Scotinocerides 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 : 17

Scotinocerides Hering, 1937

Figs 16–17 , 35–36

Annals of the Transvaal Museum 17: 241.

Type species. Chrysopoloma conspurcata Aurivillius, 1895 (by original designation)

Holotype. ♂.

Type locality. Lindi, Deutsch-OstAfrika [ Tanzania] ( MfN).

Genus re-description. Medium to large size. Antennae bipectinate, dark grey to black, flagellum dark beige or black. Ground colour of body and wings beige to light brown with varying levels of brown or black speckling. Forewing broad with arcuate outer margin; postmedial line well-defined in most species, light or dark brown, straight or gently concave, sometimes kinked at vein R2. Fringe long, slightly darker than ground colour. Hindwing without markings, generally more yellow in colour than forewing. Underside. Ground colour similar to upperside but with fewer markings; postmedial line often showing through. Legs beige or light orange, sometimes with brown speckling. Hindtibia with two pairs of spurs. Male genitalia. Uncus elongate, pointed apically, paired posterior processes of transtilla fused medially, forming a rounded lobe-like structure with a deep central separation. Single, central anterior process of transtilla broad, generally obcordate, varying in length. Valve wide, sometimes medially constricted, with concavity on distal edge. Juxta with two pointed lateral processes and longer central process. Phallus moderate length, distally ridged, membranous, with slight medial split; vesica relatively short, membranous.

Diagnosis. As discussed under the diagnosis section of Chrysopoloma , these two genera are very similar. Scotinocerides species are in general a larger insect, possess two pairs of tibial spurs and in the male genitalia, the uncus is elongate and pointed apically.

Distribution. Distributed throughout southern and eastern Africa.

Species content S. conspurcata conspurcata Aurivillius, 1895 S. conspurcata varioides Hering, 1937 S. fasciata Hering, 1937 S. microsticta Bethune-Baker, 1911 S. pseudorestricta pseudorestricta Hering, 1937 S. pseudorestricta flavina Hering, 1937 S. restricta ( Distant, 1899) comb. n. S. sigma Hering, 1937

Figures

Figs 11–17. Adults. 11. Chrysopoloma rudis, South Africa (NHMUK). 12. Chrysopoloma varia, Kenya (NHMUK). 13. Chrysopoloma bicolor, South Africa (ANHRT). 14. Chrysopoloma zernyi, Tanzania (ANHRT). 15. Chrysopoloma moulini comb. n., Ethiopia (ZSM). 16. Scotinocerides pseudorestricta, Zambia (ANHRT). 17. Scotinocerides fasciata, Zambia (ANHRT).

Figs 35–38. Male genitalia (a = clasping apparatus; b = phallus). 35. Scotinocerides pseudorestricta, South Africa, genitalia slide No. TT 184 (ANHRT). 36. Scotinocerides fasciata, Tanzania, genitalia slide No. ZSM Sp. 1597 (ZSM). 37. Hamartia medora, South Africa, genitalia slide No. TT 190 (ANHRT). 38. Erythropteryx roseotincta, DRC, genitalia slide No. TT 205 (RMCA).