Pseudectropona, Taberer, 2023

Taberer, Tabitha R., 2023, Revision of the family Chrysopolomidae Aurivillius, 1895 (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea) with the description of three new genera, Bonn zoological Bulletin 72 (1), pp. 1-23 : 11-12

Pseudectropona gen. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3B4A0EEC-8B0F-4A90-873C-DD62C344300F

Figs 7 , 27

Type species. Ectropona revelli Kurshakov & Zolotuhin, 2013

Holotype. ♂.

Type locality. Bo, Sierra Leone ( NHMUK).

Genus description. Small size. Antennae bipectinate, beige. Ground colour of head, thorax, abdomen and wings creamy-beige sparsely speckled with dark brown scales. Forewing broad, rounded; discal spot dark brown, ovoid or reniform. Postmedial line dark brown, sharply angled at vein R5. Distal margin weakly dark brown, fringe long, pale brown, cilia sometimes dark brown in distal quarter. Hindwing rounded, scalloped near anal margin; same colour as forewing with very small, rounded discal spot; postmedial line gently arcuate; fringe as in forewing. Underside. Ground colour and legs beige, hindtibia with two pairs of spurs. Both wings with same ground colour as upperside, postmedial lines widely convex. Forewing discal spot visible, and discal marking on hindwing present. Male genitalia. Uncus broad, rectangular, apically flat with slight medial depression. Posterior process of transtilla triangular, slender, long, apically with a rounded point; anterior processes of transtilla paired, short, rounded. Valve tapered, apically rounded, with narrow saccular process on anal margin, setose apically. Juxta broad, short, rounded. Phallus tube-like, curved in proximal third; vesica large, membranous, with cluster of dense, short cornuti.

Diagnosis. As discussed under the very similar Ectropona above, Pseudectropona species can only be readily identified from the genitalia. In the new genus, the presence of the anterior process of the transtilla and the saccular process of the valve, a synapomorphy of this genus, together with the curved phallus allow for easy identification. Although based on a limited number of specimens, it is possible that the two genera are allopatrically distributed across the Great Rift Valley, Ectropona to the east and Pseudectropona to the west.

Distribution. Both species in this genus are forest insects although they appear to have a disjunct distribution, the type species found in the Upper Guinean Forests and the other in the easternmost extent of the Congo Basin forests.

Etymology. The new genus name is in reference to the similarities with its sibling genus Ectropona .

Species content

P. revelli (Kurshakov & Zolotuhin, 2013)

P. larsa (Kurshakov & Zolotuhin, 2013)

Figures

Figs 4–10. Adults.4. Ectropa ancilis, South Africa (NHMUK). 5. Muscectropa alberici, Ivory Coast (ANHRT). 6. Ectropona dargei, Tanzania (ZSM). 7. Pseudectropona revelii, Liberia (ANHRT). 8. Chrysectropa roseofascia, Ivory Coast (ANHRT). 9. Chrysopolomides nivea, Sierra Leone (ANHRT). 10. Vietteopoloma madagascariensis, Madagascar (MNHN).

Figs 24–28. Male genitalia (a = clasping apparatus; b = phallus). 24. Ectropa ancilis, South Africa, genitalia slide No. TT 216 (ANHRT). 25. Muscectropa alberici, Ivory Coast, genitalia slide No. TT 214 (ANHRT). 26. Ectropona dargei, Tanzania, genitalia slide No. ZSM Sp. 1596 (ZSM). 27. Pseudectropona revelli, Liberia, genitalia slide No. TT 213 (ANHRT). 28. Vietteopoloma madagascariensis, Madagascar, genitalia slide No. TT 218 (MNHN).