad V-shaped band from apex and costa to near end of CuA2, the latter vein is not marked in a different colour, termen with weak triangular dark olive lunules, a large sepia patch is present below 30% of length of 1A+2A. Hindwing rounded but with a prominent pointed apex, termen not bent inwards, largely with short scales of deep olive-buff with a light golden glint, with a sepia patch near center of hindwing close to base of M2, any small transparent spot is also absent as in forewing. Underside with scales of deep olive-buff and cream, the former scales have cream tips, with a light golden glint. Cilia short for such a large species, 1.9 mm long, deep olive-buff with a glint. Forewing venation with strongly sclerotized and broad veins, 1A+2A deeply forked at base, fork is 20% the length of 1A+2A; CuP absent, but still represented by a sclerotized fold on first 2/3 of its length; CuA2 originating from near hind margin of posterior cell; CuA1, M3 and M2 separated and initiating from apical angle of posterior cell; M1 originating from distal margin of median cell and is broadly separated from its anterior angle; R1+R2 originating from a long stalk (the stalk has the length of ca. 40% of R3) and initiating from near anterior angle of median cell; R3+R4+R5 are long stalked and originating from anterior angle of median cell, the basal point of this stalk is exactly opposite of the basal point of the stalk of R1+R2; Sc more or less parallel to R1. Hindwing venation with three anal veins, 3A present, 1A+2A present with a fork at base, CuP present; CuA2 originating from near hind margin of posterior cell; CuA1, M3 and M2 originating from apical angle of posterior cell, separated, M2 unusually broadly separated; M1 and Rs originating from anterior cell, broadly separated, with M1 at center of distal margin of anterior cell; a short bar from Rs to Sc+R1 is strongly sclerotized, vein in discocellular cell on both fore- and hindwing is present but not forked distally in forewing. The discocellular cell on forewing and hindwing is small, only ca. 20% of wing size. The discocellular cell on the hindwing is similar in shape like a fish-tail, with the upper and lower tip in opposite position, and the upper tip is pointed and bent. Fringe scales short if compared to the large hindwing size, 2.0 mm long, deep olive-buff with a glint. Retinaculum and frenulum absent.

Abdomen: Very long with hair-like scales of deep olive-buff, some with chestnut tips, and a strong light golden glint, upper part of abdomen broadly sepia, end of abdomen broadly sepia, abdominal tuft short, sepia and deep olive-buff. Female postabdominal structure and genitalia with very large, pear-shaped lobes of papillae anales in horizontal position, one lobe 45% the size of papillae anales, lobes ventrally with long setae and few long setae along the edge, each lobe with a long and deep oblique graben-like structure that has no setae at center; papillae anales covered with many short and many long setae. Segment 8 represents a broad rectangular sclerotized band, more narrow ventrally, setose along its posterior margin with very long setae, a narrow band is attached ventrally extending to the base of anterior apophysis; anterior apophysis strongly bent downwards, 2.0 × as long as segment 8 dorsally, on basal part at 1/3 of length 2 × as broad as at tip, within the first 20% of their length knee-like shaped, on almost the whole length with a deep horizontal graben-like structure; posterior apophysis narrow but with four times broader base, this large sclerotized base is 45% the size of papillae anales in lateral view, posterior apophysis slightly longer than dorsal part of segment 8; ductus bursae is narrow but thickly membranous with a broad pear-shaped structure near its base, the base is not sclerotized; corpus bursae is unknown.

Male: unknown.

Diagnosis.

Saalmulleria analameranaensis sp. nov. is most different if compared to both other species of Saalmulleria in regard to its venation and female postabdominal structure. Segment 8 is the broadest of all three species of Saalmulleria with lobes of papillae anales that are not broader than segment 8 dorsally. Additionally, the anterior apophyses are only 2.0 × as long as segment 8 dorsally. The very long setae that occur along the entire posterior margin of segment 8 is a common character shared with S. ampandrandavaensis sp. nov. However, it can be separated from the latter species by the presence of the broad, thickly membranous pear-shaped structure near the base of ductus bursae. This structure is at present unique to S. analameranaensis sp. nov. Noteworthy, the venation on the hindwing has the largest discocellular cell among Saalmulleria with ca. 20% of wing size in S. analameranaensis sp. nov.

Distribution.

Saalmulleria analameranaensis sp. nov. is only known from Analamerana, including the Réserve Naturelle de la Analamerana (439 km2 in size, altitude range 10-594 m), located on the northeastern part of Madagascar ca. 10-40 km inland from the coast of the Indian Ocean. The reserve is situated on middle Jurassic limestones (172-162 Ma, up to 400 m thick) comprising also deeply eroded karst ( “tsingy”) that protects some of the remaining forest from human destruction. The whole area belongs to the "Western Region" and to the "Madagascar Dry Deciduous Forests" ecoregion (also Du Puy and Moat 2003). Saalmulleria analameranaensis sp. nov. is classified herein as a species that is endemic to the dry forests and dry woodlands of northern Madagascar and might be restricted today to the forest and woodland patches within and near to the Réserve Naturelle de la Analamerana. The average annual rainfall in this area is ca. 1500 mm. The forest and woodland patches of Analamerana have a very high conservation value for the fauna and flora of Madagascar, e.g. for lemurs ( Mittermeier et al. 2003), and comprise at least 19 species of Papilionoideae ( Leguminosae ) of which three species are endemic to Analamerana or very restricted and “endangered”, e.g. Phylloxylon decipiens Baill. and Millettia nathaliae Du Puy & Labat ( Papilionoideae ) ( Labat and Moat 2003). The collecting site of the holotype is figured by Viette (1962, plate V, fig. 10) and shows a Dry Forest edge.

Etymology.

The species is named for the Réserve Naturelle de la Analamerana on Madagascar (" Western Region ").

Figures

Figure 4. a. Morondavania mineti sp. nov., holotype, male, Madagascar, Western Region, north of Morondava, Marofandilia Forest; b. M. mineti sp. nov., paratype, male, Madagascar, Western Region, north of Morondava, western part of Marofandilia Forest; c. Eberhardfischeria husemanni sp. nov., holotype, female, Madagascar, Western Region, Diego Suarez (today Antsira ṅana) or areas nearby; d. E. husemanni sp. nov., paratype, female, Madagascar, Western Region, Diego Suarez (today Antsira ṅana) or areas nearby; e. Saalmulleria stumpffi (Saalmueller, 1884), " Type ", female, Madagascar, Sambirano Region, Nosy Be Island, Lokobe; f. S. analameranaensis sp. nov., holotype, female, Madagascar, Western Region, Analamerana Forest, ca. 10 km to 40 km west of the Indian Ocean coastline; g. S. ampandrandavaensis sp. nov., holotype, female, Madagascar, Central Region, Ampandrandava, ca. 50 km northeast of Bekily.

Figure 14. Female postabdominal structures of a. Saalmulleria stumpffi (Saalmueller, 1884), " Type ", female, Madagascar, Sambirano Region, Nosy Be Island, Lokobe; b. S. analameranaensis sp. nov., holotype, female, Madagascar, Western Region, Analamerana Forest, ca. 10 km to 40 km west of the Indian Ocean coastline.