Ptychopseustis lucipara Mey, 2011

Agassiz, David, 2022, The tribe Cybalomiini (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae, Glaphyrinae) of sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 5174 (2), pp. 101-156 : 126-127

Ptychopseustis lucipara Mey, 2011

Description of adult (see also Mey, 2011).

Imago (fig. 38): Wingspan 13–16 mm. Head and appendages pale brown, maxillary palpus porrect, about half length of labial palpus, labial palpus of male terminating in blackish upturned scales, in female porrect, simple; antenna with shining ochreous white scales on dorsal surface. Thorax and tegulae very pale ochreous. Forewing ground colour pale orange-brown with a few scattered darker scales, male with a hair pencil arising from near base of costa, fascia of shining silvery brown at ⅓ oblique at costa, irregular and becoming weak or obsolete towards dorsum, a second similar fascia meeting costa at ⅔, a few blackish dots along termen, fringe shining fuscous with a weak fringe line. Abdomen and legs pale ochreous.

Male genitalia (fig. 73): Uncus rounded, gnathos similar, valva almost parallel sided, shortly before apex a projection terminating in a spike, specialised setae arising from near vinculum, two on each side with curled apex, the remainder with a small swelling with fine spines as apex. Aedeagus of similar length to valva, one long cornutus half length of aedeagus, with its basal ⅔ serrated, four smaller cornuti.

Female genitalia (fig. 101): Ovipositor very long, apophyses anterior and posterior together of similar length to abdomen, ostium membranous, colliculum a weakly sclerotised cylinder, ductus bursae very narrow, broadening slightly and spiculate before corpus, then a broad sclerite half width of corpus bursae, corpus with fine sclerotised ridges, a membranous bulla on each side.

Diagnosis: Distinguished by the scale pencil at the base of the forewing costa of the male and in the female genitalia by the very long ovipositor. In both sexes the pale scales on the hind tibia, without a tuft of dark scales, distinguish it from many other species.

Life history: Not known.

Distribution: Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Niger.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ North West, Pilanesberg NP, Bakgatha Complex 20.X.2002 1200 m. leg. HW vd Wolf st.4; KENYA: Rift Valley: 1♀ Mpala Res. C. 1720 m 0° 17’ 27” N 36° 53’ 52” E 26.xi.2008 D. Agassiz, L. Aarvik & A. Kingston; 2♂ 11 & 15.xi.2009 D.J.L. Agassiz; Lake Bogoria 1000 m 0° 21’ N 36° 04’ E 1♂ 15.xi.2006 1♀ 19.xi.2006, 3♂ 20.xi.2006, 1♂ 2♀ 21.xi.2006, 1♀ 23.xi.2006, 1♀ 11.viii.2007 D.J.L. Agassiz; 1♀ Rumuruti 1760 m 0° 24’ 32” N 36° 40’ 9” E 24.xi.2008, 1♀ 1840 m 0° 21’ 57” N 36° 7’ 41” E 25.xi.2008 D. Agassiz, L. Aarvik & A. Kingston; Lake Baringo 0° 36’ 39” N 36° 01’ 10”E 3.v.2015 D.J.L. Agassiz; Eastern: 2♀ Tsavo Safari Camp 31.iii.1999 D.J.L. Agassiz; Central: 1♀ Naro Moru 1950 m 0° 01’ 17” S 37° 00’ 42” E 3–4.iii.2017 D. Agassiz & M. Ngugi; Coast: 1♂ 2♀ Rukinga Reserve 520 m 3° 35’ 15.7” S 38° 44’ 29.6” E. 22.xi.2010 D. Agassiz & M. Ngugi (DJLA); 1♂ Taita Discovery Centre Entrance 500 m 03° 42’ S 38° 46’ E 1.iv.2001 leg J & W De Prins; 1♀ Taita Discovery Centre 495 m 3° 40’ 22” S 3.vi.2000 K. Maes; 2♂ 1♀ Coast, Tsavo West, Kilagumi Lodge 580 m 02° 54’ 33” S 38° 03’ 36” E 10–11.iv.1999 K. Maes; 2♂ Rift Valley, Marich Pass Field Station 966 m 01° 32’ 10” N 35° 27’ 23.7’ E 20.XI.2002 K. Maes; 1♀ Rift Valley, Lodwar to Kapachol 03° 17’ 36.5” N 35° 42’ 56.9” E 512 m 24.xi.2002 K. Maes, Rift Valley, Samburu Nat. Res. near Uaso Nyiro river Intrepid Camp 0° 34’ 34.8” N 37° 39’ 36.36” E 14.xii.2002 K. Maes; NIGER: 1♂ Niameg 26.ix.1994 K. Maes (ABSRC); TANZANIA: 1♂ 1♀ Morogoro Dist. Kitulangalu For. Res. 420–540 m 6.xii.1992 leg. L. Aarvik, 1♀ Morogoro Dist. & Town 550–600 m 1.iii.1993 L. Aarvik (NHMO).