Architesma inermis, Volynkin, 2025

Architesma inermis View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1DD326C3-E2BF-4ECF-8EEE-4C919068B478

( Figs 81–83 View Figures 76–88 , 142–145 View Figures 142–145 , 170 View Figures 169–173 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 81 View Figures 76–88 , 142 View Figures 142–145 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 352m | Sangha Prov. , NouabaleNdoki | National Park , Ndoki formation | (Secondary forest) | 02°12'47.7''N, 16°23'45.8''E | 29.ix.– 1.x.2022 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., | Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. Leg. | ANHRT:2022.14” / “ANHRTUK | 00404547” / “Slide | AV9019 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT). GoogleMaps

Paratypes (38 males, 6 females, all in ANHRT) . REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 10 males, 1 female, same data as in holotype, MV, actinic and LepiLED light traps, gen. slide Nos : AV6965 ♂, AV9098 ♀; 3 males, 1 female, 372m, Sangha Prov., NNNP, Mbeli camp ( Gilbertiodendron forest), 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E, 1–10.x.2022, MV light trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. GoogleMaps gen. slide Nos : AV6966 ♂, AV9099 ♀, AV9104 ♂; 7 males, 372m, NNNP, Mbeli camp, 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E, 14–20.ii.2023, MV and actinic light traps, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. GoogleMaps , gen. slide No. : AV9076 ♂; 1 male, 356m, Sangha Prov. , NNNP, Ndoki formation camp (Secondary forest), 02°12'51.5''N, 16°23'40.1''E, 23.vi.2022, actinic light trap, Dérozier, V. leg GoogleMaps .; 8 males, 1 female, 365m, NNNP, Mondika camp, 02°21'50.63''N 16°16'25.82''E, 07–14.ii.2023, MV and actinic light traps, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. GoogleMaps , gen. slide No. : AV9103 ♂; 1 male, 1 female, 377m, NNNP, Makao camp (Secondary forest), 02°35'42.2''N 17°10'08.3''E, 15–21.v.2023, MV light trap, Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G., Mvouende, S. leg. GoogleMaps ; 1 male, 349m, Likouala Prov. , NNNP, Makao forest (Secondary forest), 02°36'42.5''N 17°09'23.8''E, 24–29.ix.2022, LepiLED light trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. GoogleMaps ; 1 female, 375m, NNNP, Mbeli baï (Swamp forest), 02°15'30.4''N, 16°24'39.5''E, 4–10.x.2022, LepiLED light trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. GoogleMaps , gen. slide No. : AV9020 ♀; 3 males, 540m, OKNP, Kokoua base, 01°28'39''N, 15°16'42''E, 05–13.ix.2024, MV light trap, Bashford, M., László, G., Talani, M., Volynkin, A., leg. GoogleMaps , gen. slide No. : AV9070 ♂; 4 males, 390m, OKNP, Lobo research camp, 00°35'04''N, 14°53'12''E, 23–25.xi.2024, LepiLED light trap, Bashford, M., Elliott, I., Kirk-Spriggs, A. leg. GoogleMaps ; 1 female, same locality as previous but 25–26.ix.2024, MV light trap, Bashford, M., László, G., Volynkin, A., Yaba Ngouma, S. leg. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 11.5–13.5 mm in males and 13.5–15.5 mm in females. Like the similar A. smithi sp. n., A. inermis sp. n. varies greatly in its forewing shape, shade of the ground colour and the degree of development of the forewing markings within the same population. In the male genitalia, the length and serrulation of the ampulla and the size of the dorsal subbasal and distal diverticula are variable. Architesma inermis sp. n. is externally reminiscent of the sympatric A. ndoki sp. n. but distinguished by the more distally dilated forewing (especially in the female) with a more angled tornus, the somewhat paler, more greyish forewing ground colour, and the more diffuse transverse line of the forewing, which can be interrupted into three spots in some specimens (whereas it is continuous in A. ndoki sp. n.). Compared to another similar and sympatric species, A. odzala sp. n., A. inermis sp. n. is somewhat larger, has a darker body and more distally dilated forewing with a more angled tornus, its forewing ground colour is darker and brownish-grey (vs. olive brown in the congener), and the transverse line is more distinct and black whereas it is dark olive brown in A. odzala sp. n. The male genitalia structure of A. inermis sp. n. is fundamentally different from A. ndoki sp. n. and A. odzala sp. n., and is most similar to the externally dissimilar and allopatric A. smithi sp. n., the detailed comparison with which is provided above in the diagnosis of this species. It is additionally worth noting that the vesica of A. inermis sp. n. is considerably different from other known species in the genus with its broad and bilobate subbasal dorsal diverticulum and the short distal diverticulum lacking the terminal cornutus.

Distribution. The new species is found in northern Republic of Congo.

Etymology. This specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘inermis’ meaning ‘unarmed’ and refers to the vesica of the new species lacking the cornutus, which is unique in Architesma . The name is an adjective in apposition to the genus name.