Afroracotis (Zebracotis) chaineyi László & Hausmann & Karisch 2023, sp. n.
Creators: name: László, Gyula M.
name: Hausmann, Axel
name: Karisch, Timm
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometridae
Afroracotis
Afroracotis chaineyi

description: Afroracotis (Zebracotis) chaineyi sp. n.   
(Figs 85–88, 179–181, 257–259, 322–325)  
 Holotype. Male, “ Gabon, 430m, Mikongo (Rougier), Monts de Cristal (Secondary Forest), 0°29’47”N, 11°10’42”E, 28.vii.–12.viii.2019, Actinic Light, Albert, J-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT:2019.17”, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00162556, gen. slide No.: LG 5405 (ANHRT).   
 Paratypes. Cameroon. 1 male, “ Cameroons, Bitji, Ja River, 2,000 ft. Sept. Oct. Nov. 11. 1332”, QR code label with unique id.: NHMUK 010402120, gen. slide No.: LG 4094; 1 male, “ Bitje, Ja River, Cameroons, 2000 ft., Dry Season, G.L. Bates. ”, gen. slide No.: GU TK 3416; 1 female, “19. 20. Cameroons, Bitje, Ja River, Oct. Wet Season, G.L. Bates ”, gen. slide No.: GU TK 3417 (NHMUK); 3 males, Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Bamboo camp, 4.0879152°N, 9.0505144°E, 350m asl, 21–23.iv.2015, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek, gen. slide Nos: LG 4412, LG 4415, LG 4735; 5 males, 3 females, same site and collectors, but 12, 13, 16, 19.xii.2014, gen. slide Nos: LG 4709, LG 4715, ZSM G 20973, ZSM G 20963, ZSM G 20974 (males) (prepared by László), ZSM G 20968, ZSM G 20969, ZSM G 20970 (females) (prepared by László); 1 male, Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Drinking Gari camp, 4.101447°N, 9.061000°E, 650m asl, 28.xi.2014, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek, gen. slide No.: LG 4706, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 96649/GWOTT598-17; 4 males, same site and collectors, but 17–18.xii.2014, gen. slide Nos: LG 4708, LG 4711, LG 4714, ZSM G 20964 (prepared by László); 1 male, same site and collectors, but 1.ii.2016, gen. slide No.: LG 4736; 1 male, Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Planty camp, 4.117500°N, 9.070944°E, 1100m asl, 15.xii.2014, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek, gen. slide No.: LG 4722; 1 male, Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Crater Lake, 1500 m a.s.l., 4.1443907°N, 9.0717807°E, 27.xi.2016, leg. V. Maicher, J. Mertens, S. Janecek, gen. slide No.: ZSM G 20965; 2 males, 1 female, 8 km N d’Edea, 8–10.iv.1970, C. Herbulot leg., gen. slide Nos: LG 4777, LG 4780 (males); 1 male, same site and collector, but 28–29.iii.1970; 1 male, 1 female, same site and collector, but 30.iii.–1.iv.1970; 1 male, Massif du Manengouba, Versant, N.E., 2120m, 5°02’N, 9°51’E, 19–20.iv.1976, C. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 4778; 1 female, Manengouba, 1040m, 12 km W N’Kongsamba, 20.x.1971; 1 male, Mount Kala, 18 km W de Yaounde, 1100m, 6.v.1972, Ph. Darge leg.; 295 undissected specimens of both sexes with the following data: Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Bamboo camp, 4.0879152°N, 9.0505144°E, 350m, 12–20.xii.2014, 17–23.iv.2015, 6–12.ii.2016; Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Drinking Gari camp, 4.101447°N, 9.061000°E, 650m, 28–30.xi.2014, 17–18.xii.2014, 18– 23.iv.2015, 31.i.–10.ii.2016; Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Planty camp, 4.117500°N, 9.070944°E, 1100m, 17– 18.xii.2014, 11–14.iv.2015, 29.i.–2.ii.2016; Mt Cameroon (SW slope), Crater Lake, 1500m a.s.l., 4.1443907°N, 9.0717807°E, 20–27.xi.2016, 18–24.ii.2017, 23.iv.2017; Bimbia-Bonadikombo Forest, Mexico camp, 3.98183°N, 9.2625°E, 0m asl, 14–16.i.2016, leg. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek (ZSM); 1 female, Ayos, 3°33’N, 11°38’E, 660m, galerie forestière du Nyong, 12–20.v.1974, Ph. Darge leg., gen. slide No.: GU TK 3218 (SDEI); 1 male, Southwestern Province, Mount Kupe, Nyasoso, Ortslage, 846m, 4°50’5.4”N, 9°40’52.9”E, 22.v.2009, light trap, leg. M. Ochse, gen. slide No.: LG 5089, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 38700/GWOSH364- 10; 1 male, Southwestern Province, Mount Kupe, 3 km SE Nyasoso, 1590m, light trap, 4°49’9.5”N, 9°42’26.9”E, 30.xi.2008, leg. M. Ochse, gen. slide No.: LG 5099, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 36903/ GWOSA942-10; 1 male, Southwestern Province, 12 km NW of Mundemba, Korup National Park, southern side, Chimpanzee Camp, 144m, 5°00’28.2”N, 8°52’16.9”E, light trap, 5.xi.2007, leg. M. Ochse, gen. slide No.: LG 5100, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 38698/GWOSH362-10 (RCMO); 1 male, Mount Cameroon, Bonenza, 9°5.6’E, 4°4.9’N, 21.i.1989, Primary forest 10m above Dr Edwards’ forest plot, gen. slide No.: LG 5867 (RMCA). Central African Republic. 2 males, 1 female, Prefecture de la Lobaye, Mbata, 1–17.viii.1969, J. Plante leg., Collection Jacques Plante, gen. slide Nos: LG 5065, LG 5067 (males), LG 5066 (female) (ZSM); 1 male, Zomea, 23.x.1996, leg. S.C. Collins (RCHS). DRC. 1 male, Biakato, Ituri, 900m, 0°51’N, 29°15’E, ix.2012, ex coll. A. Colley, ANHRT:2018.22, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00095517, gen. slide No.: LG 5013; 2 males, 1 female, Kasuo, Nord-Kivu, 1800m, 0°14’S, 29°03’E, iv.2017, ex coll. A. Colley, ANHRT: 2018.22, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00094531, 00095086, 00095087, gen. slide Nos: LG 4988, LG 4989, LG 4990, DNA barcode/BOLD process ids: BC ZSM Lep 109646/GWOUE435-20, BC ZSM Lep 109647/GWOUE436-20 (ANHRT); 1 male, 1 female, Salonga National Park, Ekongo Camp, 2°45’20.89”S, 20°18’53.65”E, 21–31.xii.2017, leg. Kravchenko, Muller, Prozorov, gen. slide Nos: LG 5055 (ZSM G 21005) (male), LG 5054 (ZSM G 21004) (female), DNA barcode/BOLD process ids: BC ZSM Lep 104011/GWOTX500-18, BC ZSM Lep 104012/GWOTX501-18 (ZSM); 1 male, Prov. Equateur, Kalamba, 55 km S of Mbandaka, 450m, 0°25’S, 18°19’E, edge of lowland rainforest, 8.viii.1991, LT 125W HGL, T. Karisch leg., gen. slide No.: GU TK 3630 (SDEI); 1 female, Sankuru, Lusambo, 8.viii.1950, leg. Dr. Fontaine; 1 female, same site and collector, 23.ix.1950; 1 female, same site and collector, 2.ix.1950; 1 male, same site and collector, 17.viii.1950, gen. slide No.: LG 5859; 1 female, same site and collector, 10.xi.1949, gen. slide No.: LG 5875; 1 female, Sankuru, Katako-Kombe, 1.xii.1951, leg. Dr. Fontaine; 1 female, same site and collector, 20.xi.1952; 1 female, same site and collector, 25.ii.1952; 1 female, Itoko à Gombe, 1921, leg. L. Verlaine; 1 male, Equateur, Flandria, 24.ii.1932, leg. R. P. Hulstaert; 1 male, Elisabethville [Lubumbashi], 7.iv.1950, leg. Ch. Seydel, gen. slide No.: LG 5854; 1 female, same site and collector, 13.iv.1955, gen. slide No.: LG 5855; 1 male, Uele, Paulis, 28. xii.1959, leg. Dr. M. Fontaine, gen. slide No.: LG 5858; 1 male, Uele-Itimbiri, La Kulu, 1931, leg. J. Van den Branden, gen. slide No.: LG 5860; 1 male, P.N.A. 12.vi.1957, P. Vanschuytbroeck, VS 51, Secteur Nord riv. Butahu affl. Semliki, 1320m, piège lumineux, gen. slide No.: LG 5869; 1 male, Katanga, Kabinda, 25.xii.1925, leg. Ch. Seydel, gen. slide No.: LG 5871; 1 male, Stanleyville [Kisangani], 10.vi.1912, leg. Dr. Christy, gen. slide No.: LG 5872; 1 female, Punia-Lubutu, 1937, leg. Wauters, gen. slide No.: LG 5876 (RMCA). Equatorial Guinea, Bioko. 1 male, 2 females, Fernando-Poo, Centre de l’ile, 1000m, 25.v.–10.vi.1997, Dr. J.-G. Canu leg., gen. slide Nos: LG 4768 (male), LG 5073 (female) (ZSM); 1 male, 1 female, Playa de Moraca, 5m, 1.3 km W Punta Sagre, lowland rainforest, 3°15’53”N, 8°29’16”E, LT (160W HWL), 13–16.ii.2002, leg. H. Hoppe, gen. slide Nos: GU TK 3211 (male) (SDEI), TK GU 3272 (female) (MNVD); 1 female, Moca Malabo, 1400m, 3°21’66”N, 8°39’73”E, LT (160W HWL), 18.ii.2002, leg. H. Hoppe, gen. slide No.: GU TK 3212 (SDEI); 1 male, 1 female, Moca Malabo, ca. 500 m NW of plantation at the edge of montane rainforest, 3°21’N, 8°39’E, 1400m, 16–18.i.2004, LT 250W HWL, leg. H. & T. Hoppe, gen. slide Nos: GU TK 3270 (male), GU TK 3271 (female) (SDEI); 1 male, Moka 5 km radius, 800- 1700m, 8–13.iii.2007, S. Collins, ABRI leg.; 2 males, 1 female, Moka S.C., 3°21’40”N, 8°39’44”E, 5 km radius, 1500m, equatorial montane rain forest, 24.i.–12.ii.2011, leg. S.C. Collins, gen. slide Nos: LG 5560 (male), LG 5561 (female); 1 female, Moka, 800–1700m, 3°33’51”N, 8°45’13”E, 13.iii.2007, leg. S.C. Collins (RCHS). Gabon. 1 male, 2 females, with the same data as in the holotype, but collected by MV and LepiLED Light Trap, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00131468, 00131584 (dissected), 00167684, gen. slide No.: LG 5622 (female); 6 males, Nyonie (Lowland Forest), 10m, 0°2’22”S, 9°20’25”E, 23–28.viii.2019, MV and LepiLED Light Trap, Albert, J-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT: 2019.17, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00162993, 00162995, 00168415 (dissected), 00172666 (dissected), 00173043 (dissected), 00215473, 00215474, gen. slide Nos: LG 5402, LG 5403 (ANHRT); 1 female, Ivindo Park, Ipassa Res. Station, 00°30.744’N, 12°48.188’E, 22.xi.2017, leg. P.R.F. Ward, gen. slide No.: LG 5535, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: HS6090/ANLMN5050-21 (RCHS); 1 male, same locality, 22–23.vi.2016, leg. T. Karisch, gen. slide No.: TK 3867 (SDEI); 1 male, same locality, 27–28.vi.2016, leg. T. Karisch, gen. slide No.: TK 3878 (MNVD). Guinea. 1 female, Dalaba, Foret de Goubel, 1413m, 10°39’27”N, 12°15’44”W, 10–18.ix.2019, MV Light Trap, Geiser, M., Leno, M., Koivagui, S., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Sáfián, Sz. leg., ANHRT:2019.19, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00139402 (dissected); 1 female, Geipa Camp, Foret de Diecke, 435m, 7°26’7.06”N, 8°50’47.87”W, 05–14.iv.2019, Light Trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Koivogui, S, leg., ANHRT:2019.7, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00106227, gen. slide No.: LG 5446, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: ANHRTUK00106227/ANLMN3671-21 (ANHRT). Ivory Coast. 2 females, Tai NP. Tai Research Station, (SRET), 174m, 05°50’00”N, 07°20’32”W, 25.iii.–17.iv.2017, MV Light Trap, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT: 2017.25, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00088526 (dissected), ANHRTUK 00008370, gen. slide No.: LG 4817, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109606/ GWOUE395-20 (ANHRT). Liberia. 1 male, 1 female, Sinoe County, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Juboe River, 7.5km South West Pellokon Town, 140m, 5°39’4”N, 8°39’4”W, 14–20.i.2018, Light Trap (Blended Bulb 250W), Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT:2017.33, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00090577, 00090486 (dissected); 1 female, Lofa county, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp 2, 883m, 8°07’20.79”N, 9°56’50.75”W, 22–30.xi.2018, Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT: 2018.43, unique id: ANHRTUK 00060392, gen. slide No.: LG 4969, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109622/GWOUE411-20; 1 male, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area, 530m, 7°56’36”N, 10°16’36”W, 10–19.xi.2017, MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT:2017.33, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00085416 (dissected) (ANHRT). Nigeria. 1 male, “ W. Africa: Nigeria Omo V. 1962 J. Boorman ”, QR code label with unique id.: NHMUK 010402118, gen. slide No.: LG 4092 (NHMUK); 2 males, East Nigeria, Ikom, 21–24.xii.1970, leg. Dr. Politzar, gen. slide Nos: LG 4742, LG 4746 (ZSM). Republic of the Congo. 2 males, 1 female, Odzala National Park, 400–500m, 0°23’N, 14°50’E, 29.i.–03.iii.1997, leg. S. Murzin & V. Siniaev, gen. slide Nos: GU TK 3214, GU TK 3633 (males), GU TK 3274 (female) (SDEI); 2 males, 5 km WSW Ouesso, 8–9, 12–13.i.1983, Cl. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 4779; 1 male, 20 km WSW Ouesso, 27.vi.1984, Cl. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 4782; 1 male, 22 km WSW Ouesso, 29.vi.1984, Cl. Herbulot leg., gen. slide No.: LG 4784 (ZSM); 2 males, 1 female, Sangha Prov., Noubale-Ndoki National Park, Ndoki formation camp (Secondary forest), 352m, 02°12’48.5”N, 16°23’45.6”E, 23.vi.2022, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V. leg. ANHRT: 2022.9, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00269883– 00269885, gen. slide Nos: LG 5911 (female), LG 5912, LG 5913 (males) (ANHRT). Uganda. 1 female, Bwindi Forest, Cuckooland Lodge, 1700m, 1°00.083’S, 29°42.448’E, 27–30.iii.2013, LT, leg. R. Fiebig & D. Stadie, gen. slide No.: DS 221/2019 (prepared by László) (RCDS); 1 male, Masindi district, Butiaba, Budongo Forest, 01°42’56.7”N, 31°28’12.8”E, 1094m, Lake Victoria Moist Forest, 24.xi.2006, leg. H.S. Staude, gen. slide No.: LG 5537 (RCHS). Zambia. 1 male, Kambishi, Jiwundu, 1340m, S11°54’39”, E25°29’05”, 20–22.x.2014, Light Trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00073653, gen. slide No.: LG 4076; 1 male, same site, but 25–30.x.2017, MV Light Trap, Carter, M., Lloyd, A., Miles, W., Oram, D., Smith, R. leg., ANHRT:2017.32, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00120598, gen. slide No.: LG 5431; 1 male, Hillwood, Ikelenge, (Grassland), 1400m, 11°15’26”S, 24°19’42’E, 17–24.iii.2013, MV Light Trap, Smith, R., & Takano, H. leg., ANHRT:2017.8, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00027106, gen. slide No.: LG 4818; 1 male, 1 female, Hillwood, Ikelenge (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 1400m, S11°16’02”, E24°18’59’, 23–30.xi.2019, LepiLED and MV Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R. leg., ANHRT:2019.25, unique ids: ANHRTUK 00121946, 00132359, gen. slide Nos: LG 5408 (male), LG 5432 (female); 1 male, same site and collectors, but 7–10.xii.2019, Fish Bait, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00132395, gen. slide No.: LG 5410; 1 male, Ntumbachushi Falls, Ngona River, Luapula Prov., 1166m, S09°51’12”, E28°56’40”, 12–13.v.2013, Light Trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00073654, gen. slide No.: LG 4064; 1 male, Zambezi Rapids (Miombo/Riverine forest mosaic), 1205m, 11°7’30”S, 24°11’6”E, 4–9.xi.2018, LepiLED Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D. leg., ANHRT:2018.40, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00074226, gen. slide No.: LG 4971, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109641/GWOUE430-20; 1 male, Chilambwe Falls, Kafubu River, 1420m, S09°50’13”; E30°43’35”, 8–9.xi.2014, Light Trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram, unique id.: ANHRTUK 00073429, gen. slide No.: LG 4074, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109631/GWOUE420-20; 1 male, Nyangombe Falls, (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 1300m, 11°48’25”S, 24°32’12”E, 17–23.xi.2019, LepiLED Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, R., Smith, R. leg., ANHRT:2019.25, unique id ANHRTUK 00170198 (ANHRT). Zimbabwe. 1 female, Chimanimani, Orange Grove forest, 1509m, 19°50’07”S, 32°53’09”E, 07.x.2007, leg. D. McDermott, gen. slide No.: LG 5541 (RCHS).   
 Diagnosis. Forewing length 18–23 mm. Afroracotis chaineyi sp. n. does not show any external diagnostic feature allowing reliable separation from the sympatric A. zebrina, A. ochsei sp. n. and A. milesi sp. n., thus the identification of these species always requires the examination of the copulatory organs. The male genitalia morphology of the new species suggests a close relationship to A. zebrina due to the similar configuration of the main chamber of the vesica and the long, protractile diverticulum armed distally with a stout, apically roundeddentate cornutus, but clearly distinguished by the presence of a small group of relatively short, but robust cornuti erected distally at the base of the vesica ejaculatorius. In the female genitalia, compared to A. zebrina, the new species has a shorter antrum and a conspicuously more elongate, anteriorly gradually dilated, heavily sclerotised, longitudinally striate cervix bursae strongly flexed at its anterior third and forming the posterior half of the corpus bursae, while the cervix/corpus bursae complex is more or less ovoidal, without the narrow posterior section which is characteristic in A. zebrina.   
 Genetic information. The new species has been assigned the BIN URI: BOLD:AAF9530, BIN—sharing with A. zebrina and A. smithi sp. n., as well as with a part of the A. milesi sp. n. specimens, despite their clearly different genital morphology. The intraspecific genetic divergence of A. chaineyi is in the range of 0.00–1.76%.   
 Etymology. The new species is dedicated to John Chainey, former curator of the Geometridae collection of the NHMUK, acknowledging his many years’ efforts in curation of the immense collection under his care and his great kindness in assisting visiting researchers.   
 Distribution (Map 5). Afroracotis chaineyi is widely distributed throughout western and central Africa with confirmed records from Bioko, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
description: Published as part of László, Gyula M., Hausmann, Axel & Karisch, Timm, 2023, Integrative taxonomic revision of the African taxa of the Racotis Moore, 1887 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Boarmiini), pp. 1-109 in Zootaxa 5308 (1) on pages 56-59, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5308.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8080929