Asbolopsyche acanthosioides, Volynkin, 2025

Volynkin, Anton V., 2025, Contribution to the knowledge of the Afrotropical Archithosia Birket-Smith generic complex with the description of a new genus, nineteen new species and a new subspecies, and introduction of new combinations (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 82, pp. 1-63 : 17-18

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2025.82.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:35522E72-ABB8-47C1-AB07-3B7BF7391755
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16961925
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1D5087DA-FFF0-215F-FF1E-FB9D40FEFDDF
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Asbolopsyche acanthosioides
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Asbolopsyche acanthosioides View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FCF87CE8-816E-418F-B43D-DEBCA1006A01

( Figs 40–42 View Figures 31–42 , 113 View Figures 110–113 , 158 View Figures 156–160 )

Paratypes (34 males, 47 females, all in ANHRT). LIBERIA : 9 males, 31 female, same data as in holotype, MV, LepiLED and cold cathode UV (8W) light traps, gen. slide Nos: AV8972 ♂, AV9051 ♀; 2 females, 551m, Wetezu camp, Wonegizi Nature Reserve , Lofa County, 8°4'57.11''N 9°34'47.86''W, 19–27.iii.2019, light trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Koivogui, S. leg. GoogleMaps ; 12 males, 7 females, 530m, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area , 7˚56'36''N, 10˚16'36''W, 10–19.xi.2017, MV (125W), 8w actinic, and cold cathode light bucket traps, Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G., & Smith, L., leg. ; 12 males, 3 females, 611m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts , base camp forest, 8˚07'17''N, 9˚57'42''W, 20.xi.–01.xii.2017, MV light trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. 1 male, 4 females, 883m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts., Ridge Camp 2, 8˚7'20.79''N, 9˚56'50.75''W, 22–31.xi.2018, blended bulb (250W) and cold cathode UV (8W) light traps, Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.0– 13.5 mm in males and 14.5–15.5 mm in females. Asbolopsyche acanthosioides sp. n. is the smallest and most narrow-winged species in the genus, that is more reminiscent of Acanthosia , from which, however, it differs in the somewhat more elongate forewing with a darker, more greyish ground colour. The male genitalia of A. acanthosioides sp. n. are most similar to A. nyungwe sp. n., from which A. acanthosioides sp. n. is distinguished by the distally broader and more tapered valvula, the proximally narrower sacculus with a longer but narrower and distally upcurved distal process bearing a short ventral spiky lobe basally whereas A. nyungwe sp. n. bears a cluster of larger spines subbasally instead. Additionally, the basal saccular process of A. acanthosioides sp. n. is considerably longer and thicker than in A. nyungwe sp. n. The phallus of A. acanthosioides sp. n. is remarkably narrower than in A. nyungwe sp. n. and the vesica has a markedly shorter and narrower distal diverticulum. As the female of A. nyungwe sp. n. is unknown, the female genitalia of A. acanthosioides sp. n. were compared with A. parasordida and A. jiwundu sp. n. instead, and A. acanthosioides sp. n. differs clearly from both its congeners in the heavily sclerotised, trapezoidal and strongly swollen sterigma, the ductus bursae reduced to a thin sclerotised ring connecting the sterigma with the posterior section of the corpus bursae, and the thicker gelatinous intersegmental membrane between the 7 th and 8 th sternites.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from Liberia.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the external similarity of the new species to members of the genus Acanthosia . The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.