Coccothera juratedeprinsi, Zilli & László & Kingston & Larsen, 2024

Coccothera juratedeprinsi sp. nov.

( Figs 11-13 View Figure 11 View Figure 12 View Figure 13 ).

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B1337283-AAD6-4B67-AD64-B78B29861A32

Material examined

Holotype: ♂, DRC. Democratic Republic of Congo. Province: Tshopo. Yangambi reserve , 100 km. WNW Kisangani, 0º45'49"N, 24º30'17"E, 450 m ASL. 14.- 23.v.2012, leg. et coll. KL, later ZMUC. Gen. prep. 4953 ♂ KL . GoogleMaps

Paratype: 1 ♂ same data as the holotype. Gen. prep. 4954 ♂ .

Description

Imago: ( Fig. 11 View Figure 11 ). Wingspan ♂ 9 mm. Head, thorax and abdomen browny-grey with numerous yellow tipped scales. Antenna less than half the length of the forewing, dark brown with narrow yellow rings. Labial palps short, light yellow. Legs dark brown with yellow tipped scales. Spurs light yellow.

Forewings: Regular shaped, costa straight, ground colour light brown. Basal blotch and median fascia with scattered yellow spots diffusely arranged in vertical stripes. Antemedian and postmedian fascia narrow and angled towards costa. The costal margin of the fasciae very weakly shiny leaden in colour. Continuous light yellow strigula at the costa and a diffuse dark brown subterminal blotch. Termen with black dividing line, cilia grey-brown. Underside dark brown with tiny basal silvery blotch. Along costa a triangular dark brown area with few white strigula. At the dorsum in the basal part a pencil of white very thin sex scales– a cubital pecten ( Fig. 12 View Figure 12 ). The structure is bent down from the underside of the forewing allowing a photo to be taken. This type of cubital pecten in the genus Coccothera is otherwise only known from Coccothera spissana (Zeller, 1852) ( Larsen, 2023a) . Underside brown.

Hindwings: Brown, lighter at the basal part.

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 13 View Figure 13 ). Valva elongate narrow, weakly sclerotized and with a smaller cucullus with a dusk of fine hair and a tiny thorn. Sacculus and pedunculus very weak, uncus short and simple, phallus bottle shaped with almost parallel sides towards apex.

Diagnosis

Coccothera juratedeprinsi sp. nov. is defined by the general unicolorous outlook which is unique for the genus. The males have a cubital pecten basally on the underside of the forewing. The male genitalia of the species are characterized by the elongate and narrow valva and the small hairy area and thorn.

Biology

The species is only known from the two type specimens both collected in May by light at Yangambi. Vegetation of the type locality is dense impenetrable tropical forest on the slopes leading down to the Congo River. Host plant is not known. The type locality at Yangambi is illustrated in Fig. 2 View Figure 2 .

Distribution

DRC. Democratic Republic of Congo: Province: Tshopo.

Etymology

The species is named in honor of the well-known European entomologist Jurate De Prins (Leefdal, Belgium) who participated in the expedition. Jurate De Prins was the leading person to organize and make this difficult expedition possible.