TAXONOMIC ARTICLES

Scope of articles

Articles should preferably constitute a comprehensive treatment of a group delimited by taxonomic, geographic, ecological or other biologically meaningful criteria. Papers dealing with miscellaneous species having no such natural association or simply describing a single new species may also be accepted at the discretion of the Editor. The names of new taxa should not appear in the title, but all nomenclatorial changes must be listed in the abstract.

Compliance with the ICZN

Taxonomic authors must fully comply with the 4^th edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICodZN) https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/, and with the “Opinions” of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (IComZN) in the quarterly publication Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, obtainable from https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/51603/#/summary. Attention of authors is drawn to the recent publication by the IComZN of an amendment to articles 8, 9, 10, 21 and 78 of the Code, which expands the methods of publication allowed to include electronic publication from 2012 onwards¹.

Authors must also note that the ICZN, 4^th edition states that infrasubspecific names applied to a taxon are invalid and have no standing in terms of the Code. If such infrasubspecific names are used they should not be italicised when in print.

¹ ICZN 2012. Amendment of Articles 8, 9, 10, 21 and 78 of the International code of Zoological Nomenclature to expand and refine methods of publication.  ZooKeys 219: 1–10. 

Zoobank registration

If an article contains any nomenclatural acts the Metamorphosis editorial staff will register the article, and any nomenclatural acts within it, with the Zoobank database, and insert the reference code(s) at the appropriate place(s) in the article.

Headings

Headings of taxonomic categories above the species group should be preceded by the name of the category (e.g. genus, family). When used as taxonomic headings and with their first citation in the text, all genus and species group names should be cited with their author(s) in unabbreviated form. Nomenclatorial changes should be indicated by bold face standardised abbreviations e.g.  gen. nov., sp. nov., stat. nov., stat. rev., comb. nov., nom. nov.  as recommended by the ICZN. All other abbreviations should be avoided or, if really necessary, explained in the ‘Materials and Methods’ section. Under each taxon heading at least the most important references to the taxon must be stated, i.e. its original description, revisions, keys and synonymies. Such references must be included in the ‘Literature cited’ section at the end of the article. With genera, the type-species with its author(s) and date must be listed after the synonymy.

Descriptions

Descriptions of taxa should be furnished consistently in telegrammatic style (i.e. without active verbs or articles), and should be followed by a section indicating the main diagnostic characters of the taxon and giving a comparison with its closest relatives and other similar taxa. A formal diagnosis can be given in addition to the description, or it can replace the description if a full description or re-description is deemed unnecessary. Descriptions of species should be based on the entire type-series, not only the holotype, with any variations between the holotype and the paratypes described. New species should not be described from single specimens without some justification (e.g. stating the steps taken to locate/collect more). Names given to new taxa should be simple and euphonic, and species names based on geographic entities with complicated local names (e.g. townbushensis, skoorsteenkopensis) should be avoided.

All nomenclatorial and taxonomic changes (synonymies, type designations, generic transfers, changes in status, replacement of names, etc.) must be briefly justified, and nomenclatorial ambiguities and interpretation must be fully explained. If a type cannot be traced, an account should be given of the steps taken to ascertain its whereabouts. A lectotype must then be designated from the paratypes or from the original type locality, or if not known accurately the closest population reliably inferred to represent the type.

Type designations and deposition

Type designations must be done in accordance with the ICZN, and types not recognised by the ICZN (homotype, metallotype, etc.) are not acceptable. The designation of allotypes should be avoided. Primary types (holotypes, lectotypes and neotypes) must be deposited in recognised public taxonomic institutions (not private collections) and, if at all possible, in the country of origin of the species. 

 

All specimens examined should be listed either in the ‘Materials and Methods’ section, or in a section of the description entitled ‘Materials examined’, citing all specimens and their depositories. The data on the specimen labels should be cited verbatim in the case of types but can be standardised for all other specimens examined, arranging the localities in alphabetical order within countries or provinces. Map co-ordinates are preferred, particularly for obscure localities. The lines of a label associated with a specimen are to be separated by a semi-colon and the items on the line by a comma, as per the following example:

Calvinia District, Northern Cape; 31°39.24′S, 20°53.41′E, 1254 m; 17 December 2011; J.B. Ball (full initials). Note that there are no spaces between the coordinates, that the degree sign ° is used, with the prime sign ′ (not the apostrophe) for minutes. If the label has seconds the double prime sign ″ is used. The decimal system i.e. -31.1234, 20.1234 for coordinates can also be used. If there are other labels they should start on separate lines.

Typical species description, diagnosis and key

Authors are referred to a typical species description, diagnosis and key in the Appendix, at the end of these instructions.

 

APPENDIX

TYPICAL SPECIES DESCRIPTION, DIAGNOSIS AND KEY

Abbreviations

NHM: Natural History Museum, London.

GPC: Gardiner Private collection.

IZIKO: Iziko Museum, Cape Town

DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES

Genus Cooksonia Druce, 1905

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1905: 256 (251–262). Type species: Cooksonia trimeni Druce, by monotypy.

Cooksonia gardineri sp. n. (Figs 1A–H)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0F6390BA-AEBF-4920-A265-0CDFF4993CDD

Holotype ?: Near Mongu, Western Province, Zambia, 15°20'36"N, 23°18'02"E, 1050m; 16.xi.2017; A. Gardiner leg.; NHM Prep. genit.

Paratypes: 14 ?; 1?: as for Holotype, deposited in GPC and IZIKO.

 

Description of facies

Males (Figs 1A–F):

Because of the variability in the wing markings of the ?s, the description below is based on the entire type series of 15 ?s.

Wingspan: 35.1–45.5 mm. Forewing length: 17.6–23.4 mm, mean 21.2 mm. Antenna-wing ratio mean 0.47 (n = 15).

Head Eyes glabrous, frons and vertex black, posterior to vertex an elongated patch of light scales, near the eye these scales are light orange rest of patch white, below antenna until base of palp a broad white band next to the eye, at posterior edge of eyes band becomes black for a short distance then white before once again becoming black, for a short distance, until it reaches the light patch posterior to vertex. At junction of head and thorax and near base of wings a small patch of orange scales.  Pedicel of antennae black; shaft black with some patches of white scales on ventral surface; club black with lighter brown bands between segments. Labial palpi: first segment dark, second with a patch of light orange scales ventrally remainder black; apical segment black.

Thorax Upper surface black, with a small patch of orange on either side of the thorax at the anterior end near the base of the forewings. Under surface black with large patches of orange and or whitish scales, along the midline dense orange scales, base of thorax with a large patch of white scales. Femur mostly black but with a patch of light orange at the posterior and apical end ventrally, tibia and tarsi of pro and meso legs dark while tibia and tarsi of meta leg dark dorsally but orange ventrally.

Abdomen Above mostly black but with an orange band towards the distal end, these bands broaden laterally, especially on 2^nd–4^th segments, and almost take up most of the width at the base of the sides of the abdomen. Ventral side of abdomen with black and white spots, each segment with a white patch at base surrounded by black distally and laterally, penultimate segment with no black but replaced with orange scales, last segment with a small patch of black remainder orange.

Wings Upperside background colour varying from orange to red with the subapical band, opU3–8, varying from light yellow to red. Forewing: Od, O and Op fused to form a black border, narrow at space 1 and increasing in width to form a broad black apex, black extending along outer margin to base of wing, cells 9–12 black. Part of M¹3 or M¹4 fusing with D and often, but not always with M²4+5 and black of outer margin to form a large black discoidal patch. Light umbral area mU¹3 always present to a varying degree and may even join opU3, when this occurs the black remains along the veins, mU¹4 may also be present. Some black on inner margin, in 1a, from base to about 1 third and then narrowing. Cilia: black especially around areas of vein between veins there may be a patch of white cilia especially towards anal angle. Hindwing: Broad black border formed from Od and O, light orange-red spots formed from oU present as spots in border to a varying degree but oU1b & oU2 always present but at times very faint. Discal spot, D, present as a small but clear spot, M²1b may also be present as a black spot, some black at base of wing. Cilia: black around the veins, between veins a large patch of white cilia. Underside forewing: ground colour varying from an orange/red through to a yellow/orange and sometimes with white markings. Marginal border, Od, black, narrow. oU¹1b–oU¹7 from deep orange to light yellow, narrow at oU¹1b and broadening to oU¹7 except oU¹6 which is noticeably broader than oU¹5 and oU¹7, oU¹ may be faintly bordered by O, to a varying extent, in some cases when O present then oU² visible as a paler, sometimes white, marking again variable in extent. Proximal border, Op3–Op8, present to a variable degree often forming a bold line especially from Op4–Op7 the black also normally extending up the vein to form triangular spots which may extend to join Od. The proximal border umbra, opU3–opU9, forming a relatively narrow band curving and touching outer margin, This band can vary in colour from being red and similar to rest of umbrae or distinctly paler being even almost white at times, opU1+2 joined with mU and this also merging with most of cell an orange-red colour normally darker towards and in the cell. M¹ only starting at 3, sometimes at 4 and forms a band of various width that joins the margin. Discal spot also coalesces with black of margin which on the outer edge of cell extends to M²5 and then carries on as a line down to base of wing, on the outer edge of this line, cell 12, yellow-orange or red. Cilia as in upperside, except a few more black scales between veins. Underside hindwing: with a striking array of bands and spots. Thin black marginal border Od1–Od7, the umbra oU¹1b–oU¹6 forms a band of pale yellow, red or a combination of these colors, separated from one another by the vein being black, outer edge curved in each cell to a varying degree and edged by the narrow black line of O which is also curved in each cell, sometimes even chevron shaped, this in turn is edged by oU²1b–oU²7 which is always white, this once again edged by the narrow black line of Op, unlike O the black of Op tends to be reduced at the veins and in the centre of the cell and may even be, rarely, broken at Op3, the band formed by O, oU and Op is distinctive with its chevron shaped marks in each cell. The umbrae opU, mU and bU may either form a continuous background colour, light yellow to red or they may be separate to various degrees, opU is often seen as a separate clear colour while mU may be dusted with pale yellow/white, these paler scales often more noticeable around the spots formed from M¹, D, M² & H. The median band, M¹, forming a band of spots, or less often light marks, their size and presence variable but usually M¹1c–4 & M¹7 present, M¹1b when present dislodged towards base so as to be more in line with M²1c. The discal spot, the second median dots M²1b+c, M²2, M²4+5, M²7, M²8 and H4+5 always present as dots together with some black at the base of the wing, M¹1a may be present. Cilia as in upperside.

Female (Figs 1G, H): Description based on a single example. Larger than all ?s captured. Forewing length 24.6mm, antenna-wing ratio 0.41.

Similar markings and pattern to male except: Upperside umbral colour more extensive and a deep orange. Forewing with outer margin more curved in shape, opU4–opU9 broader, a small dash mark only along vein at M¹3, M¹4 starts as a dashed mark but quickly narrows to form a narrow line with M¹5+6 the remaining of M¹ coalescing with margin to form a broad margin which runs on the outer edge of cell and for about half its length, discal spot more noticeable as a spot but coalesces with the marginal mark. Hindwing with a narrow black margin, Od, and with noticeable black striae extending along the veins from margin inwards until the position of Op (just showing through from the underside), the discal mark small and faint. Underside similar to some of the males except:  forewing no sign of O, opU4–opU9 broader, only M¹4+5 present and D almost completely separated from marginal mark. Hindwing with umbra oU¹ & opU wider than in male and chevron marks made up of O, oU² & Op more angular. The white cilia between the veins in both upper and underside more noticeable.

Genitalia ? (Figs 2 A–C): Uncus almost trapezoidal in shape when flattened ventrally, the anterior margin almost straight, unlike neavei and aliciae (figured in Stempffer 1967) there is a slight depression in the centre of this margin, posterior margin with more of a square shaped bulge compared to that figured by Stempffer for neavei and aliciae; subunci long, curved, tapering regularly and slightly hooked at apex. Valves more of an elongated triangle than for those figured by Stempffer, apex with two processes the rounded one stockier and more similar to neavei than aliciae; aedeagus elongate, slightly curved and tapering from one side to a slightly curved point.

Diagnosis

The background colour of this species varies considerably from a light orange to bright red with various combinations. On the upperside it does not have a white apical tip. In general appearance it is closest to C. neavei and C. trimeni. In the male its upperside forewing median patch in size is in-between that of neavei and trimeni and the band formed by this and the black tip,

opU, is distinct as a band like in neavei but noticeably narrower. The underside is more similar to trimeni due to on the hindwing the narrowness of Op, on the forewing underside D coalesces with the margin while in trimeni it forms a separate spot. In the female the upperside forewing does not have the broad apical tip of trimeni while the median band, M¹, is very narrow, almost a line, compared to the broad band of neavei. The hindwing upperside does not have the broad dark margin as in neavei and is more similar to some specimens of trimeni, the discal spot is always evident in trimeni but in this female specimen almost absent.

Key to the Cooksonia species

1. Underside hindwing with distinctive stria and umbrae ..…………….……….………………. 2

Underside hindwing without distinctive stria and umbrae, apart from a few markings almost plain on the underside.....C. ginettae Collins & Larsen

2.   Hindwing underside Op distinctive and larger than oU² forming a broad band ….……..……. 3

Hindwing underside Op narrow smaller than oU² and oU² forming a chevron shaped line in each cell ……………..…………….……….... 4

3.   Upperside forewing apical tip white ..………… C. aliciae Talbot

Upperside forewing apical tip black ……………. C. neavei Druce

4.   Underside forewing with O well developed allowing for oU¹, oU² and Op to be easily distinguished as bands ………………………. C. abri Collins & Larsen

Underside forewing with O either absent or if present faint or only present in a few cells hence no distinctive bands, even Op may be weak or absent ….…………………………………….. 5

5.   Hindwing underside with the black line formed by O distinctly bent inwards in most cells, particularly noticeable on inner edge making the line distinctly undulating. Forewing underside M¹4 & M¹5 present ……………..……………..      

      C. gardineri sp. nov.

Hindwing underside with the black line, O, almost straight particularly on the outer edge with oU¹ occasionally and in particular the female protruding slightly into oU². Forewing underside M¹4 & M¹5 absent or very faint ….. 6

6.   Hindwing upperside with a broad black margin formed from Od and O ………………………. C. nozolinoi Mendes & Bivar de Sousa