Plicacora maputoana, Elliott, 2025

Elliott, Imogen R., 2025, Plicacora, a new genus of Thyrididae from Mozambique and Zambia (Lepidoptera: Thyrididae: Siculodinae: Siculodini), Zootaxa 5666 (4), pp. 577-584 : 580-582

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5666.4.7
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0F4CFF24-5DA0-4071-858D-868110D44132
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16612656
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038A5E04-FFBE-B749-FF6B-924C12D6751E
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Plicacora maputoana
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Plicacora maputoana sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 View FIGURES 1–5 , 6 View FIGURES 6–8 )

Holotype, ♂: “ MOZAMBIQUE 22m / Maputo Special Reserve, / West Gate ( Sand Thicket ) / 26°30’14.2”S, 32°42’59.6”E / 21-30.xi.2016 MV Light Trap / Aristophanous, M., Cristóvão, J., / Lászlo, G. Miles, W. Leg. / ANHRT:2017.22 // ANHRTUK / 00395846 // Gen. slide No. / IE 297 / prep. by I. Elliott ” ( ANHRT). GoogleMaps

Paratypes (3 ♂♂). MOZAMBIQUE. All with the same data as the holotype, gen. slide Nos: IE 173 , IE 298 , IE 299 ( ANHRT) GoogleMaps .

Additional material examined. ZAMBIA. 1 ♂, Sinazongwe , Lakeview Lodge, (Mopane/Munga Woodland), 7–10.x.2018, leg. Carter, M., Imakando, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., unique ID: ANHRTUK 00395658, gen. slide No. IE 267 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. P. maputoana sp. nov. is most similar to C. longicorpa , which is notably atypical for species of Cecidothyris in a number of aspects (see remarks under the above generic description). Both species have minutely ciliate antennae and narrow forewings that are pointed at the apices, with proportionally small hindwings. The abdomen of P. maputoana sp. nov. and C. longicorpa extends noticeably beyond the hindwing anal angle (particularly when compared with other species of Cecidothyris ( Figs 3 & 4 View FIGURES 1–5 )). Externally, the wing patterns of these species are different: C. longicorpa ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–5 ) has defined reticulate markings across the fore- and hindwings, whilst P. maputoana sp. nov. ( Fig.1 View FIGURES 1–5 ) has variably sized white spots.

In the characters of the male genitalia, P. maputuana sp. nov. differs from C. longicorpa in the following ways: C. longicorpa has a simple gnathos that is reduced to two small, weakly sclerotised arms and a simple, short juxta ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 6–8 ). In comparison, P. maputoana sp. nov. possess a highly modified and sclerotised gnathos comprising two inwardly folding lobes and a juxta made up of two pairs of lobes, one notably well-developed and club-like ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 6–8 ).

However, there are also notable similarities in the male genitalia of these species. These include the possession of a narrow and elongate uncus, broad and similarly shaped valva and strongly sclerotised harpe (referred to as a ‘basal process’ in the original description of C. longicorpa ).

Description. Male ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–5 ). Forewing length 9–10 mm, hindwing 5–7 mm.

Head. Vertex, mixed white-bronze. Frons, mixed white-bronze. Antennae copper, minutely ciliate. Labial palps white, upturned, width of flagellomere; first and third segment short, half the length of second.

Thorax. Patagium, tegulae and mesothorax copper. Forewing narrow, outer margin falcate; upperside copper, distal two thirds with white spots narrower than diameter of eye, two spots the diameter of eye in medial zone, a transverse postmedial copper band spanning half width of forewing distal to larger spots, fringe white. Forewing underside as for upperside. Frenulum present. Hindwing somewhat triangular, copper with white spots, fringe white. Hindwing underside as for upperside. Legs copper flecked with white; foreleg without spurs; midleg with one pair of spurs, outer spur two thirds the length of inner; hindleg with two pairs of spurs, outer spur two thirds the length of inner; index of spurs 0:2:4.

Abdomen. Copper.

Genitalia ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 6–8 ). Uncus thin, elongate, sparsely setose, length of gnathos. Tegumen marginally shorter than gnathos with broad rounded lateral plates, a central Y-shaped tergal sclerite. Gnathos highly modified and sclerotised ( Fig. 6c View FIGURES 6–8 ); two dilated lateral lobes the length of juxta medial lobes, folded proximally with squamous inner surface, lobes conjoined by a dilated hemispherical ventral lobe positioned between valval processes. Juxta; two rectangular lateral lobules, two elongate club-like medial lobes extending proximally to reach gnathos. Vinculum with rounded ventral margin. Valva broad, ca. half width of tegumen, sparsely setose, apically rounded, ventral apical margin more steeply curved than dorsal; strongly sclerotised harpe, rounded at the tip, ca. the length of the juxta medial lobes; costa straight, as narrow as uncus; transtilla extending as far as the harpe. Sacculus sclerotised, sparsely setose, narrow basally, dilated medially, narrowed apically. Phallus narrow, tubular, a highly reduced coecum penis, without carinal sclerotisation; vesica with small cluster of squamous spinules ( Fig. 6d View FIGURES 6–8 ), without cornuti.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. There are some slight differences in the external habitus and genitalia of the typical male specimens from Mozambique ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–5 ) compared with that of a single Zambian male ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–5 ); this specimen is somewhat larger and has noticeably larger white spots across the wings and there are also some subtle differences in the shape of the valva and gnathos. However, based on a single specimen and the marginal observable differences, I am reluctant to recognise the Zambian male as a separate species before examining more specimens. However, there does appear to be little variability in the wing patterning and shape of the gnathos and valva across all topotypical specimens and notable differences with the Zambian male.

Distribution. Mozambique and Zambia ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ).

Etymology. The species name is a toponym of the type locality, Maputo Special Reserve, Mozambique, a noun combined with the suffix “ana” to indicate association.