Macrotarsipodes leptosceles ( Bradley, 1968 ) Bartsch & Sáfián, 2022

Bartsch, Daniel & Sáfián, Szabolcs, 2022, Taxonomic changes and review of the genera Tipulamima Holland, 1893 and Macrotarsipodes Le Cerf, 1916 stat. rev. (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae: Sesiinae), Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 103-128 : 119

Macrotarsipodes leptosceles ( Bradley, 1968) comb. nov. ( Synanthedon )

( Figs 32–33 )

Synanthedon leptosceles Bradley, 1968: 47 ; Heppner & Duckworth 1981: 31; Pühringer & Kallies 2004: 28.

Type material examined. Holotype ♂ ( Fig. 32 ): Kenya, Nairobi , 10.Nov.1965, K. K. Shunak, bred from sweet potato ( NHMUK); with labels: “ex. sweet / potatoes / 10.II.65 / Nirobi [sic!] / K.K. Shunak ”; “Holotype”; “ C.E.I. Coll. / A.857”; “ID.2880”; “ Synanthedon / leptosceles / Bradley / J.D.Bradley det. 1966” . Paratype ♀ ( Fig. 33 ): same data as holotype, “Allotype” ( NHMUK) .

Further specimens. 1♂, Kenya, Ukunda surroundings, Diani Beach, littoral zone, 04°20’S, 30°34’E, 21.Nov.- 6.Dec.2007, leg. Z. Weidenhoffer ( CDB) ; 1♂, Tanzania, East Usambara , Amani, 1000m, 20.Jan.1977 ( ZMUK) .

This species is a well-known agricultural pest on cultivated sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas , Convolvulaceae ) (eg. Ames et al. 1996, Bradley 1968). So far, it is only known from eastern Africa, with records from Kenya and Tanzania.

Diagnosis. The four species of Macrotarsipodes are very similar and difficult to distinguish. The male of M. pedunculata differ from those of the other species by the sparse, exclusively yellow and never reddish markings of the body. The female is unknown. Both sexes of the remaining species have some red on the inner margin of the tegula, on the forewing base, on the legs, in particular on the tibiae, and on the abdomen. M. sexualis has the vein interspaces of the apical area yellow-brown in male and reddish-brown in female and the discal spot with some reddish scales distally. Whereas M. leptosceles and M. tricinctus have the forewing apical area nearly entirely and the discal spot completely black. Of all species M. tricinctus has the transparent areas smallest and the discal spots broadest, the longitudinal transparent area ends at, or somewhat closer to the forewing discal spot and not below it. M. leptosceles differs further from M. tricinctus by the more reddish not yellowish markings of body and legs.

Figures

FIGS 32–43. Specimens of Macrotarsipodes. 32–33. M. leptosceles (Bradley, 1968). (32) holotype ♂. (33) paratype ♀. 34–36. M. pedunculata (Hampson, 1910) comb. nov., (34) holotype ♂. (35–36) ♂ Ghana, Gyawale, Kakum. 37–38. M. sexualis (Hampson, 1910) comb. nov. (37) lectotype ♂. (38) paralectotype ♀. 39–43. M. tricinctus Le Cerf, 1916 comb. rev. (39–40) ♂ South Africa, East London. (41) holotype ♂. (42–43) ♀ South Africa, Natal, Durban. Scale 10 mm.