Corresponding author: Oleksiy Bidzilya (
Academic editor: Dominique Zimmermann
New diagnosis of the genus
The genus
As a result of our study of the
The recent examination of the holotype and male paratype of
The aim of the present paper is to describe new species, which were found belonging to
The present paper is based mainly on material from Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (formerly Transvaal Museum), Pretoria, South Africa Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway Landesmuseum für Kärnten, Klagenfurt David Agassiz, London, UK
The genitalia slides were prepared according to the “unrolling technique” (
In the paragraph “Material” of the descriptions the localities were arranged geographicly from south-west to north-east and countries are referred to using their current names.
The genus
The male genitalia of
Based on the above diagnosis 23 species are considered here to be members of
Male tergum VIII sub-rectangular, usually broader than long, strongly edged and weakly emarginated anteriorly; sternum VIII broader than long, posterior margin broadly rounded, anteriolateral corners projected, sometimes strongly. Female segment VII trapezoidal, tergum VIII about twice length of other abdominal segments, sternum VIII three times longer than broad; sternum II of both sexes with pair of venulae, apodemes well developed.
Afrotropical (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia) and Oriental (India) regions.
In the southern Africa the adults were observed from late August to early May, up to 2000 m elevation in Auas Mts and Brandberg, easily attracted to light. In East Africa adults fly from August to January up to 1850 m elevation.
(Note:
1 | Wingspan 9.5–10.5 mm, forewing light brown with brown dots | |
– | Wingspan less than 9.5 mm | 2 |
2 | Forewing white with distinct black markings | |
– | Forewing otherwise coloured | 3 |
3 | Forewing yellow, black markings large | 4 |
– | Forewing grey, light brown, cream or light yellow, black markings usually small | 5 |
4 | Black spot on ¾ of dorsum large, forewing comparatively narrow, 7.1 mm | |
– | Black spot on ¾ small, forewing comparatively broad, 6.2 mm | |
5 | Forewing light yellow or cream-white | 6 |
– | Forewing grey | 7 |
6 | Forewing light yellow, costal margin without black irroration, 7.1–7.5 mm | |
– | Forewing cream-white, costal margin with black irrorartion, 5.8–6.1 mm | |
7 | Forewing with large brown, transverse spot in middle | |
– | Forewing without large brown, transverse spot in middle | 8 |
8 | Wingspan 8.0–9.1 mm | 9 |
– | Wingspan less than 8.0 mm | 10 |
9 | Forewing black-brown without markings, head brown, 8.0–8.2 mm | |
– | Forewing grey with rounded black spot in middle, head white, 9.0–9.1 mm | |
10 | Forewing long and narrow, with four black spots in cell and three black spots on costal margin |
|
– | Forewing shorter and broader | 11 |
11 | Forewing light brown | 12 |
– | Forewing grey | 13 |
12 | Forewing densely mottled with black irroration | |
– | Forewing without black irroration | |
13 | Forewing uniformly grey |
|
– | Forewing with black markings | 14 |
14 | Forewing comparatively dark, grey | |
– | Forewing comparatively light grey, with white pattern | |
15 | Forewing uniformly grey except of margins mottled with black | |
– | Forewing with black markings in cell |
(Note: The male of
1 | Projection of phallus present | 2 |
– | Projection of phallus absent | 13 |
2 | Vesica with one long cornutus, lateral vincular projections very long | |
– | Vesica with several small cornuti or without cornutus, lateral vincular projections short or absent | 3 |
3 | Phallus as long as or slightly longer than saccus | |
– | Phallus twice as long as saccus | 4 |
4 | Projection of phallus very short, reaching 1/5 of its length | |
– | Projection of phallus long, reaching at least ¾ of its length | 5 |
5 | Tooth on inner margin of valva situated close to sacculus and joined on base | 6 |
– | Tooth on inner margin of valva situated more distally from sacculus | 8 |
6 | Phallus with apical tooth | |
– | Phallus without apical tooth | 7 |
7 | Tooth on inner margin of valva about as long as sacculus | |
– | Tooth on inner margin of valva much shorter than valva | |
8 | Sacculus twice as broad as valva in middle | |
– | Sacculus as broad or narrower than valva in middle | 9 |
9 | Lateral vincular projections large, rounded, phallus strongly pointed apically | |
– | Lateral vincular projections small or absent, phallus not pointed apically or gradually tapered | |
10 | Phallus serrated laterally in distal portion | 11 |
– | Phallus not serrated in distal portion | 12 |
11 | Saccus rounded apically, process of phallus broadened at apex, vesica with small cornuti | |
– | Saccus pointed apically, process of phallus not broadened at apex, vesica without cornuti | |
12 | Saccus long, subrectangular, process of phallus arising from 1/3 of its length | |
– | Saccus triangular, process of phallus arising from about middle of phallus |
|
13 | Uncus covered with short setae |
|
– | Uncus covered with long setae | 14 |
14 | Vesica with 7–9 cornuti | |
– | Vesica without cornuti | 15 |
15 | Saccus stout, broadly rounded | |
– | Saccus smaller | 16 |
16 | Tegumen broad, trapezoid, sacculus sub-rectangular | |
– | Tegumen narrow, elongate sub-rectangular | 17 |
17 | Saccus comparatively long, pointed apically, sacculus very short, hump-shaped | |
– | Saccus comparatively short, rounded, sacculus longer | 18 |
18 | Sacculus narrow, long, uncus longer than broad | |
– | Sacculus broader and shorter, uncus broader than long or rounded | 19 |
19 | Uncus rounded, sacculus strongly pointed, phallus without apical thorn | |
– | Uncus heart-shaped, sacculus weakly pointed, phallus with single apical thorn |
(Note: The females of
1 | Signum present | 2 |
– | Signum absent | 8 |
2 | Antrum longer than half length of apophyses anteriores | 3 |
– | Antrum shorter than half length of apophyses anteriores | 5 |
3 | Signum a prolonged plate with small teeth | |
– | Sigmum a prolonged plate covered with spikes and with cord inside | 4 |
4 | Antrum distinctly longer than apophyses anteriores, subostial sclerite with posterior projection | |
– | Antrum sub-equal in length to apophyses anteriores, subostial sclerite without posterior projection | |
5 | Signum a large, rounded plate with numerous spikes | |
– | Signum of another shape | 6 |
6 | Signum brush-shaped, corpus bursae large, rounded; subostial sclerite big, of irregular shape | |
– | Signum a weakly curved, narrow plate, corpus elongated; subostial sclerite narrow | |
7 | Ductus bursae coiled, posterior portion weakly wrinkled, signum a prolonged plate with serrated margins | |
– | Ductus bursae not coiled and without wrinkles, signum a spinose plate | |
8 | Ductus bursae with short appendix | |
– | Ductus bursae without appendix | 9 |
9 | Corpus bursae covered with numerous spikes |
|
– | Corpus bursae without spikes | 10 |
10 | Ductus bursae with sclerotized band | |
– | Ductus bursae without sclerotized band | 11 |
11 | Subostial sclerite absent | |
– | Subostial sclerite present | 12 |
12 | Sternum VIII with sclerotized patches arising from base of apophyses anteriores, subostial sclerite digitate | |
– | Sternum VIII without sclerotized patches, subostial sclerite a transverse prolonged plate |
Holotype ♂, [
The species is recognizable externally by the white or light grey forewing with a black dash at base of costa, two black dashes at base of fold and three distinct black spots in cell. The male genitalia differ from the rest of
Adult (Figs
Adults of
Variation. Ground colour of forewing varies from white to light grey.
Male genitalia (Figs
Adults of
Male genitalia of
Variation. Uncus sometimes reduced to short, paired hump.
Female genitalia (Fig.
The specific epithet refers to the hostplant,
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya.
The larva feeds on
Holotype of
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Figs
Variation. The specimens from Kenya have no teeth on the wall of the corpus bursae, only spikes are present, and their number is much smaller than in females from South Africa; the corpus bursae is distinctly smaller too, the ductus bursae is broader, the transition to the corpus bursae is more gradual.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya.
Larva feeds on
The specimens from Kenya agree well externally with specimens from the type series and also in the male genitalia, but differ in some details in the female genitalia (see above). However, we do not consider these to be separate species.
Holotype ♂,
The new species is very similar externally to
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
The name refers to the type locality.
Tanzania.
The host plant is unknown. The adults have been collected in September.
Holotype ♂, [
The new species is well recognizable externally by the yellow-white forewing with black markings. The male genitalia resemble those of
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Figs
Female. Unknown.
The name refers to the location of the game farm Asante Sana in the escarpment, where the landscape is reminiscent of a caldera.
South Africa.
Host plant unknown. Adults were collected late January and early April.
Holotype ♂,
Adult (Figs
Variation. Forewing, head and thorax varies from those of described above to dark, nearly uniformly black.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Male genitalia of
Female. Unknown.
The species name refers to the country of occurrence of the new species.
Kenya.
Host plant unknown. The specimens from the type-series were collected in mid-August at 1850 m elevation.
Holotype ♀, [
The new species is externally very similar to
Adult (Fig.
Variation. Some specimens with blackish dorsal margin of forewing.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
The species is dedicated to Martin Krüger,
South Africa.
The host plant is unknown. The adults were collected in October, January and February.
Holotype ♂,
The new species can be reliably separated from
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female. Unknown.
The specific name is derived from “alternarius” (Latin), alternating, which refers to the alternating brown and white rings of the antenna.
Kenya.
The host plant is unknown. The adult moth was collected in March at an altitude of 2400 m.
Holotype ♂,
The new species can be reliably separated from
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
The specific name refers to the thickened antenna of the male.
South Africa, Namibia.
Host plant unknown. Adults occur from November to December and from February to early May.
Holotype ♀,
The new species can reliably be separated from
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Figs
Named after the farm Rooiklip in the escarpment of Namibia.
Namibia.
The host plant unknown. The adults were observed from late August to mid-September, and again in January and in March, which is suggestive for the development of two generations per year.
Holotype ♀,
The species is very similar externally to
Adult (Figs
Male. Unknown.
Female genitalia (Figs
Derived from “griseus” (Latin), grey, referring to the grey forewings.
South Africa, Namibia, Kenya.
The host plant is unknown. The adults were observed in October-November and again in February-March.
Holotype ♂,
The new species is well recognizable externally by the comparatively large size and the forewing with a large brown spot in the middle. The external differences to
Adult (Figs
Variation. Ground colour of head, thorax and forewing varies from white to light grey, paired black spot on ¾ of dorsal margin expressed in some specimens, medially prolonged spot sometimes divided into two smaller dots. Hindwings in male with light brown scales along margins, particularly on base near dorsal margin.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Figs
Named after the brown spot in the middle of the forewing.
Namibia, Botswana, South Africa.
The host plant is unknown. The adults were collected in January and March.
Holotype ♂, [
The new species can reliably be separated from
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Fig.
Male genitalia of
Female genitalia (Figs
Variation. The antrum is variable in width.
Named in memory of the lepidopterist John Joannou (1949-2013), who participated in the collecting campaign around Hongonyi Lodge with the second author in 2010.
South Africa.
The host plant is unknown. The adults were collected from late March to mid-May.
Holotype ♂,
The new species resembles externally
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
The species is named after the country of its occurrence.
Namibia.
The host plant is unknown. The adults were observed in late August, January and March up to 1900 m elevation.
Holotype ♀,
The new species can easily be recognized by the cream forewing with black dots and black irroration along costal margin and by its comparatively small size. The male genitalia are well defined by the broad valva, the very short saccus, the shape of valva and other details. The female genitalia are characterized by long apophyses anteriores, prolonged corpus bursae and unmodified sternite VIII.
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
The specific name is derived from the Brandberg, the type locality of the new species.
Namibia.
The host plant is unknown. Adults were collected in December and in February up to 1740 m elevation.
Holotype, ♂,
The new species remotely resembles externally
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female. Unknown.
The species name is dedicated to Leif Aarvik (Natural History Museum, Oslo), the collector of the species.
Tanzania.
The host plant is unknown. The holotype was collected in mid-April.
Holotype ♂,
The new species is externally similar to
Adult (Figs
Variation. Black pattern along margins of forewing varies from grey to nearly black.
Male genitalia (Figs
Female genitalia (Figs
The name refers to the obviously wide distribution of the species in Africa.
Namibia, Kenya.
The larva feeds on
Holotype ♂, [
As far as we can judge from the single male, the new species is most similar to
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Male genitalia of
Female. Unknown.
Derived from “emarginatus” (Latin), excised, referring to the excised vinculum in the male genitalia.
South Africa.
The host plant is unknown. The holotype was collected in late April.
Holotype ♀,
The new species can reliably be separated from
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Figs
Female genitalia (Fig.
The species is named after the name of its host plant,
Kenya, Namibia.
Larvae feed on
Holotype ♂, [
Adult (Figs
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female. Unknown.
Derived from “maximus” (Latin), the largest, referring to the large size of the species.
Ethiopia.
The type series was collected in mid-January at 1600 m elevation.
Holotype ♀,
The new species can be separated from the similar
Adult (Figs
Variation. The black markings can be reduced so that the forewing looks uniformly grey in some specimens.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
Derived from “longus” and “cornutus” (Latin), long resp. cornutus, referring to the unusual long cornutus of the phallus
Namibia, Kenya.
The host plant is unknown. The adults have been collected in late August-early September in Namibia and in mid-April, early July in Kenya.
Lectotype: ♂,
1 ♂, 6.vi.1929, Pupa on leaves of
As far as we can judge from rather limited material,
Adult (Fig.
Male genitalia (Fig.
Female. Not examined.
India.
Larva feeds on
Female genitalia of
Female genitalia of
Female genitalia of
Female genitalia of
Female genitalia of
Female genitalia of
We are thankful to Leif Aarvik (
The first author expresses his gratitude to Jurate De Prins for her assistance during his work in the collection of
The visits of the first author to
We are thankful to the editor of DEZ and two reviewers, who made constructive suggestions to improve the manuscript. Authors are acknowledged the