Hypotrabala carlottae, Weber & Revay & Verdecia & Müller & Prozorova & Yakovlev & Saldaitis & Volkova & Prozorov, 2024

Hypotrabala carlottae View in CoL sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B4FF67E8-928F-4E9B-A768-79A3A1DF004A

( Figs 8–10, 14 View Figures 8–14 , 17 View Figures 15–21 )

Holotype: ♂, “Lamto (Toumodi), Côte d’Ivoire, 28.4.1968,” [Lacs District, Bélier Region, Toumodi Department, Lamto Ecological Research Station , 6.21675, -5.02540, 95 m], GS 2005-03 ( RMCA). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. Côte d’Ivoire: ♂, same data as HT, but 14.12.1966 ( RMCA) ; ♂, “ C. d’Ivoire: Lamto, 24-XI-1965, R. Vouattoux,” [Lacs District, Bélier Region, Toumodi Department, Lamto Ecological Research Station , 6.21675, -5.02540, 95 m] ( RMCA) GoogleMaps ; ♂, “Côte d’Ivoire, Azaguié, 9-II/ VIII-1964, Abdoulaye,” [ Lagubes Disctirct , 5.62894, -4.08232, 75 m], GS 2005-07 ( RMCA) GoogleMaps . Ghana: ♂, “Ghana: Bia Cons. Area, Bongo Camp, 15/1/2009, leg. U. Dall’Asta ( RMCA); ♂, “ West Africa, Ghana, Western Region, 16 km east of Elubo , 1km southeast of Nkwanta camp, Ankasa National Park , Exploration Base, 103m, light attraction, 5°16’29.2”N, 2°38’46.0”W, February 24th, 2006, leg. Michael Ochse ” ( ZSM) GoogleMaps .

Description. Male ( Figs 8–10 View Figures 8–14 ). Flagellum, head and thorax speckled reddish brown, yellow, and dark brown. Abdomen straw colored. Forewing. Forewing length: 22–23 mm. Somewhat triangular, elongated; outer margin wavy; apex blunt. Wings brown with crenulated dark brown medial lines with yellow outer contour, somewhat reniform yellowish discal spot, faint zigzag dark brown outer line with yellow contour and multiple yellow areas in basal field, anal area of medial field, outer field near costa and along veins. Fringe speckled dark brown and yellow. Hindwing. Somewhat trapezoid with wavy outer margin. Basal half speckled brown and straw colored, distal half brown with yellow veins near outer margin. Fringe speckled dark brown and yellow. Genitalia ( Fig. 17 View Figures 15–21 ). Tegumen a narrow band with elongated, finger-shaped, laterocaudal socii. Vinculum medially split, with juxta forming a pair of short wide ventrolateral outgrowths. Valvae about thrice longer than socii, curved, covered with chaetae along distal half, apically pointed. Juxta surrounds phallus, bears medium-sized dorsal dent. Phallus claw-like, gradually narrows towards apex. Vesica bag-like with two medial lines of cornuti reaching apex of phallus. Female remains unknown.

Diagnosis. Hypotrabala carlottae sp. n. differs from:

1) H. obscura with yellow elements in pattern of forewings and darker colored hindwings

(compare Figs 8–10 and 12 View Figures 8–14 ); apically rounded socii, distal half of valvae covered with chaetae, and bigger distal cornuti (compare Figs 17 and 19 View Figures 15–21 );

2) H. leopoldi sp. n. with yellow elements in pattern and lighter colored hindwings (compare

Figs 8–10 View Figures 8–14 and 1–3 View Figures 1–7 ); shorter socii, longer and narrower valvae, bigger dorsal dent on juxta,

and bigger distal cornuti (compare Figs 17 and 15 View Figures 15–21 ); distribution west of the Dahomey Gap

( Fig. 14 View Figures 8–14 );

3) H. benjamini sp. n. with overall lighter coloration (compare Figs 8–10 View Figures 8–14 and 5–7 View Figures 1–7 ); longer valvae and bigger dorsal dent on juxta (compare Figs 17 and 16 View Figures 15–21 ); distribution eastwards the Dahomey Gap ( Fig. 14 View Figures 8–14 );

4) H. bettinae sp. n. with apically rounded socii and narrower dorsal dent on juxta (compare

Figs 17 and 18 View Figures 15–21 ); distribution eastwards the Dahomey Gap ( Fig. 14 View Figures 8–14 ).

Distribution ( Fig. 14 View Figures 8–14 ). Eastern Guinean forests in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. For details on the type locality see Vouattoux with co-authors (2006).

Biology. Adults were collected in November–February and April from altitudes up to 103 m. Preimaginal stages unknown.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of the marvelous daughter of the senior author, Carlotta, who loves animals so much.