Parapoynx stagnalis (Zeller, 1852)

Agassiz, David J. L., 2012, The Acentropinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) of Africa, Zootaxa 3494, pp. 1-73 : 14-15

Parapoynx stagnalis (Zeller, 1852)

Nymphula stagnalis Zeller, 1852: 26 .

Hydrocampa depunctalis Guenée, 1854: 274 .

Zebronia? decussalis Walker, 1859: 481.

Cataclysta vestigialis Snellen, [1880]: 78.

Hydrocampa hilli Tepper, 1890: 49 .

Type locality: Natal, South Africa

Described and illustrated by Speidel (1984), Yoshiyasu (1985) and Speidel (2004).

Imago (Fig. 2): Wingspan 12–18mm. Head white; labial palpus short, white, with some lateral fuscous scaling near base of segment 1; antenna ochreous white, ♂ with raised fuscous scales between each segment. Thorax white. Forewing white; blackish spots in fold, in disc and just above it, and along subterminal line; some fulvous suffusion along base of costa; an irregular fulvous postmedian fascia and a partial one before subterminal line; terminal cilia pale fuscous. Hindwing white; a blackish spot near dorsum; an irregular fulvous median fascia and another before obsolescent row of fulvous spots forming subterminal line. Legs white. Abdomen white. Many of the markings can become obsolete.

Male genitalia (Fig. 83): Uncus spatulate with long setae; gnathos two thirds length of uncus, tapered to a blunt point bent slightly towards uncus. Valva simple, costa gently concave; a very small process arising from near base with three apices, each bearing a short hair. Aedeagus gently curved; some spiculation in rows near apex.

Female genitalia (Fig. 133): Bursa about half length of abdomen. Ostium about half width of abdomen; ostial chamber conical, weakly scobinate, reducing to narrow antrum, about half length of ductus, from colliculum ductus continuing narrow then broadening before corpus bursae; corpus ovate; signa comprising a flat sclerotised plate, sometimes slightly indented at ends, a more strongly sclerotised ridge along outer sides.

Tympanal organs: Venulae of moderate strength, anterior half slightly further separated; tympanum almost triangular.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from all other species in the genus by its white wings with black and fuscous speckling on both forewing and hindwing.

Biology: The larva feeds on a number of aquatic plants including Oryza sativa, Panicum spp., Eragrostis, Paspalum , etc. Larval and pupal descriptions given in detail by Yoshiyasu (1985). Sometimes a pest of rice. In continuous generations, adults recorded in every month of the year.

Distribution: A common and widespread species in Africa, found throughout tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Old World. In Africa recorded from Morocco, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Congo, Nigeria, Togo, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, The Gambia; Madagascar.

Material examined: Holotype ♂ Natal ( BMNH).

MOROCCO: 1♂ 18♀ Tangier, 1♀ Rabat ( BMNH); SENEGAL: 3♂ 11♀ Sédhou ( BMNH); THE GAMBIA 1♀ ( BMNH); SIERRA LEONE: 1♂ Moyamba , 4♀ Bo ( BMNH); GHANA: 2♀ Kate-Krach , 3♀ Navaro , 1♂ 4♀ Appan ( BMNH); TOGO 1 ♀( BMNH); NIGERIA: 1♀ Wikki , 3♀ Zungeru, 2♀ Kokoja , 1♂ Minna , 1♂ 2♀ Ilesha, 1♀ Ibadan , 1♀ Sapele ( BMNH); D.R. CONGO: 1♀ Lulua, 1♀ Maraco , 1♀ Yangambi ( BMNH); UGANDA: 1♂ 1♀ Masaka, 1♀ Kampala ( BMNH), 1♀ Mabira Forest ( DJLA); KENYA: 1♂ 1♀ Nairobi , 1♂ Kitale , 1♀ ‘Unyoro’ ( BMNH), 1♂ Sagana, 2♂ Kakamega ( DJLA); TANZANIA: 1♀ Ruaha ( BMNH); ZAMBIA: 1♀ Mbala; MALAWI: 3♂ 1♀ Mt. Mlanje ( BMNH), 1♀ Zomba ( BMNH); MOZAMBIQUE: 1♀ Port Herald ; 2♀ Kola Valley ( BMNH); ANGOLA: 1♂ Angueria , 1♂ Callulu ( BMNH); ZIMBABWE: 1♂ 1♀ Malema, 1♂ Victoria Falls ( DJLA).