Architesma diffusa, Volynkin, 2025

Architesma diffusa View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7578991C-A6D2-4CB6-A39A-CF5971BCD508

( Figs 51–54 View Figures 43–52 View Figures 53–62 , 121–123 View Figures 118–121 View Figures 122–125 , 161 View Figures 161–164 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 51 View Figures 43–52 , 121 View Figures 118–121 ): male, “ Zambia 1400m | Hillwood , Ikelenge | (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic) | 11˚16'02''S, 24˚18'59''E | 23–30.xi.2019 Actinic Light Trap | Bashford, M., Miles, W., | Mulvaney, L., Smith, R. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.25” / “ANHRTUK | 00122893” / “Slide | AV8997 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (34 males, 12 females, all in ANHRT). ZAMBIA: 21 males, 4 females , same data as in holotype, MV, actinic and LepiLED light traps, gen. slide Nos: AV8998 ♀ , AV8999 ♀; 1 male , same locality as previous but 30.x.–3.xi.2017, MV light trap, Carter, M., Lloyd, A., Miles, W., Oram, D., Smith, R. leg., gen. slide No.: AV9095 ♂ ; 1 female , same locality as previous but 25–27.xi.[20]14, light trap, Smith , R. & Takano, H. leg.; 1 female , same locality as previous but 28.v.–4.vi.2020, MV light trap, Chizuwa, D., Choongo, W. leg.; 6 males, 3 females, 1300m , Nyangombe Falls , 11˚48'25''S, 24˚32'12''E, 17–23.xi.2019, actinic and MV light traps, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R. leg., gen. slide Nos: AV8985 ♂ , AV8986 ♀; 2 females, 1316m, Mwinilunga , Nkwaji, 11°36'22''S, 24°33'17''E, 3–10.xi.2017, MV light trap, Carter, M., Lloyd, A., Miles, W., Oram, D., Smith, R. leg.; 1 male, 1396m GoogleMaps , Chitunta Plain (Miombo / Dambo mosaic), 11˚29'12''S, 24˚24'18''E, 29.xi.–4.xii.2019, LepiLED light trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L. leg., gen. slide No.: AV9094 ♂ ; 2 males, 1375m, Camp near Kanyama ( Miombo / Riverine / Dambo mosaic), 11˚25'36''S, 24˚40'00''E, 4– 7.xii.2019, MV and LepiLED light traps, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L. leg., gen. slide No.: AV9092 ♂ ; 1 female, 1147m, Lukwakwa , West Lunga NP ( Cryptosepalum forest / Dambo) 12°39'40''S, 24°26'13''E, 9–15.xi.2018, LepiLED light traps, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D. leg.; 3 males, 1205m GoogleMaps , Zambezi Rapids (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic) 11°7'30''S, 24°11'6''E, 4– 9.xi.2018, MV and LepiLED light traps, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D. leg., gen. slide No.: AV9093 ♂ GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0–16.0 mm in males and 18.0–19.0 mm in females. Architesma diffusa sp. n. is externally similar to the sympatric A. sordida but is somewhat larger. Reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The genitalia of both sexes of A. diffusa sp. n. are most similar to A. nouabaleana sp. n. and the detailed comparison is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to A. sordida , the male genital capsule of A. diffusa sp. n. has a proximally narrower uncus, a shorter and flattened editum-costa complex lacking the distal process (whereas in the congener it is swollen and bears a thumb-shaped and apically spinulose distal process), a longer and apically broader valvula, a distally thicker basal saccular process, and a shorter but proximally broader distal saccular process. The phallus of A. diffusa sp. n. has a larger coecum, a considerably more prominent subdistal ventral protrusion, and a somewhat longer ventral carina than the corresponding structures of A. sordida . In the vesica, A. diffusa sp. n. differs from A. sordida in the narrower proximal section, the broader dorsal diverticulum, and the somewhat longer and markedly broader distal diverticulum bearing a larger terminal cornutus. As the female of A. sordida remains unknown (see below), the female genitalia of A. diffusa sp. n. were compared with another similar species, A. nouabaleana sp. n. instead (see above, in the diagnosis of the latter).

Distribution. The new species is found in north-western Zambia.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘diffusus’ meaning ‘diffuse’ and refers to the diffuse forewing markings of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.