Architesma frondosa, Volynkin, 2025

Architesma frondosa View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C2116A0F-DFA1-4C53-BA29-D48E423146D9

( Figs 43, 44 View Figures 43–52 , 114 View Figures 114–117 , 159 View Figures 156–160 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 43 View Figures 43–52 , 114 View Figures 114–117 ): male, “ Guinea 771m | Ditinn , Chute de Ditinn | 10°49'08''N, 12°11'30''W | 18–25.ix.2019 MV Light Trap | Geiser, M., Leno, M., | Koivagui, S., Miles, W., | Mulvaney, L., Sáfián, Sz. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.19” / “ANHRTUK | 00177832” / “Slide | AV9010 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT). GoogleMaps

Paratypes: GUINEA: 6 males, 2 females , same data as in holotype, gen. slide Nos : AV9011 ♂, AV9056 ♀ ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0– 15.5 mm in males and 19.0 mm in females. Architesma frondosa sp. n. is most externally reminiscent of A. ampullaria sp. n. and differs only in its somewhat more elongate distal section of the forewing. The reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. Despite the external similarity, the genitalia of both sexes of these two species are fundamentally different and the genitalia morphology of A. frondosa sp. n. might seem transitional between the genera Asbolopsyche and Architesma with its narrow uncus, dorsally narrow arms of the tegumen and serrulate dorsal margin of the sacculus in the male and the well-developed and sclerotised ductus bursae in the female. Nevertheless, the genitalia of A. frondosa sp. n. display a complex of characters typical of Architesma making its generic placement doubtless, namely the broad and densely scobinate anellus, the short and solid juxta, the flat, well-sclerotised and smooth editum, and the broad and rounded phallus coecum in the male, and the ovipositor not invaginated into the 7 th segment and having a large postvaginal formation with a broad and setose postero-medial region in the female. Compared to other species in the genus Architesma , the male genital capsule of A. frondosa sp. n. is most similar to A. henricus but distinguished by the proximally narrower uncus, the longer valva with a broader editum-costa complex bearing a short ampulla (the ampulla is absent in A. henricus ), the longer basal saccular process having a medial branch (a feature unique within the whole Archithosia generic complex), and the markedly longer and more serrulate distal saccular process with a longer spike-like tip. Compared to A. henricus , the phallus of A. frondosa sp. n. has a straighter ventral wall and a longer ventral carina. In the vesica, A. frondosa sp. n. differs from A. henricus in the considerably shorter distal diverticulum bearing a markedly smaller terminal cornutus. The female genitalia of A. frondosa sp. n. differ from A. henricus (illustrated by Durante et al. 2024: fig. 8A) in the longer apophyses anteriores, the shorter postvaginal formation with a narrower and V-shaped posterior depression (U-shaped in A. henricus ) and markedly shorter, narrower and flattened lateral plates (swollen in A. henricus ), and the well-developed and heavily sclerotised, pot-shaped ductus bursae (it is very short and sclerotised only ventrally in A. henricus ), the narrower posterior section of the corpus bursae with a shorter lateral diverticulum, the smaller signum in the anterior section of the corpus bursae, and the markedly shorter appendix bursae. The antevaginal plate of A. frondosa sp. n. is a narrow and fold-like continuation of the ventral margin of the sclerotised ductus bursae whereas it is markedly larger, trapezoidal with rounded corners and swollen in A. henricus . Additionally, in A. frondosa sp. n., the pockets between the swollen margins of the sterigma and the 7 th sternite are considerably narrower than in A. henricus , and the postero-lateral sclerotisations of the 7 th sternite are broader and have diffuse anterior and lateral margins, which are distinct in A. henricus .

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in Guinea.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘frondosus’ meaning ‘branchy’ and refers to the branchy basal saccular process of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.