Integrative taxonomic revision of the African taxa of the Racotis Moore, 1887 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Boarmiini) Author László, Gyula M. 0000-0001-9862-8290 gyulalaszlo@anhrt.org.uk Author Hausmann, Axel 0000-0002-0358-9928 hausmann.a@snsb.de Author Karisch, Timm 0000-0001-9862-8290 gyulalaszlo@anhrt.org.uk text Zootaxa 2023 2023-06-26 5308 1 1 109 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5308.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5308.1.1 1175-5326 8080929 CCA5F817-6B5F-4BE5-BEFB-EDE98C07A0EE Boarmia uhligi Strand, 1909 Holotype , female, red label “Type” / blue label “ D. Ost Afrika Süd & Mittel Pare 20–21.VII.04. Uhlig S / [with handwritten] “ Boarmia ?” / “ Boarmia Uhligi Type! Strand” / “ Boarmia Uhligi m. Strand det.” ( MfN ). Taxonomic note. The fact that Strand compared uhligi in its original description to Boarmia voeltzkowi (sic!) which is obviously a taxon belonging to the A. squalida complex, might have led Scoble (1999) to treat uhligi as a subspecies of squalida . In the course of this present study, the holotype of B. uhligi was located in the collection of MfN and although the female specimen has a damaged abdomen (it is also mentioned in the original description) making the specimen unsuitable for genitalia dissection, the external characters of the rather worn specimen ( Fig. 3 ) agrees with those of A. squalida . As A. squalida is widespread and taxonomically homogeneous in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa, and the specimens examined from the Eastern Arc Mountains did not show any diagnostic characters, Strand’s taxon is synonymized here with A. squalida squalida : Afroracotis squalida uhligi ( Strand, 1909 ) comb. n., syn. n. Additional material examined Burkina Faso . 1 male , Obervolta , Falonzo am Fluss Comoe , 22.11.1984 , gen. slide No. : LG 4745 ( ZSM ). Burundi . 1 female , Urundi , Kitega , 2.iii.1963 , leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ( RMCA ). Cameroon . 1 female , Bitji , Ja River , 2,000 ft. Dry Season. G. L. Bates VI–VII.1909 , slide No. : LG 4088 ( NHMUK ) ; 10 males , 3 females , North Region , Wack ( La Falaise ), 900m , 07°40’16.5”N , 13°33’18.4”E , 2–21.X.2018 , Cold Cathode UV, LepiLED Light Trap and general coll., Sáfián, Sz. , Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2018.36, gen. slide Nos. : LG 4960, LG 4961 (males), LG 4962, LG 4963 (females) ( ANHRT ) ; 2 males , Mt Cameroon ( SW slope), Bamboo camp, 4.0879152°N , 9.0505144°E , 350m asl , 15–19.xii.2014 , leg. V. Maicher , Sz. Sáfián, S. Janecek, R. Tropek , gen. slide Nos : LG 4732, LG 4737, LG 4738, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 96647/GWOTT596-17 ( ZSM ) ; 1 male , SW Province , Mount Kupé , 1 km SE Nyasoso , watertank, 901m , light trap , 4°49’34.8”N , 9°41’15.3”E , 4.xii.2008 , leg. Michael Ochse , gen. slide No. : LG 5084, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 38697/GWOSH361-10 ; 2 males , SW Province , Mount Kupé , Nature Trail , Cave , 2 km E Nyasoso , 990m , light trap , 4°49’24.4”N , 9°41’15.4”E , 25.xi.2008 , leg. Michael Ochse , gen. slide Nos : LG 5085, LG 5098, DNA barcode/BOLD process ids: BC ZSM Lep 36902/ GWOSA941-10, BC ZSM Lep 44219/GWOSO373-11 ( RCMO ) ; 2 males , 1 female , Ayos , 3°33’N , 11°38’E , galerie forestière du Nyong , 12.–20.v.1974 , leg. Ph. Darge ( SDEI ). Central African Republic . 1 male , Parc National de Ndoki , Lac 1, Chablis 1, 02°28’10.5” N , 16°13’02.6” E , 08.–10.ii.2012 , leg. P. Moretto ( MNVD ) ; 1 male , same locality, 28.–29.ii.2012 , leg. P. Moretto ; 1 female , same locality, 29.ii.–01.iii.2012 , leg. P. Moretto ( SDEI ). DRC . 1 male , Uele , Paulis , 15.iv.1956 , leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 male , Lusambo , 17.vi.1949 , leg. Dr. M. Fontainei ; 1 female , Bunia , 1939, leg. RR. FF. Maristes ; 1 female , Kibali-Ituri , Nioka , 15.vi.1952 , leg. J. Hecq ; 1 female , Tshuapa , Bamanya [Mbandaka], 13.xii.1967 , leg. Rév. P. Hulstaert ; 1 female , Lulua , Kapanga , viii.1934 , leg. F. G. Overlaet ; 1 female , Léopoldville [Kinshasa], 14.xi.1953 , leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 male , Eala , iv.1936 , leg. J. Ghesquière ; 1 male , Sankuru , Dimbelenge , 2.xi.1950 , leg. Dr. M. Fontaine ; 1 female , Elisabethville [Lubumbashi], 22.xii.193 (sic!), leg. Ch. Seydel ; 1 female , Sankuru , Katako-Kombe , 26.ii.1952 , leg. Dr. Fontaine ( RMCA ). Ethiopia . 1 male , female, Reg. of Southern Nations , Bonga Guesthouse, 7°14’15”N , 36°15’52”E , 11–13.v.2016 , 1800m , u. NN, LF, leg. D. Stadie and R. Fiebig , gen. slide Nos : DS 226/2019 (male), DS 224/2019 (female) (prepared by László ), DNA barcode/BOLD process ids: BC ZSM Lep 113006/GWOUH090-21, BC ZSM Lep 113004/GWOUH088-21 ( RCDS ). 1 female , Oromia , 6.5km NE Shebe , 2125m , 07°32’02”N , 36°33’58”E , 29.x.2010 , leg. De Freina , Hacker , Peks , Schreier , gen. slide No. : LG 4747 ; 1 female , Oromia , Jimma , 7.65944°N , 36.8889°E , 1850m , 20.x.2010 , lef. De Freina , Hacker , Peks , Schreier , DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 97585/GWOTT109-17 ; 1 male , 10 km NE Bonga , 7.294°N , 36.376°E , 2400m , 17.viii.2010 , leg. Beck, R. & Riedel, G. , DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109458/GWOUD722-20 ; 1 female , 7.4 km W of Wushwush , 7.304°N , 36.057°E , 1910m , 07. v.2013 , leg. Beck, R. & Wanninger, R. , DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109459/GWOUD723-20 ( ZSM ). Gabon . 6 males , Mikongo ( Rougier ), Monts de Cristal ( Secondary Forest ), 430m , 0°29’47”N , 11°10’42”E , 28.vii.–12.viii.2019 , Actinic , LepiLED Light Trap and general coll., Albert , J-L., Aristophanous, M. , Bie Mba, J. , Dérozier, V. , Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT :2019.17, gen. slide No.: LG 5444 ; 4 males , Dilo ANPN camp, Ivindo ( Secondary Forest ), 185m , 0°14’1”S , 12°17’49”E , 14–19.viii.2019 , LepiLED light trap and General Coll. , Albert , J-L., Aristophanous, M. , Bie Mba, J. , Dérozier, V. , Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT :2019.17, gen. slide No.: LG 5443 ; 1 male , Ogooue Ivindo P.N. Ivindo , Station de Recherche , d’Ipassa , 450m , 0°30’43”N , 12°48’12”E , 14–26.vi.2016 , Light Trap , Ruzzier, E. , Tasane, T. leg., ANHRT :2017.19, gen. slide No.: LG 4825 ; 1 male , Nyonié ( Coastal forest / grassland mosaic), 0°2’22”S , 9°20’25”E , 26.viii.2019 , LepiLED Light Trap , Albert , J.L., Aristophanous , M., Bie Mba, J. , Dérozier, V. , Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT :2019.17 ( ANHRT ). Ghana . 1 male , Gold Coast , Northern Terr. Navaro , A.W. Cardinall , gen. slide No. : LG 4087 ( NHMUK ). Guinea . 3 males , Guinée Forestière , Bossou Forest and Institut de Recherche Environmentale de Bossou ( Lowland Forest-Farmland ), 690m , 07°38’32”N , 08°30’30”W , 24–31.vi.2019 , MV Light Trap , Dérozier, V. , Suah Dore, J. , Koivagui, S. , Miles, W. , Sáfián, S. , Warner, R. leg., ANHRT :2019.11 ; 2 males , Guinée Forestière , Monts Nimba UNESCO World Heritage Site , Mont Richard Molard camp and ridge ( High-Altitude Grassland & Forest ), 1400–1752m , 07°36’19”N , 08°25’30”W , 1–7.vii.2019 , 250 W Blended Light Trap , Dérozier, V. , Miles, W. , Sáfián, S. leg., ANHRT :2019.11 ; 1 male , Dalaba , Foret de Tinka , 1289m , 10°43’14”N , 12°15’22”W , 25–28.IX.2019 , MV Light Trap , Geiser, M. , Leno, M. , Koivagui, S. , Miles, W. , Mulvaney, L. , Sáfián , Sz. Leg. , ANHRT :2019.19 ( ANHRT ). Ivory Coast . 1 male , 1 female , Mt Tonkoui Peak , 1171 m , 07°27’15.2”N , 07°38’12.5”W , 1–8.xi.2015 Light Trap leg. Aristophanous , M., Moretto, P. & Ruzzier, E. , ANHRT :2017.16, gen. slide No.: LG 4167 ; 1 female , Kakpin Village , Comoe 0, Open forest , 259m , 08°39’07”N , 03°46’58.8”W , 27.VI.–02.vii.2015 , Light Trap , Aristophanous , M., Moretto, P. , Ruzzier, E. leg., ANHRT :2017.14 ; 1 female , Gbando Village , 09°34’17.1”N , 06°41’1.1”W , 15–22.vi.2018 , LepiLED Light Trap , Aristophanous , M., Miles , W., Moretto, P. , Outtara, Y. leg., ANHRT :2018.28 ( ANHRT ). Kenya . 1 male , Sokoke Forest , 15–31.vii.1994 , leg. Dr. Politzar , gen. slide No. : LG 4427, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 43686/GWOSM505-11 ( ZSM ) ; 1 male , Kakamega Forest N. R. , Byango Hill , 1600m , 0°20.98’N , 34°51.78’E , 23.x.2002 , leg. L. Kühne ( RCLK ) ; 1 male , Kakamega Forest N. R. , Byango Hill , primary forest, 1600m , 0°21.34’N , 34°51.39’E , 13.iv.2002 , leg. L. Kühne ( RCLK ). Liberia . 2 males , 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, gen. slide No.: LG 4964 ; 1 male , Lofa County , Wologizi Mts , Base camp forest, 8°07’17”N , 9°57’42”W , 20.xi.– 01.xii.2017 , MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous , M., Sáfián, Sz. , Simonics, G. , Smith, L. leg., ANHRT :1017.33 ; 3 males , Nimba Mts. , ENNR, Nimba county, Cellcom road, 1000–1100m , 7°32’45.88”N , 8°31’21.04”W , 16– 28.xii.2018 , Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8W), Sáfián , Sz. , Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2018.43 ; 2 males , Nimba county, Nimba Mts. , ENNR, Cellcom Road , 750m , 7°33’3.78”N , 8°31’46.49”W , 16–28.xii.2018 Cold Cathode UV Light Trap (8W), Sáfián , Sz. , Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2018.43 ; 1 male , 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 males , 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 ( ANHRT ). Mozambique . 1 male , Sofala Province , Gorongosa N.P. , Mt Gorongosa SE slope, ( Riverine Forest / Grassland ), 937m , 18°28’58.9”S , 34°02’40.6”E , 8–9.viii.2018 , Actinic Light Trap , László, G. , Miles, W. , Vetina, A. leg., ANHRT :2018.30,gen.slide No. : LG 4801, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.:BC ZSM Lep 109610/GWOUE399- 20 ( ANHRT ). Republic of the Congo . 1 male , 5 km WSW Ouesso , 10–11.i.1983 , Cl. Herbulot , gen. slide No. : LG 4614, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 74426/GWORK1354-15 ( ZSM ) ; Odzala National Park , [0°]23’N, 14°50’E, 29.i.–03.iii.1997 , leg. S. Murzin & V. Siniaev , gen. slide No. : TK 3275 ( SDEI ). Tanzania . 1 male , Amani Res. Stat., E . Usambaras , 950m , at light, 4.vii.2008 , Coll. M. Majerus , gen. slide No. : LG 4089 ; 1 female , Amani Malaria Institute, G. Pringle coll., P204 VII.1961 , gen. slide No. : LG 4090 ( NHMUK ) ; 1 male , Nambiga Forest , Ulanga , 348m , 08°34’53.1”S , 36°29’20.7”E , 28.iv.2011 , Light Trap , leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H. , ANHRT :2017.3, gen. slide No.: LG 4059 ; 1 female , Mizimu , Mwanihana , Udzungwa Mountains N.P., 850m , 07°48’21.8”S , 36°51’09.5”E , 3–6.viii.2010 , Light Trap , leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H. , ANHRT :2017.1, gen. slide No. : LG 4068 (coll. ANHRT ) ; 1 male , Pwani Region , Mandera , savane, 170m , 25.v.2005 , leg. Ph. Darge , gen. slide No. : LG 4764, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 17161/GWORA1772-08 ( ZSM ) ; 1 male , Mts. Uluguru , Morogoro , Campus Fac. Agric. , piège lum. U.V. , alt. 600m , V–VI/71, Mission Mts Uluguru, L. Berger , N. Leleup , J. Debecker V/VIII/71 ( RMCA ). Togo . 1 male , Fazao-Malfakassa NP , Point de vue campsite ( Sudanian savannah), 415m , 8°48’50”N , 0°49’3.2”E , 16–23.viii.2018 , LepiLED Light Trap , Aristophanous , M., Geiser , M., Moretto , P., Sanbena, B. leg., ANHRT :2018.31, gen. slide No. : LG 5434 ( ANHRT ). Uganda . 1 male , Semliki NP, Semliki Camp Side , 00°49.236’N , 30°09.359’E , 22–23.ii. 2013 , 697m, leg. R. Fiebig & D. Stadie , gen. slide No. : DS 229/2019 (prepared by László ) ( RCDS ) ; 1 male , Mpanga Forest , 1200 m , Ecotourism Campside , ca. 3 km SW Mpigi , Regenwald [rain forest], 0°12’26.8”N , 32°18’5.3”E , 25.x.2014 , leg. K.-R. Beck , gen. slide No. : TK 3236 ( SMNS ) ; 1 male , same locality, 26.x.2014 , leg. T. Karisch ( SDEI ) ; 1 male , same locality, 27.x.2014 , leg. K.-R. Beck ( SMNS ) ; 1 male , ca. 2 km NW Nabugabo Lake , ca. 15 km E of Masaka , 1160m , gest̂rter, verbuschter Regenwald [disturbed, shrub rain forest], 0°20’35.0”S , 31°52’13.1”E , 30.x.2014 , leg. T. Karisch ( SDEI ). Zambia . 4 males , Ndole Bay , on the shores of the lake Tanganyika , 777m , 08°28’42”S , 30°26’59”E , 23–25.xi.2012 , Light Trap , leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H. , ANHRT :2017.7, gen. slide Nos. : LG 4057, LG 4058, LG 4069, LG 4070 ; 1 male , Kalene Hill ( Miombo woodland), 1440m , 11°11’11”S , 24°12’5”E , 6.xi.2018 , Actinic Light Trap , Aristophanous , M., Dérozier , V., László, G. , Oram, D. leg., ANHRT :2018.40 ; 9 males , Nyangombe Falls , ( Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 1300m , 11°48’25”S , 24°32’12”E , 17–23.xi.2019 , Actinic and LepiLED Light Trap , Bashford, M. , Miles, W. , Mulvaney, R. , Smith, R. leg., ANHRT :2019.25 ; 3 males , Hillwood , Ikelenge , 1400m , 11°16’02”S , 24°18’59’E , 17–24.iii.2013 , Light Trap , leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H. , ANHRT :2017.8 ; 6 males , 1 female , same site but 23–30. xi.2019 ,MV,LepiLED andActinic Light Trap , Bashford ,M., Miles ,W., Mulvaney,L. , Smith,R. leg., ANHRT :2019.25, gen. slide No.: LG 5441 (male) ; 1 male , Chitunta Plain ( Miombo / Dambo mosaic), 1396m , 11°29’12”S , 24°24’18”E , 29.xi.–4.xii.2019 , LepiLED Light Trap , Bashford , M., Miles , W., Mulvaney, L. leg, ANHRT :2019.25 ; 1 male , Greystone , Kitwe , Copperbelt Province , 1179m , 12°55’50”S , 28°14’29”E , 17–21.iv.2013 , Light Trap , leg. Smith , Takano & Oram , ANHRT :2017.9 ; 1 male , Lunzua Falls , 20 km South of Mpulungu , Northern Province , 1416m , 08°55’38”S , 31°09’31”E , 11–16.v.2019 , LepiLED Light Trap , Dérozier , V., László, G. , Miles, W. leg., ANHRT :2019.12, gen. slide No. : LG 4959, DNA barcode/BOLD process id.: BC ZSM Lep 109645/GWOUE434- 20 ; 1 male , Jiwundu Swamp , ( Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 1340m , 11°51’54”S , 25°33’20”E , 29.x.–4.xi.2018 , LepiLED Light Trap , Aristophanous , M., Dérozier, V. , László, G. , Oram, D. leg., ANHRT :2018.40 ; 1 female , Danger Hill , 30 km N of Mpika , Muchinga Province , 1684m , 11°37’38”S , 31°33’56”E , 27–30.iv.2019 , LepiLED Light Trap , Dérozier , V., László, G. , Miles, W. leg., ANHRT :2019.12 ; 1 male , Mutinondo Wilderness Area , Mpika , Northern Prov. , 1460m , S12°27’06”, E31°17’30”, 14–17.ii.2019 , MV Light Trap , Dérozier, V. , Mulvaney, L. , Takano, H. leg. ANHRT :2019.4 ( ANHRT ). Diagnosis. Forewing length 23–30 mm . Afroracotis squalida is the largest species of the genus allowing a relatively easy identification. Nevertheless, the smaller A. squalida specimens may be mistaken with the species of the A. angulosa group, however, the latter has a slightly shorter and broader, less pointed forewing, a more angled forewing apex and a medially noticeably angled hindwing with slightly scalloped termen, while the forewing apex and hindwing margin is evenly arcuate in A. squalida . The male genitalia of A. squalida is characterized by the the short, bifid uncus with pointed apical processes, although its length and the width of the medial incision may vary. The sclerotised and densely setose, basally straight, medially moderately concave valva costa expands over the membranous, very sparsely setose ventral part of the valva. The ventral valva margin is evenly convex basally, broadly concave medially and convex again distally. The juxta is broad at base with arched lateral margins, abruptly constricted medially and dilated distally into a setose plate smaller than the basal one. The aedeagus is relatively short, moderately thick, with a very short coecum; the vesica is short, subbasally with a membranous and medially with a finely scobinated short, sack-like dorsal diverticula; the distal section is dilated, globular, densely spinulose, with 5–10 stout, straight cornuti, erected near the base of the rugose, relatively thin vesica ejaculatorius. The female copulatory organ of A. squalida is characterized by the moderately long conical ovipositor with medium long apophyses posteriores, the moderately long trapezoidal eighth tergite, the weakly sclerotised ostium bursae, the short antrum with conspicuous, heavily sclerotised lateral margins, the short membranous ductus bursae, the large semi-globular, heavily sclerotised cervix bursae and the elongate ovoidal, membranous corpus bursae lacking a signum. Genetic information . Afroracotis squalida has been assigned the BIN URI: BOLD:AAL0856. The intraspecific divergence ranges between 0.00–0.74%. The nearest neighbour of the species is A. aliena sp. n. with pairwise distances in the range of 3.74–5.20%. Distribution ( Map 1 ). The nominotypical subspecies of A. squalida is one of the most widespread Afroracotis taxa. It was described from Nigeria and had earlier been recorded from Bioko, Cameroon , Central African Republic , DRC , Ghana , Ivory Coast , Kenya , Malawi , Mozambique , Republic of the Congo , RSA , Sierra Leone , Tanzania , Uganda and Zimbabwe . The specimens examined in this study from Burkina Faso , Burundi , Guinea , Liberia , Togo , Gabon , Zambia and Ethiopia represent new country records. It is worth noting that a single male specimen examined from southern Ethiopia displayed somewhat diverging morphology in the male genitalia expressed by the considerably longer diverticula of the vesica, especially the distal one which is ca. twice as long as in typical A. squalida specimens ( Fig. 215 ). As the female individuals from Ethiopia do not show any morphological differences to other populations, and the DNA barcodes do not suggest the presence of genetically diverging populations throughout the entire range of the species, the single dissected Ethiopian male is treated here as A. squalida . Nevertheless, examination of further specimens from Ethiopia may prove the presence of a distinct taxon if constant differences in the genital morphology are confirmed.