Trichophysetis whitei Rebel, 1906

Agassiz, David, 2022, The tribe Cybalomiini (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae, Glaphyrinae) of sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 5174 (2), pp. 101-156 : 117

Trichophysetis whitei Rebel, 1906

Trichophysetis whitei Rebel, 1906: 22 .

Imago (fig. 19): Wingspan 12-15mm. Head whitish, labial palpus in male heavily scaled, brownish, in female long dark brown and pointed, segment 3 just shorter than segment 2; maxillary palpus immediately above labial palpus and less than half its length. Thorax and tegulae ochreous white. Forewing ground colour velvety white, suffused pale brown, a pale brownish subbasal fascia, angulate median fascia, white slender discal spot, strongly angulate subterminal fascia, preterminal fascia sinuate close to apex. Hindwing with two median fascias close together with blackening of lines near dorsum, two black spots on termen. Abdomen with central segments black to align with dark markings on hindwings.

Male genitalia (fig. 61): Uncus with parallel sides, gnathos ¾ length of uncus; aedeagus digitate, narrow; sacculus with curved apex, 1.4 × length of valva, a symmetrical pair of processes adjacent to valvae with tufts of setae at apex directed inwards. Aedeagus simple, almost straight, 1.5 × length of uncus. Tergite 8 with a weakly sclerotised central point.

Female genitalia (fig. 92): Ostial plate spade-shaped, ostium compact, antrum with sclerotised belt, ductus bursae short, widening into scobinate sac near base of membranous corpus bursae.

Diagnosis: Very similar to the Asian duplifascialis as well as samueli from Africa, distinguished by the sinuate terminal line just beneath apex.

Life history: Larva feeds among flowers of Jasminium odoratissimum in the Canary Islands. Has been reared from Jasminium fluminense (in fruit) in South Africa. Probably on other Jasminium spp.

Diagnosis: Similar to the Asian species duplifascialis Hampson, terminal line of forewing sinuate, uncus of male genitalia narrow.

Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, D.R. Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Madagascar, Canary Islands.

Material examined: 1 Canary, iv.1885 Leech coll.; 1 Teneriffe. W. White (1904–289); 1 Guimar, Tenerife 13.iii.1907 Walsingham; 1 Ins Canarian Ten. Guimar 1–7.vi.1965 J. Klimesch (NHMUK); Spain: Tenerife: 1♂ Güimar. La Ladera. Jasminium odoratissimum 800 m 27.iv.1988 K. Larsen ; Spain: Tenerife: 2♂ 1♀ La Tierra del Trigo. 300 m 19.iv.1988 Jasminium odoratissimum K. Larsen including DJLA slide 1564 ( DJLA) ; KENYA: Central, Aberdares Country Club 6500 ft, 19.vi.1999 D.J.L. Agassiz ( DJLA) ; 1♀ Nairobi 5400ft. 21.vii.1949 J.A. Riley ( NHMUK) ; UGANDA: 1♂ Central, Mpanga Forest 1207m 0° 12’ 22”N 32° 46’ 10”E 27.x.2014 D.J.L. Agassiz ( DJLA) ; 1♂ Kampala 22.xi.1952 C.G.M. de Worms ; 1♂ 1♀ Kampala 4.xii.1935 H. Hargreaves ( NHMUK) ; TANZANIA: 1♀ Tanga, Amani 5° 06’ 02” S 38° 39’ 10”E 25.iv.2001 ; 1♀ Marangu 3° 17’ 46” S 37° 21’ 29”E 4400ft 28.iv.2001 D.J.L. Agassiz ; ZIMBABWE: 1♂ Manicaland, Upper Bvumba 19° 07’ 15”S 32° 46’ 10”E 3.xi.2016 ( DJLA) ; 1♂ Mutare 30.xii.1993 D.J.L. Agassiz ( NHMUK) ; ETHIOPIA: 1♀ Addis Ababa c. 8000ft 1-4.x.1948 Hugh Scott det PES Whalley as Trichophysetis cretacea Butler ?; D.R . CONGO: 1♂ Bas-Congo 320m Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumba 5° 27’ S 113° 65’ E 12.iv.2006 leg J De Prins ; 1♂ same locality 22.iii.2006 leg J & W De Prins ; SIERRA LEONE: 1♂ Bo , xi.1967 R.J. Revell ; NIGERIA: 1♀ Ikoy Lagos 5700ft at light 3.i.1975 M.A. Corne ; 1♂ Zaria, Samaru 2.xi.1977 J.C. Deeming ; MADAGASCAR: 1♂ Diego Suarez , June 15. 1917 ; 1♂ 22-24.vii.1917; 1♀ 24.vii.1917 (G. Melou); 1♀ Province Mahajana, Tsingy de Naomroka N. P. 16° 28.154’ S 45° 20.890’ E 125m 02-13.ix.2012 G. Martin ; ZAMBIA: 1♀ Mbale 1-17.vi.1974 Locust Ctrl Ctr .; GAMBIA: 1♂ Bathurst, Carter 18.. ; SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ Cape Town, Constantia Vista 13.x.2009 Turm leg. W. Mey, Mpumalunga, Barberton, nördlicher Ortsrand , suburbanes Garten- und Buschland , 14/ 15.i.2007 LF, 610 m T. Karisch legit ; NAMIBIA: Kunene Epupa Falls 21–23.ii.2008 LF leg. W. Mey ( MfN) ; KENYA: 1♀ Rift Valley, Matthews Range KWS campsite 01° 10’ 41.3” N 37° 12’ 57.9” E 1331 m 9.xii.2002 K. Maes ; 1♀ Marich Pass 26–29.vii.1999 K. Maes ; 2♂ Nairobi, Oluloa Forest NMK-IPR Compound 01° 22’ S 36° 43’ E, 1800m 4.vii.1999 B. Bytebier, 1♂ same locality 13.vi.1999, 1♂ 8.vi.1999, 1♂ 25.vii.1999 ; 1♀ Coast, Kilifi, Coastal Forest Edge 3° 37’ S 39° 50’ E 75 n 3, i.1997 K. Maes ; CAMEROON: 1♀ Ouest, Foumban 1100 m 25.vi.1989 M.Maes KVNM slide 457, 1♂ Nkongaeyos ( Yaounde ) 1100 m K. Maes ( ABSRC) .