Yponomeuta ingens ( Gershenson & Ulenberg, 1998 ) Agassiz, 2019

Agassiz, David J. L., 2019, The Yponomeutidae of the Afrotropical region (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea), Zootaxa 4600 (1), pp. 1-69 : 7

1. Yponomeuta ingens ( Gershenson & Ulenberg, 1998) comb. nov.

Teinoptila ingens Gershenson & Ulenberg, 1998: 100 .

Type locality: Burundi: Kitega .

Redescription of adult ( Plate 1 ). Wingspan 26 mm. Head mixed black and pale grey, labial palpus slender, very pale grey but black around base of each segment, segment 3 slightly shorter than segment 2; scape dirty white with a black ring distally, flagellum pale grey. Thorax pale grey with six black spots, tegula pale grey each with one black spot. Forewing pale grey with about 20 black spots arranged in 4–5 longitudinal rows, fringe concolorous with wing. Hindwing grey, fringe concolorous. Abdomen and legs brownish grey. In males the large valvae and pleural lobes surrounding them are very conspicuous.

Male genitalia ( Plate 7). Uncus slightly indented, socius of elaborate shape somewhat akin to a swan’s neck, tegumen with curved lateral processes which comprise the gnathos; valva almost ovate, costa strongly arched; saccus ending in a knob. Aedeagus very long and slender, a pair of weak cornuti near apex. Pleural lobes very large.

Female genitalia. Not known.

Diagnosis. A species with plain pale grey ground colour, larger than Y. puncticornis (wingspan> 25 mm). The male is conspicuous by its large valvae surrounded by equally large pleural lobes.

Biology. Not known. Adults recorded in January, April, May and December.

Distribution. Tanzania and Burundi.

Type material. Holotype ♂, in MRAC (not examined).

Other material examined: TANZANIA: 1 ♂ Morogoro 6°50’32’’S 37°40’51’’E, 1200 ft, 24.iv.2001, D.J.L. Agassiz. slide DJLA 1183 ( DJLA) ; 2 ♂ Morogoro Distr. & Town , 550–600 m, 1.i.1992 and 4.xii.1992 L.A. Aarvik ; 1 ♂ Morogoro Distr. & Town: Kihonda , 500 m, 26.v.1992, L.A. Aarvik ( NHMO) .

Figures

PLATE 1. Yponomeuta species. The bar denotes wingspan.