The bifimbriata species-group

Six species in Ethiopia. In an analysis of COI sequences, these species appear as a natural group with certain affinities to the genus Thalassodes, especially when excluding the third codon position. When analytically considering all nucleotides of the COI gene, P. bifimbriata, P. angulifera sp. n., and P. stefani sp. n. constitute a homogenous subgroup, whilst P. albisticta, P. gemmifera sp. n. and P. discipuncta sp. n. belong to another subgroup, possibly embracing also P. niveisticta Prout, 1912, P. salutaria (Swinhoe, 1904), P. camerunalta (Herbulot, 1986), and P. bilobata Fletcher, 1978 . In male genitalia the valva does not show a sclerotized harpe, the juxta is often V-shaped and with posterior appendages, the saccus often large. The aedeagus is usually long and slender, with a fine spinulose crest. Sternum A8 is membranous and with tapering projections posteriorly. In male genitalia of some species ( P. bifimbriata, P. angulifera sp. n.) the sclerotized V-shaped juxta is reminiscent of the equivalents in African species of the genus Thalassodes, as well as the dorsal projection from 1/2 costa of valva. Moreover in habitus the lacking irroration, the pale fringe and the angled hindwing is similar to equivalents in Thalassodes . However, the vestigial socii and distinctly bilobous sternum A 8 in male genitalia are characteristic for the genus Prasinocyma and the molecular data justify their placement in Prasinocyma (see above) as this was also recognized in traditional taxonomy (Prout 1930; Scoble 1999) in the case of several species ( P. niveisticta Prout, 1912, P. salutaria (Swinhoe, 1904), P. bilobata Fletcher, 1978, P. bifimbriata, P. albisticta and others) belonging to this group.