Homadaula caradjae (Walsingham, 1911) Mey, 2022

Mey, Wolfram, 2022, Taxonomic notes on Palearctic taxa of Galacticidae, a little-known family of Lepidoptera (Galacticoidea), Nota Lepidopterologica 45, pp. 169-190 : 169

Homadaula caradjae (Walsingham, 1911) comb. nov.

Figs 1-2

Galactica caradjae Walsingham, 1911: 14-15, type locality: Algeria, Hammam-es-Salahin.

Material examined.

type material Holotype ♀, " Hammam-es-Salahin / Algeria / 18.iv.1904 /Wlsm. 97923"[printed on white card], "BM ♀ /Genitalia slide/No 5615" [made by JW Tremewan] (BMNH). Paratype ♀, " Biskra /Korb 1902" [hand-written on white card], "3984/Wlsm 1903" [printed on white card with inscriptions], “859” [printed], “09” [hand-written], “Paratypus” [printed on red card], genitalia slide G. Friese 859 (MGAB); 1 ♀, [ Algeria] Biskra, 4.vii.1907, leg. Chrétien, coll. Caradja, genitalia slide Friese 860 (MGAB) .

Remarks.

In the genitalia slides of both the holo- and paratype, the henia of the female genitalia is clearly visible. This character is an apomorphic and diagnostic feature of Homadaula . Its presence in G. caradjae necessitates the transfer of this species to the genus Homadaula Lower, 1899, which has priority over Galactica Walsingham 1911. The name of the family is not affected by this taxonomic change.

The species was never reported again since it was collected in North Africa. The male sex is unknown, which renders the identification of the species difficult. The species resembles Z. schaeuffelei , and new material from Northern Africa would be necessary to clarify the identity of H. caradjae .

Figures

Figures 1 - 8. Adults of Homadaula spp. 1 - 2. H. caradjae (Walsingham), male paralectotype and label; 3 - 4. H. punctigera (Rebel), male and label; 5 - 6. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), female paratype and label; 7. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), female, Iran; 8. H. schaeuffelei (Amsel), male, Pakistan (photos by W. Mey).