Euproctis phaeosticta ( Kiriakoff, 1958 ) Durante, 2012

Durante, Antonio, 2012, New genera and problematic species in African Lithosiinae (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Lymantriidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 22, pp. 1-16 : 12-14

Euproctis phaeosticta ( Kiriakoff, 1958) comb. nov.

( Fig. 7 A-H)

Asura phaeosticta Kiriakoff, 1958: 4 .

Diagnosis

Male genitalia (figs. 7D-E) with valvae not visibly divided into supravalva and ala valvae; the latter presents a small process at half of its inner margin (also described by Kiriakoff 1958, but not illustrated in the accompanying picture); the uncus is clearly more robust and large at the base than it is in Asura and Afrasura ; vesica without cornuti.

Female abdomen with A7 prominent and weakly sclerotized; A8 generally membranous, but eighth sternum sclerotized with a median incision of the caudal margin, whereas the anterior margin extends to wrap the sinus vaginalis (in Asura and in Afrasura the eighth segment is small and membranous).

Ductus bursae stiff and short ( Fig. 7F ), serving as point of origin of the ductus seminalis (in Asura and Afrasura the ductus seminalis arises from the cervix bursae). Anterior apophyses extremely reduced; posterior apophyses missing. The structure of abdominal segments 9-10 complex is plurilobate, with two big ventral papillae, an unpaired dorsal papillary structure, two median caudal clubbed lobes, at which base, in latero-ventral position, two other small papillary processes arise ( Fig. 7G ).

Finally, it should be noted that the apodemes of the sternite of A2 are short and stout ( Fig. 7H ), instead of long and slender as normally in the tribus Nudariini ( Bendib & Minet, 1999) .

Material examined

UGANDA, Ruwenzori: Ƌ Arct. g.sl. n. 5740 BMNH. TANZANIA: ♀ Arct. g.sl. n. 5751 BMNH, (both in BMNH).

Type locality

Uganda (holotype Ƌ examined, lacking the end of the abdomen, in BMNH).

Distribution

Uganda, Ruwenzori. Tanzania (BMNH).

Remarks

Examination of the male genitalia of this species shows that it does not belong to Asura or Afrasura , but is a representative of the Lymantriidae , which is also confirmed by the presence in males of 3-1 divergent setae at the apex of the ramus of each flagellomere ( Kitching & Rawlins 1999: 386); by the plurilobate structure of abdominal segments 9-10 complex (papillae anales and pseudopapillae; see Maes 1984); and by the absence of female pheromone dorsal glands between A8 and A9 (see Holloway 1988; Bendib & Minet 1998).

The generic position of this species is not very clear. According to the wing venation, similar to Afrasura , and without considering the anastomosis between veins 11 and 12 in phaeosticta , it could be assigned to such genera as Leucoma Hübner, 1822 or Naroma Walker, 1856 , however the genitalia are clearly different. The Malagasy genus Leptepilepta Collenette, 1929 ( Griveaud 1977) has been considered too, whose genitalia are quite similar, mostly with regard to the shape of the valva which possesses a similar process at the inner margin. It has been, however, excluded on account of the general colour and shape of the wings, the presence of an areola in the forewing venation, the geographic distribution (only Madagascar), the female genitalia being unknown, in addition to some differences of the male genitalia.

Lastly, but not without some reservations, the genus Euproctis Hübner, [1819] has been selected since it includes species with similar general appearance, a large geographical range, and similarity of some male genitalia (e.g. E. lemuria (Hering, 1926) or E. imerina Griveaud, 1977 ) (particularly the general similarity of the uncus, the valvae and the aedeagus).

Figures

Fig. 7. Euproctis phaeosticta (Kiriakoff, 1958) comb. nov. A. Holotype Ƌ, Uganda, in BMNH. B. Ƌ, Uganda, in BMNH. C. ♀, Tanzania, in BMNH. D. Ƌ genitalia, g.sl. BM ARCT 5740, Uganda. E. Aedeagus, g.sl. BM ARCT 5740, Uganda. F. ♀ genitalia, g.sl. BM ARCT 5751, Tanzania. G. ♀, ventro-caudal view of papillae anales, g.sl. BM ARCT 5751, Tanzania. H. Ƌ, sternum A2 apodemes, g.sl. BM ARCT 5740, Uganda.