Spatulosia zambia sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 19621E93-6A20-40D3-AA57-90932756A88C

(Figs 47, 48, 150, 151)

Type material. Holotype (Figs 47, 150): male, “ Zambia 1147m | Lukwakwa, West Lunga NP., | (Cryptosepalum forest / Dambo) | 12°39'40''S, 24°26'13''E | 9–15.xi.2018, Actinic Light Trap | Aristophanous, M., Derozier, V., | Laszlo, G., Oram, D. Leg. | ANHRT:2018.40” / “ANHRTUK | 00056825” / “Slide | AV5087 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” (ANHRT).

Paratypes (3 males in total, all in ANHRT). ZAMBIA: 1 male, 1300m, Nyangombe Falls (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 11˚48'25''S, 24˚32'12''E, 15–17.xi.2018, MV light trap, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D. leg.; 1 male, 1460m, Muchinga Prov., Mutinondo Wilderness Area, 12°27'06''S, 31°17'30''E, 15–17.xii.2023, actinic light trap, László, G., Morgan, L., Volynkin, A. leg., gen. slide No.: AV9766 ♂; 1 male, 1400m, Hillwood, Ikelenge, 11˚16'02''S, 24˚18'59''E, 19–21.viii.[20]13, light trap, Smith, R., Takano, H. leg., gen. slide No.: AV3175 ♂.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.5 mm in males. Spatulosia zambia is externally very similar to S. fuscostriata and identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The genital capsules of the two species display no recognisable differences while the phallus of S. zambia is somewhat shorter and distally narrower than in S. fuscostriata, and its dorsal carina bears a larger thorn, which is reduced to a tiny denticle in S. fuscostriata. Unlike in S. fuscostriata, the vesica of S. zambia is shorter and narrower, and bears considerably smaller cornuti.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from two sampled specimens was 0.15%. The pairwise distances between S. zambia and the similar S. fuscostriata and S. kingstoni were 4.30–4.47% and 4.97–5.14%, respectively.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from several localities in Zambia.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Republic of Zambia, the country where the new species is found. The name is a noun in the nominative singular.