Meganaclia grehani Ignatev & László & Paśnik & Fric & Sulak & Müller 2023, sp. n.

Meganaclia grehani Ignatev, sp. n.

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(Figs 4, 5, 12, 17, 23, 28, 33, 39)

Holotype. ♁, “W-Africa, Guinea, Konakri, Macenta prefecture, Ziama forest 550 m, 250 watt, 17.11- 01.12.2016; leg. Petrányi G; Muller GC; Kravchenko VD et al. ”, gen. slide No. GP 34.682 (MWW).

Paratypes (525J, 48♀ in total).

Guinea. 307♁, 31♀, with the same data as in the holotype, gen. slide No GP 34.674(♁), 34.767(♁), 34.690(♁), 34.691(♁), GP 34.683(♀); 2♁, same locality, “ ii.2017 ”; 1♀, same locality, “ iii.2017 ”; 7♁, same locality, “ iv.2017 ” gen. slide No. GP 34.692; 1♁, same locality, “ vi.2017 ”; 132♁,, “Nzérékoré Region, Mt. Nimba, Ziela, 550m, v.2017, Leg. GC Muller, VD Kravchenko & G Petranyi.”, gen. slide No. GP 34.767(♁); 58♁, same locality, “ ii.2017 ”; 7♀, same locality “ iv.2017 ” (CHS). 2♁, Geipa Camp, Forêt de Diecké, 435m, 7°26′7.06″N, 8°50′47.87″W, 5– 14.iv.2019, Light Trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Koivogui, S, leg., ANHRT:2019.7; 1 ♁, 619km ESE of Conakry, Nzérékoré Region, Prefecture de Lola, Ziela env., 540–600m, 7°42′N, 8°21′W, x.2017, local collectors leg., ANHRT:2020.6 (ANHRT).

Mali. 2♁, 2♀, SE of Sikasso, River Gallery near Kadiolo Village, November 2010, G.C. Muller & M.M. Traore (CHS).

Ivory Coast. 1♁, [Nationalpark Tai], 11.xii.1982, leg. Dr. Politzar, gen. slide No. GP 34.691 (ZSM).

2♁, 2♀, Banco National Park, 40 m, 05°23′3.8″N, 04°03′11.2″W, 29.xi–5.xii.2019, LepiLED and Actinic Light Trap, Aristophanous M., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P., Ouattara, S. leg. ANHRT: 2019.23, gen. slide Nos LG 6003(♁), LG 6004(♀); 1♁, Abidjan, Banco Forest (Parc – National du Banco), 39–48m, 05°23′03.8″N, 04°03′11.2″W, 21– 30.iv.2017, MV light, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg. ANHRT:2017.25; 1♁, Mt Tonkoui Peak, 1171m, 07°27′15.2″N, 07°38′12.5″W, 20–27.v.2018, General coll., Aristophanous, M., Miles, W., Moretto, P., Outtara, Y. leg., ANHRT:2018.28; 1♀, Mt. Nimba Camp, Savannah & gallery forest, 823m, 07°35′15″N, 08°25′05″W, 28.iv.–8.v.2016, General coll., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P., ANHRT:2017.17 (ANHRT). 3♁, Forest classee de la Bossematie, 20 km south of Abengourou, 02.1996, leg. Ugo Dall’ Asta, gen. slide No. S466, S470, S473 (ISEA PAS).

Liberia. 1♁, Grand Gedeh, County Putu Range, 19–31.xii.2010, leg. Sáfián, Sz., Zakar, E. gen. slide No. S467 (ISEA PAS). 1♁, 1♀, Lofa county, Wologizi Mts, Rosewood Camp, 585m, 8°06′14.9″N, 9°58′27.3″W, 18.xi.–1.xii.2018, MV Light Trap, Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2018.43; 2♀, Lofa county, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp, 865m, 8°07′10″N, 9°57′11″W, 24–29.xi.2017, Light Trap (blended bulb 250W & cold cathode), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT:2017.33; 1♀, Lofa county, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp 2, 883m, 8°07′20.79″N, 9°56′50.75″W, 22–30.xi.2018, Light Trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2018.43; 1♁, Lofa County, Wonegizi Nature Reserve, Welezu camp, 551m, 8°4″57.11″”N, 9°34″47.86″”W, 19–27.iii.2019, Light Trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Koivogui, S. leg., ANHRT:2019.7; 1♁, Nimba county, Nimba Mts., ENNR (Cellcom road), 1000–1100m, 7°32″45.86″”N, 8°31″21.04″”W, 2–14.xii.2017, Cold Cathode Light Bucket, Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G., Smith, L. leg., ANHRT:2017.36 (ANHRT).

DRC. 1♁, Kinshasa, Zone de Pimete, 20.v.1982, leg. Ph. Oremans, gen. slide No. S 474 (ISEA PAS).

Diagnosis. The habitus of M. grehani sp. n. is similar to M. sippia and M. smithi sp. n. (Figs 1, 2, 3) but distinguished from the former in the darker colouration of the male antenna and from the latter in the darker, more greyish rather than brownish wing colouration and the noticeably larger hindwing spots. In the male genitalia, the new species has a markedly shorter, broader and more heavily sclerotized dorsal projection of the parrot beak-shaped uncus compared to its closest allies (Figs 15–17). The dorsal appendage of the uncus is absent in M. grehani and only two very small membranous humps covered by short sparse setae are present, whilst the membranous dorsal humps are larger in M. sippia and similarly short, but markedly more densely setose in M. smithi sp. n. (Figs 15–17). The costal margin of the valva is almost straight in M. grehani with only its distal quarter gently arched ventrad, whilst all other Meganaclia species has a markedly more curved valva costa, the tip of which is rounded in M. grehani, similarly to M. smithi sp. n. whereas it is pointed in all other Meganaclia species. (Figs 21–26).

Description. Male (Fig. 4). Wingspan: 44–48 mm; FW length: 25 mm, width: 11 mm, ratio 2.3: 1; HW length: 15 mm, width: 10 mm, ratio 1.5: 1. Antenna bipectinate, dark blackish-brown. Head and patagia light orange. Tegula yellow. Thorax covered in pale brown and pale orange scales with two black spots near patagia. Abdomen dorsally pale brown, or orange with a black rounded spot on each segment. Forewing light brown or greyish-brown, slightly transparent, all forewing spots light grey; m1 small, blurred, m2, m3, m4, m5 rounded. Forewing base with a small, black dot. Hindwing pale greyish-brown, basal half somewhat transparent; all hindwing spots light grey; m1 absent or strongly diffuse; m2, m3, m4 oval shaped, m2 markedly smaller than m3 and m4.

Male genitalia (Figs 17, 23, 28). Uncus parrot beak-shaped, broad dorso-ventrally, laterally covered by short setae; dorsal process heavily sclerotized, strongly curved subapically, pointed apically; ventral process less sclerotized, gently curved, rounded apically; dorsal appendage absent, two small membranous humps covered in short, sparse setae present (Fig. 17). Tegumen broad, dome shaped. Valva broad, ventro-medially dilated, ventral margin evenly arcuate; costal margin almost straight, sclerotisation of valva costa dilated ventro-medially forming a broad-based triangle with apex reaching the center of valva. Sacculus narrow, extending to middle of ventral valva margin, distally expanding into a more or less triangular plate with sclerotized distal margin pointing caudad reaching central part of valva. Juxta well developed, distally tapered tubular. Saccus extremely long and thin, thread-like, slightly dilated subapically. Aedeagus extremely long and thin, needle-like, proximally slightly dilated with short, rounded coecum penis, tapered distally, pointed apically; vesica without cornuti (Fig. 28).

Description. Female (Fig. 5). Wingspan: 51–55 mm; FW length: 27 mm, width: 12 mm, ratio 2.3: 1; HW length: 16 mm, width: 10 mm, ratio 1.6: 1. Antenna bipectinate, dark brown. Head and tegula pale yellow, patagia dark yellow. Thorax covered in pale brown scales bearing two rounded black spots near patagia. Abdomen dorsally pale brown, with an admixture of dark yellow scales and black rounded spot on each segment. Forewing grey, spot m1 very small, teardrop-shaped; m2, m3, m4, m5 rounded, m3 smaller than m2, m4 and m5, all spots light grey. Forewing has a small, rounded black basal spot. Hindwing grey, inner half semi-transparent; spot m1 is strongly blurred; m2, m3 and m4 oval shaped, m2 markedly smaller than m3 and m4; all spots are light grey.

Female genitalia (Fig. 33). Papilla analis rounded trapezoidal, covered in short, sparse setae; apophysis posterioris short, thin, slightly dilated subapically, rounded apically. Eighth sternite very short, weakly sclerotized, distal margin medially concave, proximal margin convex; apophysis anterioris well developed, broad basally, gradually tapered, apically pointed, 1.5 times longer than apophysis posterioris. Lamella postvaginalis narrow, gently curved, heavily sclerotized. Ostium bursae narrow, infundibular. Ductus bursae narrow and extremely long, heavily sclerotized, medially slightly constricted, distal two-thirds straight, proximal third curved; cervix bursae moderately sclerotized, short sack-like. Corpus bursae membranous, ovoid; signum bursae large elongate ribbon-like, finely scobinate, covering two-thirds of bursa copulatrix.

Etymology. It is with great pleasure to dedicate this new species to Dr John Grehan, American lepidopterist, thanking his research support and collaborations in studies on Hepialidae.