Caffricola vicina Alberti, 1954

Taberer, Tabitha R. & László, Gyula M., 2022, A contribution to the knowledge of the slug moths (Zygaenoidea: Limacodidae) of the Maputo Special Reserve, Metamorphosis 33 (1), pp. 6-20 : 7

Caffricola vicina Alberti, 1954 ( Figs 1–3 , 44–47 )

Caffricola vicina Alberti, 1954 , Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaines, 50(1–2): 42. Type locality: South Africa, Natal. Holotype, female (MFN).

Type material examined:

Holotype of Caffricola vicina . Female: red oblong label “Typus” / “Weenen. Natal. Coll. by G.H. Burn. ” / “coll. Weymer ” / handwritten “clöeckneria Holl. Cram. 348 A” / handwritten “Crameria gloeckneria” / handwritten “ Caffricola vicina Alberti ♀”, gen. slide No. MfN gen. prep. 416 (prepared by László) ( MFN).

Paratypes of Caffricola vicina . Male: Weenen, Natal, Peniston S. , gen. slide No. MfN gen. prep. 417 (prepared by László); Male: Transvaal, Hävern, gen. slide No. MfN gen. prep. 418 (prepared by László) ( MFN).

Material examined: Mozambique, MSR. 2 males, Ponta Milibangalala ( Dune Grassland ), 15 m, 26°26′58.6″S, 32°55′29.8″E, 17–21.ii.2018, László, G., Mulvaney, J., Smith, L. leg. ANHRT:2018.2 , gen. slide No. LG 5728 ; 1 female, same site, 24.xi.2016, Aristophanous, M., Cristóvão, J., László, G., Miles, W. leg. Trip Ref: MZ-001 ( ANHRT 22 ), gen. slide No. LG 5729 (female).

Distribution: This species has been collected in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Taxonomic note: During our examination of Caffricola specimens, there have only been minor external morphological and genitalia differences detected between C. vicina and C. cloeckneria ( Stoll, 1781) , in agreement with Janse’s (1964) findings. The confirmation of the validity of the two species requires further morphological and genetic studies to be carried out on more material. The female specimen from MSR ( Fig. 1 ) shows slight differences with the female holotype of C. vicina as well as with specimens identified as C. cloeckneria in terms of the larger extent of black colouration in the anal half of the forewing. Having compared their copulatory organs, the holotype of C. vicina has a somewhat longer ductus bursae and tubular section of the corpus bursae. Additionally, there is also a noticeable difference in the shape of the signum bursae between the two examined specimens ( Figs 46 – 47 ). In the male genitalia, certain differences between paratypes of C. vicina and a specimen collected in MSR were also found, expressed by the overall size of the genital capsule, the shape of the ventral margin of the valvae, and the length of the vinculum ( Figs 44 – 45 ). Due to only a few specimens being examined, it is difficult to decide the taxonomic value of these differences.

Figures

Figures 1–13. Adults (collected in the MSR and deposited in coll. ANHRT). 1 – Caffricola vicina, female; 2 – ibidem, male; 3 – ibidem, male; 4 – G. velutina, female; 5 – ibidem, male; 6 – ibidem, male; 7 – ibidem, male; 8 – Halseyia biumbrata, male; 9 – ibidem, male; 10 – Macroplectra rufopallens, male; 11 – ibidem, male; 12 – Parapluda invitabilis, female; 13 – ibidem, male.

Figures 44–45. Male genitalia of Limacodidae (a: clasping apparatus; b: phallus). 44 – Caffricola vicina (MSR), genitalia slide No. LG 5728 (ANHRT); 45 – Caffricola vicina PT (South Africa), genitalia slide No. MFN 417 (MFN).

Figures 46–47. Female genitalia of Limacodidae. 46 – Caffricola vicina (MSR), genitalia slide No. LG 5729 (ANHRT); 47 – Caffricola vicina HT (South Africa), genitalia slide No. MFN 416 (MFN).