Microschismus fortis ( Walsingham, 1881 )

Ustjuzhanin, P. & Kovtunovich, V., 2011, A revision of the genus Microschismus Fletcher, 1909 (Lepidoptera: Alucitidae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 557-557 : 562-564

Microschismus fortis ( Walsingham, 1881)

Figs 17–26

Alucita fortis Walsingham, 1881: 284 . Type loc.:?Zululand [ South Africa].

Microschismus serricornis Meyrick, 1914: 187 . Type loc.: Pretoria [ South Africa]. Syn. n.

Redescription:

External characteristics: Moths grey-brown. Median dark brown slanted stroke well defined. Wingspan 15–23 mm. Antennae ciliated.

Male genitalia: Uncus wide along entire length, with flat edge on apex. Gnathos long and narrow, pointed towards apex. Valves quite narrow. Appendages on valves long, located at their bases. Anellus branches quite long and straight. Outer edge of saccus wide and rounded. Aedeagus quite wide, relatively flat on outer edge, apex slanted at acute angle.

Female genitalia: Anal papillae narrow, elongated. Front apophyses thick and straight; equal in length to rear apophyses. Vaginal plate with deep oval cut. Antrum short tubular. Smooth transition from ductus to oval bursa copulatrix.

Remarks: Comparing the types A. fortis and M. serricornis in their external features, as well as in the genitalia, it was revealed that the latter is a junior synonym of the first.

Holotype fortis : ♀ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: “?Zululand, Col[onel]. Harvey Tower” ( BMNH, 6309).

Syntypes serricornis : 1♂ 1♀ SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: Pretoria [25°44'S: 28°11'E], 1& 4.iv.1913, A.J.T. Janse ( TMSA, 428, 429) .

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1♂ Dragon Peaks Park [29°01'S: 29°26'E], 9–12.xi.1993, Mey & Ebert ( ZMHB) .

Figures

Figs 17–20.Microschismus fortis (Walsingham, 1881):(17) imago, holotype;(18) holotype label;(19) male genitalia, ZMHB, 201111; (20) female genitalia, holotype, TMSA, 22880.

Figs 21–26. Microschismus fortis (Walsingham, 1881), syntypes of M. serricornis Meyrick, 1914: (21, 22) imago male and female; (23, 24) labels of male and female syntypes; (25) male genitalia, TMSA, 15971; (26) female genitalia, TMSA, 15972.