Metasibotys, Maes, 2022

Maes, Koen V. N., 2022, Studies on African Crambidae I- a new genus and species from Africa (Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Spilomelinae), Metamorphosis 33 (1), pp. 64-67 : 64-66

Metasibotys gen. nov.

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Type species: Metasibotys guineasoudanensis sp. nov.

Head: Frons rounded; maxillary palps above base labial palps, scaled; labial palps porrect, triangular, length about 1.5 times the diameter of the eye; antenna filiform, dorsally scaled, ventrally with short setae, length of setae about double those of males.

Wing venation: ( Fig. 1 ♂) Wings triangular. Forewing: Sc from the base of the thorax, R 1 from the middle of the Rs stem, R 2 from the upper corner of the cell as R 3+4 and R 5, R 3+4 fused R 5 for a short distance, R 3 before angle of fore wing, R 4 in angle of fore wing; R 5 parallel with M1; M1 from the middle of the transversal vein of the cell in males, closer to the upper angle in females, curved ventrally near its base in males, straight in females; M2, M3 and CuA1 from the lower angle of the cell, separated at their base; CuA2 close to lower angle of cell; rounded zone devoid of scales between R 5 and M1 near the transversal vein in the cell of male specimens, absent in females. Frenulum simple in male, double in females. Retinacumum consisting of a series of long scales near the base of the Median stem. Hind wings as typical Pyraustinae: Sc+ R 1 anastomosed for about half its length beyond the upper angle of the cell; R 5 from Sc+ R 1; M1 from upper angle of the cell; M1, M2 and CuA1 from lower angle of the cell, separated at the base; CuA2 near lower angle of cell about parrale to upper angle of cell; CuP, A1 and A2 from base of hind wing.

Tympanal organs: ( Fig. 2 ♀) praecinctorium bilobed, medium size; tympanal organs invaginated; fornix tympani narrow with a well developed processus tympani; saccus tympani very small, shallow; zona glabra tympani small; venula prima narrow continuing towards the base of the praecinctorium, venula secunda absent.

Male genitalia: ( Figs 3–4 ) Uncus bilobed, dorsally with flattened bifurcated setae; tegumen dorsally narrow, ventrally more widened, saccus long and pointed; juxta as a narrow shield: ventrally slightly biloded, dorsally as one piece; valva rounded with a large sella from the dorsal edge to the ventral edge consisting dorsally of a large flap, ventrally of a more pointed extension passing beyond the ventral edge of the valva, sacculus valva with a large rounded sclerotized flap; aedeagus simple, tubular, cornutus consisting of a series of simple triangular plates and several well-developed spines, vesica slightly covered with minute plates.

Female genitalia: ( Fig. 5 ) Papillae anales well developed, covered with long and short setae; apophyses anteriores and posteriors of about equal length; ostium bursae membranous with two patches of small spines; ductus bursae as a broad S-shaped sclerotization; corpus bursae membranous with a small triangular signum composed of small spines.

Diagnostic characters: Externally the specimens have a typical “Pyraustinae” habitus, but the genitalia place it in the Spilomelinae. (valva, uncus; bursa copulatrix). The bilobed uncus and the complicated sella on the simple rounded valva of the male genitalia resemble typical Metasia species, but it is different in the base of the uncus, and the structure of the sella on the valva, which has a dorsal fold with ventral extension, second fold near inner part of ventral side and.a strongly sclerotised part near the costa which is lacking in true “ Metasia ” species. The female genitalia have a strongly sclerotised ductus bursae. Sexual dimorphism with androconical scaling in the male forewing near the cell is also unique to this genus and lacking in Metasia species.

Distribution: Currently only known from the type species, which occurs from Mali to the Kenyan coast. Basically south of the Sahara and north of the rainforest belt.

Host plant: Not known.

Etymology: The name is composed of the genus name “ Metasia ” and the old Pyralid name “ Botys ”.

Figures

Figure 1 – Metasibotys guineasoudanensis sp. nov. ♂. Wing venation – above: forewing; below: hind wing. PT 2129.

Figure 2 – Tympanal organs of Metasibotys guineasoudanensis sp. nov. ♀ K. Maes Gen.Prep. nr. 1848.

Figure 3 –Metasibotys guineasoudanensis sp. nov. holotype ♂ genitalia. Gen.Prep. nr. 1119, KVNM.

Figure 4 – Metasibotys guineasoudanensis sp. nov. holotype ♂ aedeagus. Gen.Prep. nr. 1119, KVNM.

Figure 5 – Metasibotys guineasoudanensis sp. nov. ♀ genitalia. Gen.Prep.nr. 2130, KVNM.