Birketsmithiola transvaalensis Krüger, 2015

(Figs 1, 2, 17, 18, 29)

Birketsmithiola transvaalensis Krüger, 2015, Generic classification of Afrotropical footman moths sensu stricto (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini (partim): 74 (Type locality: “[South Africa, Gauteng]: Pretoria”).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: 1 male, Transvaal, Limpopo, l. V / l. VI / [19]42, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2021-128 (prepared by Volynkin) (ZSM) ; 1 male, Transvaal, Pretoria / Distant Coll. 1911-383, unique number: NHMUK014173047, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010317204 (prepared by Volynkin) (NHMUK); 1 female, Pretoria, 1924, H.H. Curson / Pres. by Imp. Bur. Ent., Brit. Mus. 1925-121, unique number: NHMUK014173048, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010317205 (prepared by Volynkin) (NHMUK); ZIMBABWE: 2 males, [Harare] Mashonaland, Salisbury, Feb. 1905, G.A.K. Marshall, 1905-209, unique numbers: NHMUK014172941, NHMUK014173050, gen. prep. Nos.: NHMUK010317207 (prepared by Volynkin), BMNH Arct. 581 (NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 15.0–17.0 mm in males and 13.0–17.0 mm in females (Krüger 2015). Birketsmithiola transvaalensis is distinguished from other species in the genus by the orange costal strip, which is orange-red in B. sanguicosta and B. kruegeri sp. n., and red in the other congeners. In the male genital capsule, B. transvaalensis differs from other members of the species group in the apically rounded dorsal costal protrusions (they are pointed in the related species), the more distally dilated distal saccular processes bearing larger spinules, and the heavily sclerotised, semi-cylindrical, distally dilated juxta with a rectangular and smooth ventral side, which bears three apically pointed triangular processes in B. sanguicosta, B. kruegeri sp. n. and B. kingstoni sp. n. The midventral protrusion of the phallus of B. transvaalensis is the largest in the genus. In the vesica of B. transvaalensis, the medial cornutus has a markedly narrower base than in other species in the species group. The detailed comparison of the female copulatory organs of B. transvaalensis and B. kruegeri sp. n. is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Distribution. The species is known from South Africa (Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces) (Krüger 2015) and Zimbabwe (Hampson 1901, 1914, as sanguicosta) (Fig. 34).