Adelpherupa Hampson, 1919

Maes, K. V. N., 2002, Revision of the genus Adelpherupa Hampson (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae, Schoenobiinae) with the description of ve new species, Journal of Natural History 36 (14), pp. 1707-1724 : 1708-1710

Adelpherupa Hampson

Adelpherupa Hampson, 1919: 541

Type species: Adelpherupa flavescens Hampson, 1919: 541 .

Schoenoplaca Meyrick, 1933: 375

Type species: Schoenoplaca typicota Meyrick, 1933: 375 .

Limnopsares Meyrick, 1934: 487

Type species: Limnopsares gymnastica Meyrick, 1934: 487 .

Generic description

Diagnosis. Adelpherupa species are super fi cially very similar in appearance to the Crambinae, especially to Chilo species with which they are easily confused. The genitalia in both sexes, and the tympanal organs, are clearly different and diagnostic.

External characters

All Adelpherupa species are extremely similar externally. The fore wings have the typical ‘crambid form’: elongated triangular with a rather sharp angle near the apex. The ground colour is brown or yellowish-brown similar to the colour of dried grass. Some black scales may be present. Typically there is a black line from the apex directed inwards towards the middle of the fore wing. Two black spots, here referred to as discal spots, are usually present on the Cu stem. The distance between these two discal spots varies between species. The adult moths may vary greatly in size, probably as a result of variation in food supply or host plant of the endophagous caterpillars. This variation creates confusion when attempts are made to identify species on external characters.

Head. Frons rounded, maxillary and labial palps porrect; length labial palps about 4.5 to 5 times diameter of compound eye; antenna fi liform in both sexes but an increased development of the ventral extensions in males; proboscis atrophied; frenulum simple in both sexes; retinaculum consisting of a number of elongated scales near Cu of the fore wing.

Thorax. Legs elongated, spurs 0,2,4; fore wings elongated triangular. Sc parallel to Radial stem terminating just beyond upper cell-angle; R1 originating before cell-angle, R2+ R3+ R4 originating from cell-angle, R2 and R3 terminating before termen, R 4 in termen; R5 parallel to R4; M1 parallel to R5; M2 and M3 stalked at their base, originating from lower cell-angle; CuA1 and CuA2 well before lower cell-angle; vein 1A+ 2A well developed. Hind wings rounded: Sc + R1 and Sc fused beyond the cell for a long distance; M2 and M3 from one point out of the lower cell-angle. Interspeci fi c differences in wing venation did not provide reliable characters for identification.

Abdomen. Adelpherupa species have the fi rst tergites of the abdomen covered with reddish-brown or orange-brown scales. Tympanal organs partially invaginated in the abdomen; praecinctorium as a single lobe or pouch; venula secunda always strongly developed; zona glabra tympani with speci fi c sclerotizations; males have modifications on the 7th and 8th sternite, typically there is a median brush of elongate setae on the 7th sternite.

Male genitalia. Uncus simple, with some setae; gnathos medially covered by numerous short spines; valvae rectangular in most species, sometimes rounded distally or with a small protrusion at the apex, sclerotizations on the valva lacking; saccus simple, laterally with two sclerotized lobes and a bristle of composed setae; tube-like aedeagus with cornutus as a rounded plate.

Female genitalia. Papillae anales membranous with short and long setae; apophyses anteriores and posteriores of equal length; ostium bursae membranous, sometimes some minute spines present; anterior part of ductus bursae (before the ductus seminalis) sclerotized or membranous; posterior part of ductus bursae short and wide; corpus bursae membranous, signum lacking.

Wingspan. 18–40 mm.

Distribution. The genus occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.

Systematic position. The Schoenobiinae are generally poorly known. Very few revisions which include descriptions of the genitalia are available with the notable exception of Lewvanich (1981). To my knowledge, for Africa alone several new genera have to be established in this subfamily. Due to this lack of data it is currently problematic to establish the systematic position of Adelpherupa within the Schoenobiinae.

List of species

aethiopicalis sp.n.

albescens Hampson, 1919

costipunctalis sp.n.

elongalis sp.n.

flavescens Hampson, 1919

aurantiacus (Rothschild), 1926 syn.n.

lialuensis sp.n.

pontica sp.n.

terreus (Zeller), 1877

typicota (Meyrick), 1933 comb.n.

gymnastica (Meyrick), 1934 comb.n., syn.n.

Key to species of Adelpherupa based on male genitalia and tympanal organs

1 Gnathos medially with a narrow pouch densely covered with minute spines... 2

– Gnathos medially with a broad pouch covered with minute spines...... 6

2 Valva with a small protrusion near the apex....... A.costipunctalis sp.n

– Valva without such a protrusion............... 3

3 Valva giving a rounded, distally dilated appearance.......... 4

– Valva more rectangular, not distally dilated............ 5

4 Specimens from Madagascar........... A. terreus (Zeller)

– Specimens from the African mainland........ A.typicota (Meyrick)

5 Apex of valva ending in a small tip........ A.flavescens Hampson

– Apex of valva rounded, no small tip present..... A.albescens Hampson

6 Valva clearly rectangular................. 7

– Valva rounded................... 8

7 Costa slightly curved near the apex; aedeagus curved, zona glabra tympani with a dagger-shaped sclerotization........... A.aethiopicalis sp.n.

– Costa straight, aedeagus straight, zona glabra tympani with a broad shield-shaped plate.................... A.lialuiensis sp.n.

8 Valva strongly narrowing towards the apex, proximal part of aedeagus much narrower than distal part............... A.elongalis sp.n.

– Ventral part of valva rounded, costa straight, proximal and distal part of aedeagus of equal width................ A.pontica sp.n.