Monstruncusarctia Dubatolov et Haynes, 2008

Dubаtolov, Vlаdimir V., 2017, Two new tiger-moth species from Afrotropics with reviews of genera Pericaliella and Monstruncusarctia (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea: Erebidae, Arctiinae), Zootaxa 4353 (3), pp. 577-583 : 580

Monstruncusarctia Dubatolov et Haynes, 2008

Dubatolov & Haynes, 2008: 356–357. Type species: Alpenus aurantiaca Holland, 1893 ( Fig. 3 ).

Diagnosis. The genus is characterized by an apically bifurcate uncus (sometimes with additional lateral processes), a curiously armed and sclerotized cucullus apex and a less sclerotized sacculus apex covered with chaetae. Аdditionally, male antennae bipectinate; eyes large, hemispheral, naked; fore tibiae simple, not robust, middle tibiae with an apical pair, hind tibiae with two pairs of spurs; vein R2 of forewings is stalked with R3+5 (venation type C, by Sotavalta 1964).

Remarks. The genus was also isolated from Spilosoma s. lat. ( Dubatolov & Haynes 2008); originally, it was consisted of two not so closely related species with different wing pattern but a similar male genitalia structure. M. aurantiaca have additional lateral processes at the uncus apex, the wing pattern consisting of narrow brown bands on the background of speckled light brown wings; the tegulae lack dark spots. On the other hand, M. decemmaculata ( Rothschild, 1916) (see: Goodger & Watson, 1995: 31, fig. 32, 41, fig. 139–140; Dubatolov & Haynes 2008) has spotted tegulae, light wings with a rounded discal spot and one or two rounded postdiscal spots. Because of the quite different wing pattern, it is excluded from the review.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Pericaliella and Monstruncusarctia spp., males. 1, P. melanodisca, Uganda, Kibale; 2, P. popoudinae sp. n., holotype, Rwanda,Butare; 3, M.aurantiaca, Guinea, Kindia, 4, M. anikini sp. n., Uganda, Kibale.