Reassessment of the systematic position of Orthocomotis DOGNIN (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) based on molecular data with description of new species of Euliini

The application of molecular analyses for resolving taxonomic problems in the family Torticidae (Lepidoptera) is still uncommon. The majority of papers concern the assessment of population variability of economically important species; reports on the systematic positions of Neotropical Tortricidae taxa are rare. The Neotropical genus Orthocomotis was classified initially as a member of the tribe Euliini. Then, based on genital morphology, it was moved to the tribe Polyorthini. A comparison of homologous 606 bp fragments of the COI mitochondrial gene revealed that Orthocomotis should be transfered back into the tribe Euliini. Based on an analysis of phylogenetic relationships the studied genera of Euliini form a monophyletic cluster, clearly separated from tribe Polyorthini in which they were temporarily included. Moreover, in the current paper we describe two new species of the tribe Euliini: Galomecalpa lesta RAZOWSKI & PELZ, sp. n., Gauruncus ischyros RAZOWSKI & PELZ, sp. n

Paramecium jenningsi Species Complex (Ciliophora, Protista) in India: the First Description of New Stands of P. bijenningsi and P. trijenningsi

Paramecium jennngsi (Ciliophora, Protista) is a complex of three cryptic species known from 13 sampling points situated around the world, mainly in the tropics. Two strains recently collected in India were identified as P. bijenningsi and P. trijenningsi from the P. jenningsi complex, based on an analysis of 16 (both nuclear and mitochondrial) loci, strain crosses, and cytological analyses. Current results increase the knowledge about the species range of particular members of the P. jenningsi complex

Paramecium tredecaurelia: A Unique Non-Polymorphic Species of the P. aurelia spp. Complex (Oligohymenophorea, Ciliophora)

New stands of Paramecium tredecaurelia, a rare species of the P. aurelia spp. complex, were identified in Thailand and Madagascar on the basis of mating reactions and molecular markers (rDNA and mtDNA). Analysis of DNA fragments showed that all P. tredecaurelia strains, the recently recorded ones and the ones known previously from France, Mexico, and Israel, form a monophyletic and well-defined clade in the P. aurelia species trees. All of these strains, collected from different localities around the world, represent identical or nearly identical haplotypes in terms of all the studied DNA fragments. Given the huge distances between particular collection sites, such a low level of variability of the studied sequences may result from a slow rate of evolution in P. tredecaurelia

Pseudothyretes Dufrane 1945

<i>PSEUDOTHYRETES</i> DUFRANE, 1945: 127 <p> <i>Pseudothyretes carnea</i> Hampson, 1898: 136 (<i>Meganaclia</i>). Holotype ‘Angola’ (BMNH).</p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes rubicundula</i> Strand, 1912: 187 (<i>Metarctia</i>). Holotype (Equatorial Guinea) ‘ Makomo (Ntumgebiet)’ (ZMHB) (syn. nov.).</p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes kivensis</i> Dufrane, 1945: 128 (<i>Apisa</i>). Holotype (DRC) ‘Kamituga’ (KBIN) (synonymized by Kiriakoff, 1960: 48).</p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes erubescens</i> Hampson, 1901: 169 (<i>Tritonaclia</i>). Holotype (Kenya) ‘ Uganda Ry., mile 478′ (BMNH).</p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes kamitugensis</i> Dufrane, 1945: 128– 129 (<i>Apisa</i>). Holotype (DRC) ‘ Kamituga’ (KBIN).</p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes mariae</i> Dufrane, 1945: 127</p> <p> (<i>Pseudothyretes</i>). Holotype (DRC) ‘Kamituga’ (KBIN). <i>Pseudothyretes mirus</i> Przybyłowicz sp. nov. <i>Pseudothyretes nigrita</i> Kiriakoff, 1961: 9 (<i>Diakonoffia</i>).</p> <p> Holotype (DRC) ‘Uele: Paulis’ (RMCA). <i>Pseudothyretes obscurus</i> Przybyłowicz sp. nov. <i>Pseudothyretes perpusilla</i> Walker, 1856: 1720 (<i>Anace</i>).</p> <p>Holotype (no locality) (BMNH).</p>Published as part of <i>Przybyłowicz, Łukasz & Tarcz, Sebastian, 2015, Strong sexual dimorphism unraveled by DNA analysis - towards a better understanding of Pseudothyretes classification (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), pp. 22-54 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (1)</i> on pages 26-28, DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12198, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5331070">http://zenodo.org/record/5331070</a&gt

Pseudothyretes obscurus Przybylowicz 2015, SP. NOV.

<i>PSEUDOTHYRETES OBSCURUS</i> PRZYBYŁOWICZ SP. NOV. <p> <i>Material examined</i></p> <p>Type material</p> <p> <i>Holotype:</i> Male, ‘ Nigeria, Bendel State, Okomu F. Res., 13.02.1986, leg. J. Wojtusiak’ (ISEA).</p> <p> <i>Paratypes (95</i> ♂♂, <i>31</i> ♀♀ <i>):</i> Guinea: 2♂♂ ‘ Conakry, Forêt classée de Diécké, 7–16/5/2004, leg. Erik Vingerhoedt’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Mt. Nimba, Plat. Zouguepo, 735 m, 14.VI.1991, Girard et Legrand’ (MNHN); ♂ ‘ Mt. Nimba, Gouela, Ft du Piedmont, 8.VI.1991, Girard et Legrand’ (MNHN); ♂ ‘ Guinée Forestière, 25 km südlich Boula, Forêt Classée du Mont Béro, 8°10′53.76″N, 8°42′28.2″W, 680 m, Lichtfang, 6.VI.2013, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ Guinée Forestière, 27 km südlich Bounouma, Forêt Classée du Diecké, 7°27′52.20″N, 8°50′36.60″W, 482 m, Lichtfang, 7.VI.2013, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♂ ♀, same data, but ‘ 8.VI.2013 ’. Liberia: ♂ ♀, ‘ Grand Gedeh County, Putu Range, 19–31.XII.2010, leg. Safian Sz., Zakar E. ’ (SZS); 4♂♂ ‘ Nimba County, Nimba Berge, 4km südöstlich Yekepa, 7°33′39.31″N, 8°30′23.67″W, 622 m, Lichtfang, 11.VI.2013, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM). Ivory Coast: 2♂♂ ‘ Station Orstom, Adiopodoume, IX.1963, P. Griveaud’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Abidjan, 1957, P. Dessart’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Forêt du Banco, 12.V.1964, P. Griveaud et Piart’ (RMCA). Ghana: 8♂♂ ♀ ‘ Central Kakum N.P. – Entrance, 5°21′N 1°22′W, 220 m, 31.V.2011, leg. J. & W. de Prins’ (RMCA); 4♂♂ ‘ Central Region, Kakum Guesthouse, Kakum National Park, 01–03.XII.2011, leg. Safian Sz. ’ (ISEA); 4♂♂ same data, but ‘ XII.2011 ’; ♂ same data, but ‘ 23–26.X.2011 ’, leg. Safian Sz., Pühringer F. & Pöll N. ’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Umg. Sunyani, 12–14.IX.1996, leg. L. Kühne’ (ZMHB); ♂ 3♀♀ ‘ Umg. Yamfo, 15– 20.X.1993, leg. L. Kühne’ (ZMHB); 3♂♂ ‘ Eastern: Atewa Hills 800 m, 7 km W Sagyimase, 22–24.III.2010, Knud Larsen & Wojciech Kubasik’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Western, 3 km E of Elubo, 5°17′N 2°45′W, 30 m, 8.VI.2011, leg. J. & W. de Prins’ (RMCA); 2♂♂ ♀ ‘ Eastern Region, Bunso Arboretum, 19–20.X.2011, leg. Safian Sz., Pühringer F. & Pöll N. ’ (ISEA); 4♂♂ 2♀♀ same data, but 12– 20.X.2009, leg. Safian Sz., Walker A., Davey S., Onstein R.; ♂ same data, but 10–18.IX.2010, leg. Safian Sz., Dall’Asta U. ’ (ISEA); 5♂♂ ♀ ‘ Volta Region, Likpe Bakua, 16–18.X.2011, leg. Safian Sz., Pühringer F. & Pöll N. ’ (ISEA); ♀ same data, but XI.2011 (SZS); 7♂♂ ‘ Ashanti Region, Bonkro, Nyamibe Bepo Forest Reserve, 26–28.X.2011, leg. Safian Sz., Pühringer F. & Pöll N. ’ (SZS); 6♂♂ ‘ Western Region, Visitor Centre, Ankasa National Park, 27–30.XI.2011, leg. Dall’Asta U., Safian Sz., Ochse M. ’ (SZS); ♂ ‘ Ashanti, Bobiri – 4 km NE Kubease, 6°41′N 1°20′W, 230 m, 25.V.2011, leg. J. & W. de Prins’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Ashanti Region, Kumasi, 18.XI.1965, leg. Endrödy-Younga’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ Bia Cons. Area, Camp 15, 13/1/2009, leg. U. Dall’Asta’ (RMCA); ♀ same data, but Track Camp 5, 26/1/2009 (RMCA); 3♂ ‘ Western Region, 16 km east of Elubo, Ankasa National Park, 7.3 km south of Nkwanta camp, Visitor Center 58 m, light attraction 5°13′02.3′N, 2°39′05.4″W, May 6th 2005, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♀ same data, but ‘ 500 m northwest of Nkwanta Camp, 60 m, 25.II.2006 ’; ♂ ‘ Western Region, 20 km east of Elubo, Ankasa National Park, Radio Hill, 5°16′22.8″N, 2°34′17.0″W, 112 m, 2.V.2005, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ Western Region, 16 km east of Elubo, 1 km southeast of Nkwanta camp, Ankasa National Park, Exploration Base, 103 m, light attraction 5°16′29.2′N, 2°38′46.0″W, 24.II.2006, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ Western Region, 16 km east of Elubo, Ankasa National Park, Visitors Center, 60 m, 5°13′02.8′N, 2°39′05.4″W, light attraction, 28.XI.2011, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♀ ‘ Central Region, 30 km north of Cape Coast, 1 km north of Abrafo, Kakum National Park, Visitor centre, 240 m, 1°24′W, 5°21′N, light attraction, 18.X.2003, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♀ same data, but ‘ 157 m, 5°20′55.6″N, 1°23′00.9″W, 13.V.2005 ’; ♀ same data, but ‘ 4.III.2006 ’; ♂ same data, but ‘ Canopy Walkway, 260 m, 20.X.2003 ’; 2♀♀ same data, but ‘ Canopy Walkway, 198 m, 5°21′12.6″N, 1°23′01.0″W, 9.V.2005 ’; ♂ ‘ Greater Accra Region, Aburi Botanical Gardens, 5°51′17.4′N, 0°10′13.8″W, 492 m, light attraction, 26.11.2011 ’. Nigeria: ♂ ‘ Bendel State, Okomu F. Res., 19.05.1984, leg. J. Wojtusiak’ (ISEA); ♂ ♀ same data, but ‘ 20.05.1984 ’ (ISEA); ♀ same data, but ‘ 20.10.1984 ’ (ISEA); ♂ same data, but ‘ 21.10.1984 ’ (ISEA); ♀ same data, but ‘ 12.01.1985 ’ (ISEA); ♂ ♀ ‘ Ikom, 26.V.1974, leg. H. Politzar’ (ZSM); 3♀♀ same data, but ‘ 26–28.V.1974 ’ (ZSM); ♀ same data, but ‘ 27.V.1974 ’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ Ibadan, ca Jan.-Juni 1954, H. Stenholt Clausen’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Okomu For., 4.05.1991, rec. A.A. Knoop’ (RMCA); ♀ ‘ Anambra State, Nsukka F. Res., 12.04.1982, leg. J. Wojtusiak’ (ISEA); ♀ ‘ Nigeria, lg. Patkai’ (ISEA). Cameroon: ♂ ‘ Cameroun Occid., Victoria, 0–80 m, 5– 18.11.1975, leg. W. Schacht’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ Songloulou, mar. 81′ (MCZR); ♀ ‘ Département de Nkam, Bonepoupa 35 km ONO Douala, ca 5 km NW Ort, Rand eines Tieflandregenwaldrestes, 4°7′n. Br 10°1′ö.L., 26.VIII.1994, LF (160 W Mischlicht), T. Karisch legit.’ (TK); ♀ ‘ Ari W. Kampf, D’dorf, Ekona, 11.11.1936 ’ (ZSM); ♀ ‘ Kamerunberg, Südostseite, 9 km NW Limbe, 4°4′47,5″N, 9°10′16,5″O, 776 m, 13.V.2009, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘Südwest Provinz, Kupeberg, 2 km östlich Nyasoso, 1283 m, 4°49′28.8′N 9°42′6.6″O, 21 May 2009, Lichtfang, leg. M. Ochse’ (ZSM). Republic of the Congo: ♂ ‘ Kindamba, Meya settlement, 10.11.1963, leg. Endrödy-Younga’ (ISEA); 3♂♂ ‘ Mt. Fouari reserva- tion near Gabon, 13.12.1963, leg. Endrödy-Younga’ (ISEA). DRC: 2♂♂ ‘ Bas-Congo, 250 m, Luki-Mayumbe NR, 5°27′S 13°2′E, 29.XI.2008, leg. J. & W. de Prins’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Lusambo, 11.VI.1950, dr. Fontaine’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Eala, XI.1936, J. Ghesquiere (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Lubumbashi, 18.4.1979, J. Thiry’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Uele, Paulis, 23.1.1958, Dr. M. Fontaine’ (RMCA).</p> <p> <i>Additional material (112</i> ♂♂, <i>8</i> ♀♀ <i>):</i> Guinea: 13♂♂ ‘ Conakry, Forêt classée de Diécké, 7–16/5/2004, leg. Erik Vingerhoedt’ (RMCA); ♂ same data, but ‘ IX.2004 ’ (RMCA). Sierra Leone: 2♂♂ ‘ Kenema, IX/ X.1974, don A. Allaer’ (RMCA). Ivory Coast: 7♂♂ ‘ Forêt du Banco, 12.V.1964, P. Griveaud et Piart’ (RMCA); 1♂♂ same data, but ‘2/ 3.X.1964, P. Griveaud’ (RMCA); 3♂♂ ‘ Ayame II, Barrage de la Bia, 9/ 12.I.1964, Griveaud et Piart’ (RMCA); 16♂♂ same data, but ‘6/ 9.V.1964 ’ (RMCA); 2♂♂ ‘ Station Orstom, Adiopodoume, IX.1963, P. Griveaud’ (RMCA); ♂ same data, but ‘ III.1964 ’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Lamto, 3.12.1968, R. Vuattoux’ (RMCA); 2♂♂ same data, but without date (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Mokta, 5/ 14.VI.1964, P. Griveaud’ (RMCA); 2♂♂ ‘ Azaguie, 3/ 5.VI.1964, P. Griveaud’ (RMCA); ♂ ♀ ‘ Daloa, 21.X.1976, leg. H. Politzar’ (ZSM); ♂ ‘ San Pedro, 16.XII.1976, leg. H. Politzar’ (ZSM); ♀ ‘ Umgeb. Abidjan, 8.12.1966, G. v. Rosen’ (ZSM). Ghana: ♂ ‘ Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve, 24– 30.08.2006, site 1, N06°22′2.3′ W01°01′58.6″, Elevation: 300 m a.s.l., leg. M. Ba ˛ kowski’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Umg. Yamfo, 15–20.X.1993, leg. L. Kühne’ (ZMHB); ♂ ‘ Umg. Sunyani, 12–14.IX.1996, leg. L. Kühne’ (ZMHB); ♂ ‘ Central Kakum N.P. – Entrance, 5°21′N 1°22′W, 220 m, 31.V.2011, leg. J. & W. de Prins’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Ashanti, Bobiri – 4 km NE Kubease, 6°41′N 1°20′W, 230 m, 25.V.2011, leg. J. & W. de Prins’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘Mamang River Forest Reserve, 31.08.- 4.09.2006, site 2, N 06°15′0.2″W 01°02′25.7″, Elevation: 130 m a.s.l., leg. M. Ba ˛ kowski’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Bia Cons. Area, Bongo Camp, 25/1/2009, leg. U. Dall’Asta’ (RMCA); ♀ same data, but ‘ Track Camp 5, 26/1/2009 ’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Kwadso, 3.X.1967, Dr. Endrödy-Younga’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Kumasi, 16.V.1967, Dr. Endrödy-Younga’ (ISEA); 2♂♂ same data, but ‘ 15.II.1966 ’ and ‘ 9.XII.1966 ’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Ghana, 26.VII.1967, Dr. Endrödy-Younga’ (ISEA). Nigeria: 4♂♂ ‘ Okomu For., 4.05.1991, Rec. A.A. Knoop’ (RMCA); 2♂♂ same data, but IV.1992 (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Bendel State, Okomu Forest Res., 20.10.1984, leg. J. Wojtusiak’ (ISEA); ♂ same data, but ‘ 20.05.1984 ’ (ISEA); ♂ same data, but ‘ 12.02.1984 ’ (ISEA); ♂ same data, but ‘ 9.06.1986 ’ (ISEA); ♀ same data, but ‘ 27.05.1984 ’ (ISEA); ♂ same data, but ‘ 15.12.1985 ’ (ISEA); 3♂♂ ‘ Oban Hills, 3.05.1991, rec. A.A. Knoop (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Cross River St., Oban Hills, Awsamba, 19.04.1986, leg. J. Wojtusiak’ (ISEA); 3♀♀ ‘ Ikom, 22–24.XII.1970, leg. H. Politzar’ (ZSM); 2♂♂ ‘ Cercopan Research and Conservation Area, Rhoko Forest, Iko Esai, Cross River Loop, 18.V.2012. 6°39′27.20′N 8°15′42.16″E leg. Safian Sz. ’ (SZS). Cameroon: ♂ ‘ Eloumden, 24/ 25.10.1992, Th. Bouyer’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Korup Park Bridge, Night, 21.2.1989, oper. Raleigh 17A’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘Mount Cameroun, Bonenza, 9 5.3E 4 3.6N, 13/01/89, night 19.00–06.00, 180 m, Primary lowland rain forest, Dominant tree species is Pycananthus angolensis’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘Mount Cameroun, Bonenza, 9 5.1E 4 3.2N, 16/01/ 89, night 19.00–06.00, 180 m, Farms of mixed crops, On the higher ridges still thin ribbons original forest (nearest 50 m)’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Mt. Kameroun, Ekona, 550 m, 3.11.1996, leg. M. Kuhbandner (ZSM); ♂ same data, but ‘ 65 m, 18/01/89’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Ebogo, 23/ 29.11.1992, Th. Bouyer’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Ari W. Kampf, D’dorf, Mukonje, 4.11.1936 ’ (ZSM); ♂ same data, but ‘ Ekona, 3.11.1936 ’ (ZSM); 2♂♂ ‘ Songloulou, mar. 81’ (MCZR); ♀ ‘ Cameroun Occid., Victoria, 0–80 m, 4–18.11.75, leg. M. u. R. Kühbandner’ (ZSM). Republic of the Congo: ♂ ‘ Mt. Fouari reservation near Gabon, 13.12.1963, leg. Endrödy-Younga’ (ISEA). DRC: ♂ ‘ Luluabourg, 10.VI. 1952, Dr. M. Fontaine’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Lusambo, 20.X.1950, Dr. Fontaine’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ 180 km W of Bukavu, rainforest, light trap 160 W, no. 325, MV Lamp, 15.V.1988, leg. A. Vojnits’ (ISEA); ♂ ‘ Lubumbashi, 1979, J. Thiry’ (RMCA); ♂ ‘ Rg. Kinshasa, Bombo Lumene, (reserve naturelle), 6/8/1991 (PO). No data: 2♂♂ without locality (MCZR).</p> <p> <i>Diagnosis</i></p> <p> The presence of a minute blotch like am 3 neighboring a much larger m 3 distinguishes the males of this new taxon from those of <i>P. mirus</i> sp. nov., <i>P. kamitugensis</i>, <i>P. perpusilla</i>, and <i>P. nigrita</i>. <i>Pseudothyretes erubescens</i> and <i>P. carnea</i> also possess a blotch like am 3, but their forewing base is deprived of a well-formed blotch like m 1. The male genitalia of <i>P. obscurus</i> sp. nov. are very characteristic. The elongate uncus bearing two small hooks is unparalleled in all other species, except <i>P. kamitugensis</i>. The male genitalia of these two species are identical and the only differentiated character is the structure of the membranous, dorsoterminal portion of the phallus. In <i>P. obscurus</i> sp. nov. this region is devoid of the numerous minute cornuti characteristic of <i>P. kamitugensis</i>. This pair of taxa exhibits strongest differences in wing pattern and coloration. <i>Pseudothyretes obscurus</i> sp. nov. is much smaller, has a uniform, dark background, and am 3 is always present. <i>Pseudothyretes kamitugensis</i> is larger, paler, with significantly darker veins and without am 3.</p> <p> <i>Description of male</i></p> <p> <i>Head:</i> Vertex rusty brown; labial palpus (Fig. 6F) rusty brown, with extremely long and narrow second segment, and small, bullet-shaped but well-separated third segment; scapus rusty brown; frons concolorous but slightly paler; flagellum bipectinate, dorsal scales tawny except white on terminal segments 7–8.</p> <p> <i>Thorax:</i> Vestiture unicolorously rusty brown; legs concolorous, but often with more intensive tinge.</p> <p> <i>Abdomen:</i> Dorsal and ventral segments unicolorous, rusty brown; terga 2–7 with intensive, narrow, black distal margins.</p> <p> <i>Forewing (Fig. 2F):</i> Male forewing length 11.2– 15.5 mm (average 13.2 mm, <i>N</i> = 30); upperside ground colour rusty brown, usually more intensive around white blotches; costa rusty orange; dorsal area between 1A+2A and margin slightly paler than ground colour; pattern usually consisting of seven blotches (m 1 large, with diffuse margins, slightly darker than remaining blotches; m 2 large, discoidal, in terminal region of DC, but not reaching its outer margin; m 3 middle sized, elongate, between CuA 2 and 1A+2A in middle of dorsum, sometimes with minute am 3 close to DC; m 4 large, discoidal; am 4 minute, discoidal or elongate (rarely larger); m 5 minute, discoidal; m 6 large, discoidal; sometimes additional, small, and indistinct blotch at base of CuA 2; fringe scales rusty brown; ventral ground colour and markings similar.</p> <p> <i>Hindwing:</i> Semitransparent, ground colour of dorsum and venter rusty brown, paler than on forewing; blotch d small, discoidal or rounded, less prominent than forewing pattern, often very indistinct.</p> <p> <i>Male genitalia (Fig. 4F):</i> Tegumen without narrowing; uncus elongate, without pair of prominent parallel lobes but terminated by pair of small, hook-like, dorsoapical processes; vinculum narrow, elongate; saccus small, triangular; valva evenly sclerotized, gradually narrowed towards sharp tip; phallus almost straight, widening towards apex, dorsal, terminal portion without area of minute cornuti; vesica well developed in form of pair of membranous pouches everted anteriorly (Fig. 5F, I).</p> <p> <i>Description of female</i></p> <p> <i>Head:</i> Frons and vertex rusty brown; labial palpus concolorous, short, extending slightly upwards, last segment bullet shaped (Fig. 6K); scapus and basal segment of flagellum rusty brown; flagellum blackish, serrate, dorsal scales tawny, except on terminal paler segments 8–11(15), white.</p> <p> <i>Thorax:</i> Vestiture unicolorously rusty brown; legs with intensive orange tinge from distal part of femur.</p> <p> <i>Abdomen:</i> Dorsal and ventral segments unicolorous, rusty; terga 2–6 with narrow black distal margins.</p> <p> <i>Forewing (Fig. 3D):</i> Length 20.0– 24.5 mm (average 22.4 mm, <i>N</i> = 31); upper side ground colour rusty, more intensive and darker along costa and around transparent blotches; pattern consisting of six or seven blotches with strongly marked margins (m 2 medium sized, subsquare to circular, in terminal region of DC; m 3 medium sized to small, elongate, between CuA 2 and 1A+2A in middle of dorsum, almost always with wellseparated, minute am 3 in basal part; fm 3 usually small, rounded, often atrophied and rarely larger, triangular; m 4 medium sized, usually ovate, rarely subsquare or slightly elongate; am 4 similar to m 4, but often slightly smaller; m 5 rather small, triangular or ovate; m 6 largest of all blotches, usually discoidal; fringe scales pale rusty brown; ventral ground colour concolorous with dorsum, markings similar.</p> <p> <i>Hindwing:</i> Ground colour of dorsum and venter pinkish rust; blotch d rather small, rounded, with diffuse margins, occupying distal portion of inner area of wing between Cu 1 and stalk of M 2 –M 3.</p> <p> <i>Female genitalia (Fig. 4K):</i> Papillae anales rectangular, covered with numerous setae along distal and dorsal margins; apophyses anteriores and posteriores sclerotized, of similar length; dorsal pheromone glands invisible; ventral pheromone glands in form of single wide pouch occupying almost entire ventral area between apophyses anteriores; ostium bursae discoidal; ductus bursae short, asymmetrical, directed slightly to the left, divided into three parts (anterior portion wide, dorsally sclerotized, and fused with lamella postvaginalis, sclerotized wall about twice as long as wide; middle portion indistinct, membranous, without plicae convergent towards narrowed centre, posterior portion membranous, distinct, slightly shorter than anterior portion); lamella antevaginalis invisible; lamella postvaginalis weakly sclerotized in form of indistinct longitudinal ridge between paired invaginations located posterolaterally from ostium bursae; corpus bursae oval, membranous, without any trace of sclerotization or distinct plicae; signum absent; ductus seminalis slender, originating in basal half of corpus bursae.</p> <p> <i>Biology</i></p> <p> Biological information retrieved from the labels suggests that <i>P. obscurus</i> sp. nov. is a lowland species. The highest elevation at which a specimen was collected is 800 m a.s.l. (Ghana: Atewa Hills). Also, the spatial distribution of the taxon is strongly connected with the zone of lowland evergreen forests covering Upper Guinea and the basin of the Congo River. <i>Pseudothyretes obscurus</i> sp. nov. flies all year round. The population density is highest in May and from October to January (Fig. 8). These findings seem to indicate that the species is bivoltine, with overlapping generations. It should be stressed that the high number of specimens in May and October is not the result of a single collecting event</p>Published as part of <i>Przybyłowicz, Łukasz & Tarcz, Sebastian, 2015, Strong sexual dimorphism unraveled by DNA analysis - towards a better understanding of Pseudothyretes classification (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), pp. 22-54 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (1)</i> on pages 40-43, DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12198, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5331070">http://zenodo.org/record/5331070</a&gt

Pseudothyretes Dufrane 1945

<i>PSEUDOTHYRETES</i> DUFRANE, 1945 <p> Type species: <i>Pseudothyretes mariae</i> Dufrane, 1945 (by original designation).</p> <p> <i>Diakonoffia</i> Kiriakoff, 1953: 22 (synonymized by Przybyłowicz & Kühne, 2008: 154).</p> <p> Type species: <i>Apisa kivensis</i> Dufrane, 1945 (by original designation).</p> <p> <i>Diagnosis</i></p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes</i> is a member of the metarctioid group (Ł. Przybyłowicz, unpubl. data). Along with <i>Thyretes</i>, this genus forms a separate clade characterized by the epiphysis almost as long as the fore tibia and the lack of retinaculum. <i>Pseudothyretes</i> differs from <i>Thyretes</i> in the rust-brown coloration with white markings and the minute teeth on the basoventral portion of the claw.</p> <p> <i>Redescription</i></p> <p> Forewing 10–24 mm. Coloration uniformly pale or rusty brown to dark brown (coffee); with narrow, transverse black bands on abdomen (except <i>P. mirus</i> sp. nov.); semi-hyaline markings on wings (forewing, in discoid cell, between R 4 and CuA 1, in middle part of dorsal area; hindwing, medially); labial palpus moderately long, second segment at least three times as long as wide, third segment in males strongly reduced, spherical, in females usually atrophied; antenna pectinate in males, filiform in females; eye medium sized, naked; proboscis rudimentary; tymbal organs absent, tympanum directed ventrodistally; epiphysis almost as long as tibia; retinaculum absent; M 2 –M 3 of forewing and hindwing stalked basally.</p> <p> <i>Male genitalia</i></p> <p>Relatively small; uncus diverse, divided into two long flattened processes, long, narrow, bifid, or pointed at apex; tegumen of same size as vinculum; the latter with short saccus; valva moderately long; cucullus elongate, gradually tapering terminally, pointed at apex; phallus shorter than valva, moderately sclerotized, straight; vesica short, wide, dorsobasal portion with or without numerous minute cornuti.</p> <p> <i>Female genitalia</i></p> <p>Anal papillae relatively large; anterior and posterior apophyses of similar length; dorsal pheromone glands short, divided into several separate openings; ventral pheromone glands deep, wide, fused into a pouch; ostium sclerotized, rounded; ductus bursae short, straight, membranous, or sclerotized in anterior part; corpus bursae much smaller than sternite A7, membranous, without signum; ductus seminalis slender, arising from base of corpus bursae.</p> <p> <i>Biology</i></p> <p>Almost nothing is known on the biology of the genus. The developmental stages and the host plants remain undiscovered. The imagoes indicate night activity, and can be collected throughout the year. The males are frequently attracted to light whereas the females are collected only rarely. The real proportion of sexes is unknown.</p> <p>Specimens have been collected in different kinds of woodlands and on their edges, regardless of humidity and anthropogenic modification. Remarkably, the moths were never collected in the open, such as in habitats devoid of trees, like savannahs.</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i></p> <p> The genus has diversified in tropical Africa. Its representatives are distributed from Western Equatorial Africa (Guinea) east to central Kenya and Tanzania. North and south of the equator the genus only reaches 10° of latitude. The most common and most widely distributed species are <i>P. perpusilla</i>, <i>P. carnea</i>, and <i>P. obscurus</i> sp. nov. <i>Pseudothyretes erubescens</i> and <i>P. nigrita</i> constitute a pair of taxa restricted to areas around Lake Victoria and the Ruwenzori Mountains, respectively.</p> <p> <i>Molecular variation</i></p> <p> The intraspecific haplotype diversity across specimens (<i>N</i> = 61) was <i>Hd</i> = 0.948, which indicates the great variability of the DNA fragment studied. Nucleotide diversity amounted to π = 0.0552. The nucleotide frequencies were A = 0.321, T = 0.382, C = 0.131, and G = 0.166, and revealed a high proportion of A–T pairs, which is typical of insect mitochondrial DNA. The mean divergence over all <i>Pseudothyretes</i> sequence pairs studied (<i>N</i> = 61) was 0.055 / 0.009 (distance/standard error). There were 44 variable positions across all specimens studied in the <i>COI</i> fragment, 36 of which were parsimony informative (25 with two variants, nine with three variants, and two with four variants). A total of 29 haplotypes were found among the specimens studied. The mean sequence divergence, haplotype, and nucleotide diversity for each of the <i>Pseudothyretes</i> species studied are presented in detail in Table 3.</p> <p> <i>Remarks</i></p> <p> The male genitalia of the already known species (<i>P. carnea</i>, <i>P. erubescens</i>, <i>P. kamitugensis</i>, <i>P. nigrita</i>, and <i>P. perpusilla</i>) are not described here in detail. They are illustrated here and are briefly described in Przybyłowicz (2009).</p>Published as part of <i>Przybyłowicz, Łukasz & Tarcz, Sebastian, 2015, Strong sexual dimorphism unraveled by DNA analysis - towards a better understanding of Pseudothyretes classification (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), pp. 22-54 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (1)</i> on pages 28-29, DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12198, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5331070">http://zenodo.org/record/5331070</a&gt

Pseudothyretes Dufrane 1945

FEMALES OF <i>PSEUDOTHYRETES</i> <p> Our combined molecular and morphological approaches shed new light on the complex taxonomy of the genus <i>Pseudothyretes</i>. The molecular analysis helped to identify females, which are very uniform in terms of their external and genital morphology. Females are common in collections but their determination was until now impossible, and not only because of the extreme sexual dimorphism. We used molecular data to associate males and females and to analyse their similar- ities. The tree obtained allowed us for the first time to match the females and males. The best results were obtained for <i>P. kamitugensis</i>, <i>P. obscurus</i> sp. nov., and <i>P. perpusilla</i>, for which we had the highest number of molecular samples. <i>Pseudothyretes carnea</i> and <i>P. mirus</i> sp. nov. were represented by a smaller number of samples, but we obtained positive results in matching males and females nevertheless. In <i>P. erubescens</i> and <i>P. nigrita</i> the available material was too old, and despite our attempts we did not procure sufficient results. The clusters obtained gave us the opportunity to describe the small, but stable morphological characters separating the females of five species (<i>P</i>. <i>carnea</i>, <i>P</i>. <i>kamitugensis</i>, <i>P</i>. <i>mirus</i> sp. nov., <i>P</i>. <i>obscurus</i> sp. nov. and <i>P</i>. <i>perpusilla</i>). A pair of <i>P. perpusilla</i> observed and conserved in copula confirmed the designation of its female sex. We discovered the precise characters of the individual wing patterns and genitalia now allowing the determination of females; however, we did not prepare a determination key for the females, as they are not yet known for all species.</p> <p> Crucial to our study was the collection of fresh material sufficient for molecular study. Two species (<i>erubescens</i> and <i>nigrita</i>) are still known only from males, despite the fact that several dissected <i>Pseudothyretes</i> females differ clearly in their genitalic morphology from the females attributed to named males. The confirmation of their specific affinity can only be made with the help of molecular data; however, this requires the sampling of suitable additional fresh material. Unfortunately, the morphological homogeneity of females makes their determination in the field very imprecise, and so all collected females should preferably be preserved in a mode sufficient for molecular studies, or at least one or several legs. Of special interest are specimens from East Africa (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda), among which the yet undescribed females of <i>P. nigrita</i> and <i>P. erubescens</i> might be discovered. The future molecular analysis of such material will ultimately explain the morphological diversity of all <i>Pseudothyretes</i> females.</p>Published as part of <i>Przybyłowicz, Łukasz & Tarcz, Sebastian, 2015, Strong sexual dimorphism unraveled by DNA analysis - towards a better understanding of Pseudothyretes classification (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), pp. 22-54 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (1)</i> on page 52, DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12198, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5331070">http://zenodo.org/record/5331070</a&gt

Pseudothyretes mariae Dufrane 1945

<i>PSEUDOTHYRETES MARIAE</i> DUFRANE, 1945: 127 <p> <i>Type material</i></p> <p> <i>Holotype:</i> ♀ (DRC) ‘Kamituga, 15.10.39, M. Fontaine’ (KBIN).</p> <p> <i>Biology</i></p> <p> Unknown. <i>Distribution</i></p> <p>This taxon is known only from the type locality in eastern DRC.</p> <p> <i>Molecular variation</i></p> <p>Unknown, and not investigated.</p> <p> <i>Remarks</i></p> <p> <i>Pseudothyretes mariae</i> most probably represents one of the already known taxa. Considering the general distribution, it is least probable that it is the female of <i>P. obscurus</i> sp. nov. or <i>P. nigrita</i>, although even this possibility cannot be definitely rejected.</p> <p>Despite numerous requests to obtain the holotype for study we were told that it was on loan and unobtainable.</p>Published as part of <i>Przybyłowicz, Łukasz & Tarcz, Sebastian, 2015, Strong sexual dimorphism unraveled by DNA analysis - towards a better understanding of Pseudothyretes classification (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), pp. 22-54 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (1)</i> on pages 37-38, DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12198, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5331070">http://zenodo.org/record/5331070</a&gt