Aurotalis argyrastis (Hampson, 1919) Hampson, 1919

Graziano Bassi, 2016, Studies on Afrotropical Crambinae (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea, Crambidae): Notes on the genus Aurotalis Błeszyński, 1970, Revue suisse de Zoologie 123 (1), pp. 11-20 : 14

Aurotalis argyrastis (Hampson, 1919) comb. n.

Fig. 28

Charltona argyrastis Hampson, 1919b: 306 , 307.

Holotype: ♂ [Kenya, 0°23’N, 34°29’E], Brit[ish] E[ast] Africa, N[orth] Kavirondo, Nasisi Hills, 4800 f[ee]t, 14.VI.1911, (S. A. Neave), 1912-92, GS 11157 BM (6001 Błeszyński), Charltona argyrastis type ♀ H[a]mps[o]n, BMNH(E) 1378093. Deposited in BMNH.

Type locality: Kenya, Nigeria.

Diagnosis: This species is easily separated from the other known members of the genus by virtue of its pale forewings. A. delicatalis (Hampson) ( Fig. 2 ) and rubbed A. nigrisquamalis (Hampson) have pale forewings too, but they have smaller females (25 mm versus 30 mm). The female genitalia have an unusual wrinkled extension between the ductus and corpus bursae that is not found in any other species of the genus.

Additions to original description:

Female genitalia ( Fig. 28 ): Papillae anales rather straight margined. Apophyses posteriores as long as apophyses anteriores. Ostium bursae funnel-shaped, membranous. Ductus bursae as long as corpus bursae, moderately sclerotized and distally with large globular and strongly wrinkled extension. Corpus bursae suboval. Ductus seminalis opening in globular extension of ductus bursae.

Distribution: Kenya, Nigeria.

Remarks: Males are unknown. The second specimen known is a female from Northern Nigeria, Ropp Hills, 20.VII.1920, and has no abdomen.

Figures

Figs 26 - 30. Aurotalis spp., genitalia and abdominal segment VIII. (26) A. cristata sp. n., holotype, on the right juxta and phallus. (27) A. cristata sp. n., female paratype, Zimbabwe. (28) A. argyrastis (Hampson), holotype. (29) A. dicksoni sp. n., male paratype, on the right juxta and phallus. (30) A. dicksoni sp. n., sclerotizations of abdominal segment VIII. Scale: 0.5 mm.

Figs 1 - 6. Adults of Aurotalis spp. (1) A. cristata sp. n., male paratype, Zimbabwe, wingspan 20 mm. (2) A. delicatalis (Hampson), female, RSA, wingspan 26 mm. (3) A. dicksoni sp. n., holotype, wingspan 28 mm. (4) A. nigrisquamalis (Hampson), male, RSA, wingspan 28 mm. (5) A. dionisa Błeszyński, female, Namibia, wingspan 28 mm. (6) A. similis Bassi, male, Zimbabwe, wingspan 28 mm.