A review of the genus Mecistorhabdia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini) with a description of a new species from the Central African Republic

Abstract

The genus Mecistorhabdia Kiriakoff, 1953 is reviewed and one new species M. sulaki sp. n. from the Central African Republic and Cameroon (Afrotropical region) described. The holotype female of the type species M. haematoessa (Holland, 1893) is matched with a conspecific male using a molecular technique. M. burgessi Kiriakoff, 1957 is removed from the synonymy as it is considered to be a valid species. Habitus and male genitalia of all three species are illustrated along with the female genitalia of M. haematoessa. A key for identification of species based on the structure of male genitalia and a map of their distribution are provided. The results of a study of the genetic diversity of the three species of Mecistorhabdia, based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, are presented. Relationships between species are briefly discussed.

Keywords

• lepidoptera
• erebidae
• arctiinae
• syntomini
• mecistorhabdia
• new species
• afrotropical region
• systematics
• coi