Dukeia cyanea ( Meyrick, 1912 ) Agassiz, 2019

Agassiz, David J. L., 2019, The Yponomeutidae of the Afrotropical region (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea), Zootaxa 4600 (1), pp. 1-69 : 30

34. Dukeia cyanea ( Meyrick, 1912) comb. nov.

Gymnogramma cyanea Meyrick, 1912: 66

Type locality: Republic of South Africa: Kwazulu Natal , Mfongosi .

Redescription of adult ( Plate 5 ). Wingspan 15–22 mm. Head dark brown with bluish reflections, labial palpus slender, pointed, blackish, segment 3 just longer than segment 2; antenna black. Thorax and tegula metallic blue. Forewing uniform metallic blue, terminal fringe blackish. Hindwing blackish brown, with small basal hyaline patch. Abdomen and legs blackish brown.

Male genitalia ( Plate 15). Uncus slightly concave, socius long; valva rounded and clothed with hairs, sacculus not pronounced, saccus less than half length of valva. Aedeagus long and bent beyond middle, with a long cornutus.

Female genitalia. Not examined.

Diagnosis. The species is distinguished by the uniform metallic blue of the forewing without other markings.

Biology. Larvae live gregariously in a web on Maytenus . Adults recorded in October and January–March.

Distribution. Republic of South Africa, Kwazulu Natal.

Type material. Lectotype ♀ Mfongosi , Zululand 10.11 W.E.I. 7 Paralectotypes: 1 ♀ same data as lectotype, 1 ♀? Pinetown , Natal.09; 1 without abdomen Durban , Natal /02 Jeffery ; 1 ♀ Kimbolton , Escourt , Natal 18.. Hutch- inson; 3 ♂ Natal , probably Durban , Malvern 7–800 ft. Coll 1887–1896 by Cecil N. Burke, Presented by R. Trimen, including BMNH Microlep slide 34355 ( NHMUK).

Other material examined: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♀ Port Elizabeth , Cape Province 27.x.1960 J.S. Taylor, ex larva on indigenoous tree ; 1 ♀ Transkei, The Haven , 10.iv.1989 ; 3 ♂ 7 ♀ same locality bred fom Maytenus em. 19.ii.1986, 2.iii.1986 (2), 25.i.1986, 20.ii.1986, 18.ii.1986 (2), 26.ii.1986, 19.ii.1986, 6.iii.1986 N.J. Duke ( TMSA) .

Note. This species is here returned from Lacturidae (Zygaenoidea) to Yponomeutidae where the genus Gymnogramma , was placed by Heppner (1995).

Figures

PLATE 5. The codes Y1 to Y4 refer to presently undescribed species, and are used to identify the specimens, and are also used in the museums where they are deposited.