Paracataclysta fuscalis ( Hampson, 1893 )

Agassiz, David J. L., 2012, The Acentropinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) of Africa, Zootaxa 3494, pp. 1-73 : 22-23

Paracataclysta fuscalis ( Hampson, 1893)

Cataclysta fuscalis Hampson, 1893: 178 .

Cataclysta nyctopis Meyrick, 1894: 475 .

Type locality: Sri Lanka: Kelaney Valley .

Imago (Figs. 26, 27): Wingspan 10–14mm. ♂: Head pale fuscous; labial palpus slender, upcurved, pale fuscous; maxillary palpus scaled, almost half length of labial palpus; antenna fuscous. Thorax pale fuscous. Forewing whitish, base fuscous in costal half; an obscure partial subbasal fascia; fuscous median fascia, a scattering of pale fuscous scales beyond this; an indistinct orangeish spot beyond disc edged dark fuscous; two dark fuscous costal strigulae before apex; an obscure subterminal line orange and pale fuscous; termen mixed dull orange and dark fuscous; leaden metallic tornal spot; cilia fuscous. Hindwing whitish; an obscure broad antemedian fascia; in postmedian area a scattering of fuscous scales; double wavy subterminal line; about five black eyespots coalesced and mixed with silver, a small orange spot between 1 and 2. Abdomen pale fuscous.

♀: Head as ♂. Thorax dark fuscous. Forewing dark fuscous irrorate whitish; a partial orange-brown antemedian fascia; orange-brown discal spot; two deep and pale orange costal strigulae towards apex separated by a leaden metallic band; leaden metallic tornal spot followed by a small orange arc; termen fuscous, a slight indentation above tornus. Hindwing whitish; a broad dark fuscous antemedian fascia; a pair of fuscous lines near costa as partial median fascia; narrow and broad subterminal lines; about six black eye-spots, coalesced, studded with silver-metallic, preceded by a silver tornal spot. Abdomen fuscous.

Male genitalia (Fig. 97): Uncus long, slender and bluntly pointed; gnathos ¾ length of uncus, gently curved away from it, bearing two or three short spines near apex; valva simple, costa strongly arched, dorsum almost straight, long setae towards apex; juxta extended into a pair of sclerotised prongs. Aedeagus cylindrical, a single curved cornutus.

Female genitalia (Fig. 150): Segment 8 long; ostium wide, ostial chamber conical; colliculum sclerotised and bulbous; corpus bursae widening steadily into a ovoid shape, signa comprising a large patch of spines around the anterior end.

Tympanal organs: Venulae widely separated, slightly concave; tympani projecting anteriorly.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from other species with terminal eyespots on the hindwing by the lack of yellow or orange markings, except in the terminal area of the forewing.

Biology: Unknown.

Distribution: Widespread; also throughout South East Asia and northern Australia.

Material examined: SENEGAL: 1♀ Sédhiou ( BMNH) ; NIGERIA: 1♂ Ogruga , R. Niger ( BMNH) , 1♂ Badeggi ( BMNH) , 1♀ Zungeru ( BMNH) ; ZAMBIA: 1♀ Nr Lake Bangweulu, near Milambo ( BMNH) ; SIERRA LEONE: 1♀ Bo ( BMNH) ; UGANDA: 1♀ Murchison Falls, 1♂ 6♀ Malamigambo Forest ( DJLA) ; D.R. CONGO: 5♀ Lubumbashi [Elisabethville], 1♀ Eala ( MRAC) ; SUDAN: 1♀ White Nile 09º N, 1♀ Talodi ( OUM) ; NAMIBIA: 1♂ Bangani, West Caprivi ; SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ Richards Bay, 1♀ Dukuduku, 1♀ Kegalle, 1♀ St Lucia Lake ( TMP) ; MOZAMBIQUE: 4 ♂ 16♀ Magude, 1♂ Inyack Isl. ( TMP) .