Holotype male. Label data (10): “Musée du Congo, Tshamugussa (2250), Bweza 08–15.viii.1934, G. F. de Witte, Parc Nat. Albert, 518”; “ Congo belge: P.N.A., Tshamugussa Bweza, 2250 m 08-15.viii.1934, G. F. de Witte: 518”; “Type T., dryocausta, M.”; “Ex-Typus”; “P28”; “E. Meyrick det., 1937:, Tortrix dryocausta Meyr. ”; “ R. Dét., 4079, O”; “ ♂ ”; “ Syntype, Tortrix dryocausta, Meyrick, 1938 (♂), (= Niphothixa agelasta Bradley, 1965), Genital prep. LAA 97052”; “ MRAC / RMCA 00338”; specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000004953, in RMCA (Fig. 11).

Diagnosis. Similar to C. dryocausta (Meyrick, 1938), differing in the male genitalia by a longer and more slender aedeagus; longer, gradually expanded uncus; and the shape of the processes of transtilla. Cornips gravidspinatus is closely related to Cornips agelasta (Bradley, 1965), comb. nov., which has a longer and more slender aedeagus.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the size of the thorns of the transtilla; Latin: gravidus —heavy, strong; spinatus —spinulose.

Description. Length of forewing 8.3 mm. Wingspan 18.2 mm. Head and thorax brownish. Forewing weakly expanding terminally; costa weakly curved outwards; costal fold slender, extending to median fascia; apex rather short, pointed; termen slightly sinuate, indistinctly oblique. Ground colour yellow-brown with fine brown strigulation. Markings brown, dark brown at costa. Basal blotch reduced to an indistinct suffusion; proximal edge of median fascia straight; subapical blotch distinct accompanied by a weak subterminal suffusion. Cilia concolorous with ground colour. Hindwing brownish cream with cilia similar.

Male genitalia (Fig. 59). Uncus strong, weakly expanded terminally, weakly concave apically; terminal plate of gnathos large; soccii weak, long, slender; valva tapered terminad, with reduced brachiola; sacculus reaching end of valva, broad to before middle where transverse convexity present; membranous part of transtilla with thin spines, lateral processes with numerous strong spines; juxta rather small; aedeagus curved, with long ventral termination.

Female unknown.

Remarks. The holotype of the new species was included in the type series of Tortrix dryocausta Meyrick, 1938. At first, the specimen was thought to be conspecific with Cornips agelasta (Bradley, 1965), but close inspection showed that the aedeagus of the latter is distinctly longer and more slender, and the socii are shorter.