Pentastiridius moestus (Stål, 1855)

Figs 2, 25, 90–106

Cixius moestus Stål, 1855: 92 (“Caffraria”)

Pentastiridius moestus (Stål), Van Stalle 1986a: 97

Material examined. Namibia, 1 male, West Caprivi Nature Reserve, 18°09’S, 21°13’E, 29.ii.1992, M. Pusch and E. Marais; 6 males, 5 females, Buffalo Base, West Caprivi Park, 18°08’S, 21°41’E, 6.iv.1990, E. Marais; 3 females Qugali River, West Caprivi Park, 18°01’S, 22°18’E, 7.iv.1990; 6 males, 1 female, Popa Falls, Kavango, 18°07’S, 21°04’E, 26.ii.–1.iii.1992, E. Marais and M. Pusch; 3 females, Popa Falls, Kavango, S.W.A., 18°35’S, 20°07’E, 29.x.1987, E. Marais; 1 male, Andara, Kavango, SE 1821 Ab, 20–25.viii.1971; 1 male, Takuasa, Kavango, SE 1720 Cd, 14–19.viii.1971; 1 male, Churutabis, Bethanien, SE 2717 Ad, 4–12.x.1974; 1 female, Dakota 424, Grootfontein Distr. SE 1917 Ac, 13–23.xii.1993, M. Pusch, light trap (all NMNW).

Description. See Van Stalle (1986a: 97). The species is quite variable (see figs 90–106); in one male specimen from Popa Falls, Kavango, the periandrium has four apical spines (figs 100–106). Further studies are needed to clarify the taxonomic consequences of this morphological variation.

Distribution. “It occurs in the eastern highlands and probably in the major part of Africa south of the equatorial forest” (Van Stalle 1986a: 100).