Yponomeuta melanephos, Agassiz, 2019

Agassiz, David J. L., 2019, The Yponomeutidae of the Afrotropical region (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea), Zootaxa 4600 (1), pp. 1-69 : 8-9

3. Yponomeuta melanephos sp. nov.

Description of adult ( Plate 1 ). Wingspan 22–24 mm. Head white, black behind, labial palpus segment 2 white distally, segment 3 white at apex; scape covered in white hairs, flagellum blackish. Thorax white with four black spots, tegula white each with one black spot. Forewing white with five longitudinal rows of black spots, blackish suffusion in and below fold at halfway, a smaller blackish suffusion at tornus and a larger one between middle of wing and costa at 4/5; terminal fringe grey. Hindwing pale grey.. Abdomen grey, laterally whitish with black spots.

Male genitalia ( Plate 7). Uncus with two small projections on either side, socius gently curved outwards, tegumen with a pair of small flaps; valva fairly narrow, edges sclerotised, saccus less than half length of valva.

Female genitalia. Not known.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species in the genus by the three conspicuous diffuse blackish spots on the forewing, especially in the terminal area, also by the distinctive shape of the valva which is nearly parallel sided, sclerotised on both sides.

Biology. Not known. Adults recorded during March and April.

Derivation of the name. From the Greek melan for black and nephos cloud from black cloud-like markings on the forewing.

Distribution. Malawi.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Malawi: Nkhorango Mzuzu , Mzimba District, 1375 m, 11°23’S 33°59’E, 4.iv.2009, R.J. Murphy. Two paratypes ♂ with the same data as in holotype but collection dates 30. & 31.iii.2009 ( TMSA) .

Figures

PLATE 1. Yponomeuta species. The bar denotes wingspan.