Achrocerides Hering, 1937

Taberer, Tabitha R., 2023, Revision of the family Chrysopolomidae Aurivillius, 1895 (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea) with the description of three new genera, Bonn zoological Bulletin 72 (1), pp. 1-23 : 19

Achrocerides Hering, 1937

Figs 20 , 39

Annals of the Transvaal Museum 17: 241.

Type species. Chrysopoloma theorini Aurivillius, 1891 (by original designation)

Syntypes. 2 ♂♂.

Type locality. Gabon [ Gabon Estuary at Libreville, Gabon] ( SNHM, MfN).

Genus re-description. Medium size. Ground colour beige to tawny-brown, sparsely speckled with black scale spots. Antennae bipectinate, ochreous yellow. Forewing rounded, with pale rounded discal spot; grey postmedial line kinked near outer margin at vein M1; diffuse grey-brown triangular patch on outer margin between veins R3 and M1; hindwing rounded with dentate margin at tornus, grey medial line, speckled with black scale spots in distal half; often with pale, diffuse grey-brown triangular patch on outer margin between veins M1 and M2. Underside. Ground colour of body and wings uniformly pale beige; legs darker and slightly golden; hindtibia with one pair of spurs. Fore- and hindwing with irregular grey scale spots concentrated mostly along the costal margin. Forewing discal spot visible through wing. Diffuse pale grey-brown triangular patch on outer margin between veins R3 and M1 on forewing and between veins M1 and M2 on hindwing. Male genitalia. Paired posterior processes of transtilla long, narrow, pointed apically, fused medially with a membrane; paired anterior processes narrow, moderately long, fused medially with a membrane. Valve wide, truncate, or triangular with distally rounded point. Juxta strongly sclerotised and rounded at base, with two long, apically pointed lateral processes. Phallus relatively long, ridged distally, membranous, with slight medial split; vesica very short, membranous.

Diagnosis. It is possible that members of the genus Achrocerides might be confused with Strigivenifera species based on their size and the pale forewing discal spot but can easily be distinguished by the lack of fine contrasting scaling along the veins and the presence of blackish-grey speckles on both wings, as well as the dentate margin of the hindwing tornus. In addition, Achrocerides species have two pairs of hindtibial spurs whilst only one pair is present in Strigivenifera species.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the forested regions of West and Central Africa.

Species content

A. theorini ( Aurivillius, 1891)

A. flavoantennata ( Berio, 1937)

A. smithi Taberer & Giusti , in prep

Figures

Figs 18–23. Adults. 18. Hamartia medora, South Africa (NHMUK). 19. Erythropteryx roseotincta, DRC (RMCA). 20. Achrocerides theorini, Liberia (ANHRT).21. Strigivenifera eborea, Sierra Leone (ANHRT). 22. Diquishia ansorgei, Angola (NHMUK). 23. Auripoloma nigrociliata comb. n., Togo (ANHRT).

Figs 39–42. Male genitalia (a = clasping apparatus; b = phallus). 39. Achrocerides theorini, Gabon, genitalia slide No. TT 131 (ANHRT).40. Strigivenifera venata, Gabon, genitalia slide No. TT 119 (ANHRT). 41. Diquishia ansorgei, Angola, genitalia slide No. NHMUK 010317733 (NHMUK). 42. Auriopoloma nigrociliata, Togo, genitalia slide No. TT 187 (ANHRT).