Architesma smithi, Volynkin, 2025

Architesma smithi View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BE5B0B26-BCCE-4E43-BF32-440235160675

( Figs 76–80 View Figures 76–88 , 138–141 View Figures 138–141 , 169 View Figures 169–173 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 76 View Figures 76–88 , 138 View Figures 138–141 ): male, “ Zambia 1147m | Lukwakwa , West Lunga NP., | ( Cryptosepalum forest/ Dambo) | 12°39'40''S, 24°26'13''E | 9–15.xi.2018 Actinic Light Trap | Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., | László, G., Oram, D. Leg. | ANHRT:2018.40” / “ANHRTUK | 00057134” / ‘Slide | AV8993 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT). GoogleMaps

Paratypes (55 males, 97 females, all in ANHRT) . ZAMBIA: 50 males, 91 females, same data as in holotype, MV, actinic and LepiLED light traps, gen. slide Nos: AV8994 ♂, AV8995 ♀, AV8996 ♀; 1 female, same locality as previous but 4–8.xi.[20]13, light trap, Smith [ R.], Takano [H.] & Oram [D.] leg .; 1 female, 1340m, Jiwundu Swamp , 11˚51'54''S, 25˚33'20''E, 21–24.xi.[20]14, light trap, Smith , R. & Takano, H. leg. ; 1 male, 1460m, Mutinondo Wilderness Area, Mpika, Northern Prov. , 12˚27'06''S, 31˚17'30''E, 14–17.ii.2019, actinic light trap, Dérozier , V., Mulvaney, L., Takano, H. leg. , gen. prep. No.: AV8984 ♂; 2 males, 4 females, 1400m, Muchinga Province, Jombo village , 10°27'01''S, 33°14'30''E, 30.xi.–05.xii.2023, MV light trap, Bashford, M., Collins, A., László, G., Morgan, L., Volynkin, A. leg. GoogleMaps , gen. slide No.: AV8990 ♀, AV8991 ♂; 1 male, 1570m, Muchinga Prov., Makutu Mts. , gully at foot of main ridge, 10°27'27''S, 33°12'51''E, 02–04.xii.2023, actinic light trap, Bashford, M., Collins, A., László, G., Morgan, L., Volynkin, A. leg. GoogleMaps , gen. slide No.: AV8992 ♂; 1 male, 1250m, Muchinga Prov., Benyanga village , 10°40'41''S, 33°27'45''E, 07–12.xii.2023, MV light trap, László, G., Morgan, L., Volynkin, A. leg. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.5–14.5 mm in males and 16.0–17.0 mm in females. The species varies greatly in its forewing shape, shade of the ground colour and the degree of development of the forewing markings within the same population. Pale forms of A. smithi sp. n. are externally reminiscent of the sympatric A. diffusa sp. n. but differ in the somewhat shorter forewing. The dark forms are similar to A. jiwundu sp. n. also occurring in north-western Zambia. In all cases, reliable identification requires examination of the genitalia structures, which are fundamentally different in all three species. The male genital capsule of A. smithi sp. n. is similar to the externally dissimilar and allopatric A. inermis sp. n. but distinguished by the longer and more finely spinulose ampulla, the thinner basal saccular process, and the longer, heavily sclerotised and thorn-shaped distal saccular process, which is short, broadly triangular and weakly sclerotised in its congener. In the phallus of A. smithi sp. n., the coecum is somewhat longer and broader than in A. inermis sp. n. The vesica structure of A. smithi sp. n. is similar to most other known species of the genus Architesma with its tubular distal diverticulum bearing a thorn-shaped terminal cornutus whereas in A. inermis sp. n., the dorsal diverticulum is displaced distally, and the distal diverticulum is curved dorsally, broad, bilobate and lacks the cornutus. In the female genitalia, A. smithi sp. n. is distinguished from A. inermis sp. n. by the anteriorly narrower postvaginal formation, the broader, more heavily sclerotised and almost straight antevaginal plate (it is posteriorly convex in A. inermis sp. n.), and the narrower and more heavily scobinate posterior section of the corpus bursae.

Distribution. The new species is found in several localities in Zambia.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Richard Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ANHRT, who, through organising and undertaking numerous entomological expeditions to Sub-Saharan Africa, has enabled the discovery of numerous species new to science including the current one. The name is a noun in the genitive case.