Afrocerura thomensis (Talbot, 1929)

Mulvaney, Lydia R. J., 2021, Notes on the life history and taxonomy of Cerurina marshalli (Noctuoidea: Notodontidae: Cerurinae), Metamorphosis 32 (1), pp. 1-12 : 8

Afrocerura thomensis (Talbot, 1929)

( Figs 23‒25 , genitalia Fig. 42)

Cerura thomensis Talbot, 1929: 63 .

Afrocerura cameroona thomensis (Talbot, 1929) : Kiriakoff, 1963: 215.

Afrocerura thomensis (Talbot, 1929) : Schintlmeister & Witt, 2015: 31.

Name bearing type:

Holotype ♂ ( Fig. 23 ): “// Cerura / thomensis / Talb. 1929. / ♂ Holotype. // Type / H.T. [circular label with red ring) // 25.26. / Sao Thome, / 24.i.‒25.ii. [19]26. / T.A. Barnes // Photo done by A. SCHINTLMEISTER / #9.670 [yellow label] //” ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined: (all ANHRT, unless otherwise indicated)

SAO TOME. Paratype ♀, ( Fig. 24 ): Sao Thome, Sept. – Oct. 1926., T.A. Barnes, ( NHMUK) ; 1♂ – 1303 m, Antenna, Bom successo, 0°16′33.7″N, 6°36′19.7″E, 21.x.2016, MV Light Trap, leg. Turner, C. R. & Tasane, T., ANHRT:2017.21, ANHRTUK00074983 ; 1♂ – 1321 m, Antenna, Bom Successo (plantation-dry scrub forest), 0°16′31″N, 6°36′14″E, 22‒25.i.2018, MV Light Trap, leg. Aristophanous, M., Lima, D., Miles, W. & Turner, C. R., ANHRT:2018.1, ANHRTUK00041722, Gen. slide No. LG 5362 ♂.

Remarks

The extent of the differences between the male genitalia of A. thomensis and A. cameroona justify the species level distinction between the two taxa (Figs 39‒42) which was recognised by Schintlmeister & Witt (2015) who raised it to species rank.

Figures

Figures 18–31: Adults of examined Afrocerura spp. (all ANHRT, unless otherwise indicated), arrows indicate diagnostic generic characters. 18. A. leonensis, holotype ♀, Sierra Leone (NHMUK), a. antemedial fascia often interrupted or deleted entirely, b. subterminal fascia almost always present; 19. A. leonensis, Guinea, Dalaba (ANHRTUK00103029, LG5368♂); 20. A. bifasciata bifasciata, holotype ♀, Zimbabwe, (Type no. 1655) (TMSA); 21. A. bifasciata bifasciata, Zambia, Kasanka N.P. (ANHRTUK00073572, LG5363♂); 22. A. bifasciata tanganyikae, holotype ♂ [without holotype label] Kenya, Mombassa (NHMUK); 23. A. thomensis, holotype ♂, São Tomé (NHMUK); 24. A. thomensis, paratype (allotype) ♀, São Tomé (NHMUK); 25. A. thomensis, São Tomé, Bom Successo (ANHRTUK00041722, LG5362♂); Comparative specimens of A. cameroona: 26. A. cameroona, Gabon, Ivindo N.P. (ANHRTUK00044930, ANHRT slide no. 00521♂); 27. A. cameroona, holotype ♀, Cameroon, Bitye, (NHMUK); 28. A. cameroona, Zambia, Kitwe (ANHRTUK00081593, ANHRT slide no. 00523♀); 29. A. cameroona, Zambia, Kafue N.P. (ANHRTUK00081592, ANHRT slide no. 00522♂); 30. ♀(ZMHB) & 31. ♂ (ZMHB) A. cameroona, (=Cerura argentina Schultze, 1916 syntypes), Süd-Kamerun, Molundu.

Figure 2 – Cerurina marshalli ovum: left – dorsal view; right – lateral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 3 – Final instar larvae of C. marshalli on host plant.

Figure 4 - Final instar larva of C. marshalli with its flagellae exserted.

Figure 5 – Cocoon of Cerurina marshalli – lateral view.