Vietteopoloma Hering, 1961

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 : 14

Vietteopoloma Hering, 1961

Figs 10 , 28

Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 65 (9– 10): 303.

Type species. Vietteopoloma madagascariensis Hering, 1961 (by original designation)

Holotype. ♂.

Type locality. Ambatovositra, Madagascar ( MNHN).

Genus re-description. Small size. Antennae bipectinate, beige. Head and palps beige, collar dark brown, thorax and abdomen pale cream speckled with black spots. Forewing broad, rounded, gently scalloped, pale brown near thorax but creamy beige beyond postmedial line, speckled with black spots in proximal half near anal margin, margins dark brown; postmedial line dark brown, arcuate, crenulate, displaced between vein R4 and M1; discal spot diffuse, small, rounded, dark brown; fringe long, beige. Hindwing rounded, gently scalloped, slightly paler than forewing; medial line dark brown, undulate; discal spot small, black, surrounded by black speckling; fringe long, beige. Underside. Ground colour and legs pale beige, hindtibia with two pairs of spurs. Both wings creamy beige, with undulate, brown postmedial lines. Discal spot of both wings small, rounded, brown. Male genitalia. Paired posterior processes of transtilla completely separated, long, narrow, and bulb-shaped apically; paired anterior processes of transtilla short, thin, rounded, and completely separated. Valve moderately wide, pointed dorsally at apex. Juxta short, shield-like. Phallus long, extremely narrow, bent medially.

Diagnosis. Vietteopoloma madagascariensis is phenotypically reminiscent of Muscectropa species in terms of the rounded postmedial line of the forewing and has affinities with Ectropa species based on the shape of the phallus, but the separated posterior processes of the transtilla is a synapomorphy of this genus.

Distribution. Endemic to Madagascar where it is rare; only three specimens, all in MNHN, have been examined as part of this study.

Species content

V. madagascariensis Hering, 1961

Figures

Figs 4–10. Adults.4. Ectropa ancilis, South Africa (NHMUK). 5. Muscectropa alberici, Ivory Coast (ANHRT). 6. Ectropona dargei, Tanzania (ZSM). 7. Pseudectropona revelii, Liberia (ANHRT). 8. Chrysectropa roseofascia, Ivory Coast (ANHRT). 9. Chrysopolomides nivea, Sierra Leone (ANHRT). 10. Vietteopoloma madagascariensis, Madagascar (MNHN).

Figs 24–28. Male genitalia (a = clasping apparatus; b = phallus). 24. Ectropa ancilis, South Africa, genitalia slide No. TT 216 (ANHRT). 25. Muscectropa alberici, Ivory Coast, genitalia slide No. TT 214 (ANHRT). 26. Ectropona dargei, Tanzania, genitalia slide No. ZSM Sp. 1596 (ZSM). 27. Pseudectropona revelli, Liberia, genitalia slide No. TT 213 (ANHRT). 28. Vietteopoloma madagascariensis, Madagascar, genitalia slide No. TT 218 (MNHN).