Sisyborina scitula, Oliver S. Flint, 2012

Oliver S. Flint, Jr., 2012, New species, records, and a synonymy of African Sisyridae (Neuroptera, Insecta Mundi 2012 (223), pp. 1-6 : 5-6

Sisyborina scitula n.sp.

( Figures 5-7, 9)

Comments. This species is very similar to Sisyborina marlieri (Tjeder) . The new species differs in the male genitalia in the coxopodite being narrower and more curved in lateral aspect and in having a large spine basoventrally, and in the ninth sternite being broader apically and bearing 2 clusters of large, pale spines apicolaterally. The male from Guinea differs somewhat from the male from Cameroon: the coxopodites in dorsal view are nearly parallel and their large spinous setae are more mesad, and the ninth sternite is evenly rounded apicad. However, the overall appearance is so similar in the two males that I am confident that they are the same species and the differences are due to mechanical displacement of the structures. Figures 8- 9. Wings, forewing above, hindwing below. 8)

Sisyra cameroonensis n. sp. from female paratype. 9)

Sisyborina scitula n. sp. from female paratype. Description. Male: Forewing length 3mm. Preserved in 80% ethyl alcohol, almost uniformly light brown. Antenna with 26-28 segments, 19 basal segments (including scape and pedicel) dark brown, next 7-9 segments pale, 1-3 terminal segments may be dark again. Head and body light brown; foreleg pale, midleg with femur darkened, hindleg with femur and tibia darkened, but pale on ends. Forewing (Fig. 9) light brown, with dark spots on all crossveins, and especially so on costal crossveins; a large dark spot between Sc and R 1 and R 1 and R s; all cells with dark median bands. Forewing with 3 radial crossveins; Rs with only 2 forks; no crossvein between R 3 and R 4; with a series of 5 gradate crossveins, each with a central pale spot. Male genitalia ( Fig. 5-7): Epiproct not clearly distinguished from membrane. Gonarcus a lightly sclerotized band connecting bases of coxopodites. Parameres roughly H-shaped, connected ventrad of middle. Coxopodite about 3 times as long as broad in lateral aspect; in dorsal aspect, widest basally, tapering to a rounded apex, widely divergent (but nearly parallel in Guinean example), with a row of 5-6 enlarged, pale setae on dorsomesal surface each arising from an enlarged base, with a number of smaller, pale setae around apex, apex of coxopodite with a small, pale mesal tooth. Ninth sternite very large, twice as long as broad in lateral aspect, in ventral aspect 2/3 as wide as long at widest, tapering slightly to a broad apex slightly indented mesally (rounded in Guinean specimen); apicolaterally with a cluster of 4-5, contiguous, pale, long, enlarged setae. Female: Length of forewing, 3.5mm. Antenna of 29 segments, basal 22 segments dark, apical 7 pale. Coloration as in male. Genitalia appearing as figured for S. marlieri .

Type material. Holotype, male: CAMEROON: [Centre Prov.] Libamba , 10km E Makak [3 o 37’N, 11 o 2’E], 10-11 Jan 1974, J.A. Gruwell. ( NMNH) . Paratypes: Same data, 3F ( NMNH). Guinée franc. [now REPUBLIC OF GUINEA], Kindia, 1-15 May 1955, F. Schmid, 1M ( CNC). Rhodesia [now ZAMBIA], Victoria Falls, 3000’, 5 Feb 1970, M.E. Irwin, E.S. Ross, 1M ( CAS).

Etymology. From the Latin scitulus meaning beautiful, pretty, and neat, in reference to the appearance of the species.