New species of Aethalopteryx Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Ecologica Montenegrina, 38, 2020, 210-214 https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8D346607-D594-49FE-A4BB-52848F6113A0 New species of Aethalopteryx Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ROMAN V. YAKOVLEV Altai State University, Lenina pr. 61, Barnaul, 656049, Russia. Tomsk State University, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecology, Lenina pr. 36, 634050 Tomsk, Russia Received 10 December 2020 │ Accepted by V. Pešić: 22 December 2020 │ Published online 23 December 2020. Abstract The article describes a new species, Aethalopteryx strohlei Yakovlev sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The article has 5 illustrations. Key words: Biodiversity, Africa, taxonomy, new species, Aethalopteryx, fauna, Carpenter-Moths, Lepidoptera, Cossidae. Introduction Aethalopteryx Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) (Type species (by original designation): Phragmatocia atrireta Hampson, 1910) was described for the species group Zeuzerinae widely spread in Africa. Originally, Schoorl (1990: 175−176) included 8 species into the genus: Phragmatocia atrireta Hampson, 1910 (type locality: Bechuanaland, Lake N’gami [Botswana]), Duomitus steniptera Hampson, 1916 (type locality: Somaliland, Mandera, 47 miles SW of Berbera [Somalia]), Duomitus pindarus Fawcett, 1916 (type locality: Kenya, Kedai), Duomitus simillima Hampson, 1916 (type locality: Somalia, 47 miles SW of Berbera), Xyleutes grandiplaga Gaede, 1930 (type locality: Chad, Oubangui, Chari, Bangui [Central African Rep.]), Hyleutes (sic!) tristis Gaede, 1915 (type locality: Nama-Land [Namibia]), Duomitus mesosticta Hampson, 1916 (type locality: Somalia, Mandera), Duomitus squameus Distant, 1902 (type locality: Transvaal, Pretoria), and attributed to the genus several non-described forms from various regions of Africa (on the materials from Natural History Museum, London). The author of this work (partially, in co-authorship) described the species: Aethalopteryx diksami Yakovlev & Saldaitis, 2010 (type locality: Yemen, C. Sokotra Island, Highier Mts., Dicksam loc.), A. nilotica Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Sudan, Blue Nile Prov., Wadi Medani), A. anikini Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: S. Africa, Free State, 15 km S Bloemhof, Sandveld N.R.), A. masai Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Kenya, Kibwezi), A. elf Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Somalia m., Kisimayo), A. politzari Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Somalia m., Caanole Fluss), A. gazelle Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Kenya, South Coast, Marenche forest), A. rudloffi Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Swaziland, Ndzevane area, Matala near Nsogo), A. kisangani Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Rep. Congo Ecologica Montenegrina 38: 210-214 (2020) This journal is available online at: www.biotaxa.org/em http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2020.38.29 YAKOVLEV Ecologica Montenegrina, 38, 2020, 210-214 211 (Zaire), 17 km N Kisangani, Masako Field Stat.), A. sulaki Yakovlev, 2011 (type locality: Kenya, Eastern Province, Umg. Meru, 2 km NE Isiolo), A. wiltshirei Yakovlev, 2009 (type locality: Saudi Arabia, Azir, Al Foqa, Olea-Dodonea Zone), A. schoorli Yakovlev, 2020 (type locality: Sierra Leone), A. spurrelli Yakovlev, 2020 (type locality: Gold Coast [Ghana], Bibianaha) (Yakovlev 2009, 2011, 2020; Yakovlev & Saldaitis 2010). Additionally, the following species were attributed to the genus Aethalopteryx with the establishment of new combinations (Yakovlev 2011): Kyleutes (sic!) dictyotephra Clench, 1959 (type locality: SW Africa, Okahandja [Namibia]), Xyleutes forsteri Clench, 1959 (type locality: SW Africa, Okahandja [Namibia]), Xyleutes gyldenstolpei Aurivillius, 1925 (type locality: Ituri [Congo, Ituri prov.]), Xyleutes obscurascens (type locality: Maraquo, Centr. Abyss. [Central Ethiopia]), Xyleutes obscurascens obsolete Gaede, 1930 (type locality: White Nile [Central Sudan]). Thus, after the initial revision, it was found that representatives of the genus, in addition to being widely spread in Africa, also live on the Arabian Peninsula and in Socotra isle (Borth et al. 2011; Yakovlev & Dubatolov 2013). Examining the specimens stored in the rich private collection of Manferd Ströhle (later – MSW) (Weiden, Germany) we found a new species from Ethiopia, its description is provided below. Material and methods Male genitalia were mounted in euparal on slides following Lafontaine and Mikkola (Lafontaine & Mikkola 1987; Lafontaine 2004). The adults were photographed using digital camera of iPhone 7. The genitalia preparations were photographed using an Olympus DP74 camera attached to an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope. Taxonomical part Aethalopteryx strohlei Yakovlev sp. nov. Figs 1-4 Type material: Holotype (male), “Süd-Ethiopia, Turmi, Mango Lodge, 920 m, 04º58′32′′N / 036º30′54′′E, 9−13.x.2015, leg. M. Ströhle” (MSW, slide MSW 2015/41 Coss). Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, same locality (MSW). Description. Male. Length of fore wing 11 mm. Antenna bipectinate from base to middle of length (crest processes 2.5−3 times longer than antenna rod diameter); distal end of antenna bipectinate with very short crest processes (about 0.7 of antenna rod diameter). Fore wing elongated, brown; wide dark-brown stroke along costal edge (from root to border of discal and postdiscal areas); wide light-brown portion cubitally (from root to border of postdiscal and submarginal areas); round black spot between veins CuA2 and CuP (postdiscally); wide blurred transverse light-yellow bands postdiscally and submarginally; marginal area brown; fringe mottled (brown at veins, yellow between veins). Hind wing yellow with sputtering of grey scales between veins, fringe brown. Male genitalia. Uncus long, thin, with uncinately bent apex; gnathos arms short, thin, narrowing from base to apex; valve simple, costal and abdominal edge slightly curved, caudal end rounded; juxta scaphoid with wide long lateral processes; saccus semicircular, of medium size; phallus robust, short (slightly shorter than valve) with big spindle-like cornutus. Female. Length of fore wing 13 mm. Antenna bipectinate from base to apex, crest processes very short (about 0.7 of antenna rod diameter). Colored darker than male: no black round spot on fore wing between veins CuA2 and CuP (postdiscally); transverse yellow bands on fore wing significantly more narrow; hind wing with dense sputtering of grey scales on all wing. Diagnosis. It is necessary to note that the representatives of the genus Aethalopteryx have very simple genitalia, so it is not possible to make diagnostic distinctions basing on the male genital morphology. However, the species of the genus have significant external features: the size and color of the wings. The new species clearly differs from most species of the genus in the small size, and in this characteristic it is NEW SPECIES OF AETHALOPTERYX FROM ETHIOPIA 212 close to the East-African species group distributed in Somali and Kenia: A. steniptera (Hampson, 1916), A. simillima (Hampson, 1916), A. elf Yakovlev, 2011, and A. sulaki Yakovlev, 2011. But the dark, contrast color of the wings and the big round spot between veins CuA2 and CuP (postdiscally) are its clear distinction from the close small East-African species. Figures 1−4. Adult specimens, male genitalia and habitat of Aethalopteryx strohlei Yakovlev sp. nov.: 1. Male, holotype; 2. Female, paratype; 3. Male genitalia (slide MSW 2015/41 Coss) 4. Habitat (photo by M. Ströhle). YAKOVLEV Ecologica Montenegrina, 38, 2020, 210-214 213 Distribution. Known only from South-Western Ethiopia (Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region). Etymology. The new species is named after my colleague and friend Mr. Manfred Ströhle (Weiden), a remarkable connoisseur of the Palearctic and African Lepidoptera, the collector of the type series of the new species. Figure 5. Mr. Manfred Ströhle (from Ethiopia, Dorze Lodge). Acknowledgments I am grateful to Manfred and Lilya Ströhle (Weiden) for the wonderful welcome in their home and the interesting material. The author is also grateful to Anna Ustjuzhanina (Tomsk, Russia) for language improvements References Borth, R., Ivinskis, P., Saldaitis, A. & Yakovlev, R. (2011) Cossidae of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen). ZooKeys, 122, 45−69. Lafontaine, J.D. (2004) Noctuoidea, Noctuidae (part), Noctuinae (part–Agrotini). In: Hodges, R.W. (Ed.), The Moths of America North of Mexico, fasc. 27.1. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, 385 pp. Lafontaine, J.D. & Mikkola, K. (1987) Lock–and–key system in the inner genitalia of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) as taxonomic character. Entomologiske Meddelelser, 55, 161–167. NEW SPECIES OF AETHALOPTERYX FROM ETHIOPIA 214 Schoorl, J.W. (1990) A phylogenetic study on Cossidae (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia) based on external adult morphology. Zoologische Verhandelingen, 263, 295 pp. Yakovlev, R.V. (2009) New taxa of African and Asian Cossidae (Lepidoptera). Euroasian Entomological Journal, 8(3), 353–361. Yakovlev, R.V. (2011) Catalogue of the Family Cossidae of the Old World (Lepidoptera). Neue Entomologische Nachrichten, 66, 1−130. Yakovlev, R.V. (2020) Two new species of Aethalopteryx Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Western Africa. Ecologica Montenegrina, 31, 23−27. https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2020.31.5 Yakovlev, R.V. & Dubatolov, V.V. (2013) Distribution of Carpenter-Moths (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) in Palaearctic Deserts. Zoologichesky Zhurnal, 92 (6), 682−694. [in Russian] https://doi.org/10.7868/S0044513413040193 Yakovlev, R. & Saldaitis, A. (2010) Aethalopteryx diksami, a new species (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from Yemen, Sokotra Island. Esperiana Memoir, 5, 333–335.