Yponomeuta nigricola Meyrick, 1912

Agassiz, David J. L., 2019, The Yponomeutidae of the Afrotropical region (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea), Zootaxa 4600 (1), pp. 1-69 : 11

8. Yponomeuta nigricola Meyrick, 1912 comb. rev.

Hyponomeuta nigricola Meyrick, 1912: 66

Ptiloteina nigricola ( Meyrick, 1912) ; Gershenson & Ulenberg (1998: 92)

Type locality: Republic of South Africa: Kwazulu Natal , Durban .

Redescription of adult ( Plate 2). Wingspan 14–18 mm. Head and appendages dull blackish brown, labial palpus segment 3 almost equal in length to segment 2. Thorax and tegula dull blackish brown. Forewing dull blackish brown, rather more thickly scaled in basal half of wing beneath costa giving a slight golden effect, two black spots near base on costa, a further 6–8 spots distributed across wing, terminal fringe concolorous with wing; Hindwing brownish black, large distinct basal hyaline patch. Abdomen and legs dull brownish black.

Male genitalia ( Plate 9). Uncus slightly indented, socius long; tegumen with lateral flaps which may comprise the gnathos; valva becoming wider distally, cost distinctly defined, sacculus almost as long as valva, tapered to a blunt point; saccus with a bulbous end. Aedeagus long and slender, a cornutus extending its whole length.

Female genitalia ( Plate 18 ). Caudal pads of lamella postvaginalis small and close together, ostium without sclerotisation, ductus bursae fairly narrow, a little wider towards corpus bursae where it is scobinate, corpus bursae spherical, signum a stellate cruciform plate with a dentate process arising from it.

Diagnosis. The dark forewings and very dark hindwings distinguish this species as well as the male genitalia with pronounced sacculus and bulbous saccus.

Biology. Not known, adults recorded in January, April, October and November.

Distribution. Republic of South Africa: Kwazulu Natal.

Type material. Holotype (without abdomen) Natal, Durban, 1.04 SAM LEP A015670 ( SAMC).

Other material examined: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: 1 specimen (without abdomen) Mfongosi , Zulu L, W.B.Jones April 1911 SAM LEP 015671 ( SAMC) ; 1 ♀ Durban , Natal, 22.x.1960 C.G.C. Dickson ; 1 ♀ same data 3.xi.1953 ; 2 ♂ same data 16.xi.1960 ; 1 ♀ Umhlanga Rocks , Natal, 3.xi.1953 C.G.C. Dickson ( TMSA) ; 1 ♀ Mfon- gosi, Zululand 3.11 Genitalia slide BMNH Microlep 28370 ; 1 ♂ Mfongosi , Zululand 3/1 Genitalia slide BMNH Microlep 28369 ; 1 ♂ Durban , Natal, i.04 Leigh, Genitalia slide BMNH Microlep 34350 ; 1 ♀ Durban , Natal, i.04 Leigh ; 1 specimen without abdomen, Durban , Natal, i.04 ; 1 specimen without abdomen, Durban , xi.1900 Leigh ( NHMUK) .

Figures

PLATE 18.