Hypotrabala benjamini, Weber & Revay & Verdecia & Müller & Prozorova & Yakovlev & Saldaitis & Volkova & Prozorov, 2024

Hypotrabala benjamini View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A23BC5C0-45A9-4BF7-9BC3-4FB92A9AF559

( Figs 5–7 View Figures 1–7 , 14 View Figures 8–14 , 16 View Figures 15–21 )

Holotype: ♂, “Uele: Paulis, 27-I-1960, Dr M. Fontaine,” [ DRC, Haut- Uele Province , Isiro, 2.77223, 27.60827, 760 m], GS 2005-06 ( RMCA). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. DRC: ♂, “Sankuru: Luluaburg, 31-X-1951, Dr M. Fontaine,” [ DRC, Kasai- Central Province , Kananga, -5.89752, 22.41722, 650 m] ( RMCA) GoogleMaps . Cameroon: ♂, “Efulen, Cameroon, H. L. Weber, June 21 1925,” [Centre Region, Yaoundé, Efoulan, 3.8355, 11.50491, 750 m], CMNH- IZ-724,679 ( CMNH) GoogleMaps .

Description. Male ( Figs 5–7 View Figures 1–7 ). Flagellum, head, and abdomen covered with dark brown scales. Thorax speckled, dark brown, reddish brown and yellow. Forewing. Forewing length: 21.5–22 mm. Somewhat triangular, elongated; outer margin wavy; apex prominent, pointed or blunt. Wings brown with basal yellow spot, fragmented yellow crenulated medial lines, somewhat reniform yellowish discal spot, faint zigzag dark brown outer line. Fringe speckled dark brown and yellow. Hindwing. Somewhat trapezoid with wavy outer margin. Almost evenly brown without pattern, basally speckled dark brown and straw colored. Fringe speckled, dark brown and yellow. Genitalia ( Fig. 16 View Figures 15–21 ). Tegumen a narrow band with elongated, finger-shaped, laterocaudal socii. Vinculum medially split, with juxta forming a pair of elongated narrow ventrolateral outgrowths. Valvae about twice longer than socii, curved, apically pointed. Juxta surrounds phallus, bears tiny dorsal dent. Phallus claw-like, gradually narrows towards apex. Vesica bag-like with two medial lines of cornuti reaching apex of phallus. Female remains unknown.

Diagnosis. Hypotrabala benjamini sp. n. differs from:

1) H. obscura with yellow elements in forewing pattern and darker hindwings (compare Figs

5–7 and 12); apically rounded socii, shorter valvae and bigger distal cornuti (compare Figs

16 and 19);

2) H. leopoldi sp. n. with lighter colored antennae and yellow elements in coloration of thorax and forewings (compare Figs 5–7 and 1–3 View Figures 1–7 ); shorter socii, narrow elongated ventrolateral outgrowths, longer and thinner valvae, slightly smaller dorsal dent on juxta, and bigger distal cornuti (compare Figs 16 and 15 View Figures 15–21 );

3) H. carlottae sp. n. with overall darker coloration and almost evenly dark brown hindwings (compare Figs 5–7 View Figures 1–7 and 8–10 View Figures 8–14 ); shorter valvae and smaller dorsal dent on juxta (compare Figs 16 and 17 View Figures 15–21 ); distribution eastwards the Dahomey Gap ( Fig. 14 View Figures 8–14 );

4) H. bettinae sp. n. with overall darker coloration and almost evenly dark brown hindwings (compare Figs 5–7 View Figures 1–7 and 11 View Figures 8–14 ); apically rounded socii, shorter valvae, and smaller dorsal dent on juxta (compare Figs 16 and 18 View Figures 15–21 ).

Distribution ( Fig. 14 View Figures 8–14 ). Northwest Congolian lowland forests in Cameroon, Northeast Congolian lowland forests and Southern Congolian forest-savanna in DRC.

Biology. Adults were collected in January, June and October from altitudes up to 760 m. Preimaginal stages unknown.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of the second unique son of the senior author, Benjamin, who makes him laugh every day.