Architesma bassa, Volynkin, 2025

Architesma bassa sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7F40F353-7805-4828-8AF5-96B33D7D2ABF

( Figs 61, 62 View Figures 53–62 , 128 View Figures 126–128 , 129, 164)

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 61 View Figures 53–62 , 128 View Figures 126–128 ): male, “ Liberia 140m | Sinoe County, Krahn- Bassa | Reserve, Juboe River , | 7.5km SW Pellokon Town | 5˚39'4''N, 8˚39'4''W | 14–20.i.2018 Light Trap | (Blended bulb 250W) | Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., | Simonics, G. Leg. | ANHRT:2017.33” / “ANHRTUK | 00101940” / “Slide | AV9008 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. LIBERIA: 3 males, 1 female , same data as in holotype, gen. slide Nos. : AV8975 ♂, AV9009 ♀ ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.0 mm in males and 15.5 mm in the female. Architesma bassa sp. n. is externally very similar to the sympatric A. ampullaria sp. n. but is somewhat smaller and has a more ochreous forewing ground colour. Reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of A. bassa sp. n. is distinguished from A. ampullaria sp. n. by the narrower uncus, the shorter and distally broader valva, the proximally narrower, apically tapered, downcurved and serrulate ampulla (it is distally foot-shaped, slightly upcurved and spinulose in A. ampullaria sp. n.), and the broader sacculus with a somewhat proximally narrower basal process and a shorter and proximally broader distal process with a thorn-shaped tip (it is gradually distally tapered in A. ampullaria sp. n.). The phallus of A. bassa sp. n. is narrower than in A. ampullaria sp. n. and has a shorter ventral carina. The vesica of A. bassa sp. n. can be easily distinguished from A. ampullaria sp. n. by the markedly smaller dorsal diverticulum, the noticeably larger left subbasal diverticulum, and the shorter and downcurved distal diverticulum bearing a reduced, plate-like terminal cornutus (whereas the distal diverticulum of A. ampullaria sp. n. is nearly straight and bears a well-developed, thorn-shaped terminal cornutus). In the female genitalia, A. bassa sp. n. differs from A. ampullaria sp. n. in the weakly sclerotised and almost non-swollen postvaginal formation with shorter and narrower lateral plates, the broader ostium bursae with V-shaped ventral margin (it is U-shaped in the similar congener), and the markedly shorter and narrower, bowl-shaped antevaginal plate with a gelatinous, string-like anterior margin (whereas in A. ampullaria sp. n. it is semicircular and with an evenly sclerotised and swollen anterior margin).

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

Etymology. The new species is named after the Bassa people primarily native to Liberia. The specific epithet also refers to the type locality of the new species, the Krahn-Bassa Reserve. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.