Ezishnola inscripta, László, 2025

Ezishnola inscripta View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C313C00B-940B-4F01-BDDE-5977784BA7FD

( Figs 27–28 View Figures 16–30 , 52 View Figures 50–55 , 70 View Figures 67–74 )

Holotype. Female , “ GABON 430m / Mikongo (Rougier), Monts / de Cristal (Secondary Forest) / 0°29'47"N, 11°10'42"E / 28.vii–12.viii.2019 MV Light Trap / Albert, J-L., Aristophanous, M., / Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., / Moretto, P. Leg. / ANHRT:2019.17” // “ANHRTUK / 00192633” // “SAMPLED FOR: DNA” // “Gen. slide No. / LGNA 1843 ♀ / prep. by Gy.M. Laszlo ” ( ANHRT). GoogleMaps

Paratype. Liberia. Male, Nimba County, Nimba Mts, ENNR, Cellcom road, 7°33'3.78"N, 8°31'46.49"W, 750m, 16–28.xii.2018 Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8 W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., gen. slide No.: LGNA 1844 ( ANHRT) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Forewing length 9.5 mm in the male paratype, 12.0 mm in the female holotype. Ezishnola inscripta sp. n. is reminiscent of E. congolana sp. n. but can be distinguished by its larger size, more elongated forewing, nearly undetectable antemedial line, lighter subterminal area, and smaller and more diffuse postmedial fascia. It also resembles E. truncata sp. n., E. xantholeuca , and E. magnisignata sp. n.; however, these species lack a dark postmedial fascia and have less distinctly defined postmedial lines. Ezishnola cretacea , E. inopinata and E. nitidipicta sp. n. are readily distinguished from E. inscripta sp. n. by their considerably darker and continuous postmedial lines (which is interrupted in E. inscripta sp. n.) and the more extensive and contrasting postmedial fascia of their forewings. Compared to E. carcassoni , E. inscripta sp. n. is a noticeably smaller species, with a less elongated forewing and less varied and contrasting markings.

In the male genitalia, this new species is nearly identical to E. magnisignata sp. n. and E. congolana sp. n., differing only in a slightly broader valva apex. However, the species within the E. congolana sp. n. – magnisignata sp. n. – inscripta sp. n. complex are primarily distinguished by the configuration of their female genitalia.

In terms of the female genitalia, E. inscripta sp. n. is most similar to E. xantholeuca ; however, it can be differentiated by its ca. 20% shorter ductus bursae, the ca. 20% longer tubular distal part of the corpus bursae, and the slightly smaller, and noticeably narrower signa bursae. The size of signa bursae serves as a distinct characteristic that sets E. inscripta sp. n. apart from its closely related allies, E. congolana sp. n. and E. magnisignata sp. n. Specifically, E. congolana sp. n. has markedly smaller, more ovoid signa bursae, whereas these characters of E. magnisignata sp. n. are approximately five times larger compared to the medium-sized elliptical signa bursae of E. inscripta sp. n.

Genetic information. Ezishnola inscripta sp. n. has been assigned the BIN URI: BOLD AEK4428. The infraspecific divergence based on two samples is 0.93%. The genetically closest relatives are E. magnisignata sp. n. and E. congolana sp. n., diverging by 1.08–1.56%, and 1.25–2.04%, respectively.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective “ inscriptus ”, meaning “ unwritten ”, referring to the somewhat limited forewing markings of this new species.

Distribution. A single female specimen from the Cristal Mountains in Gabon and a single male specimen from the Nimba Mountains in Liberia have been matched through DNA barcode analysis.