Crambus proteus Bassi & Mey, 2011

Bassi, Graziano, 2013, Notes on some Old World Prionapterygini Landry, 1995 (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae, Crambinae), with descriptions of new species, Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (1), pp. 131-160 : 158-159

Crambus proteus Bassi & Mey, 2011

Crambus proteus Bassi & Mey, 2011: 242 , figs 297-299, pl. 36, fig. 8.

HOLOTYPE: TMSA; 3; [ RSA, Western Cape] Knysna, C [ape] P[rovince], Garden of Eden , 16-20.I.1955, A. J. T. Janse legit (not dissected).

PARATYPES: RSA, Western Cape. – CB; 13, 2♀♀; same data as holotype. – SAM; 2♀♀; Cape Town, Table Mt. , II.1919, K. Barnard legit . – TMSA; 333, 3♀♀; Cape Town , III.1912, Lord Gladstone legit . – TMSA and CB; 13, 2♀♀; Cape Town , IV.1912, Lord Gladstone legit ; GS 3757 GB. – TMSA; 13; Swellendam , 9.III.1980, Scoble & Kroon legit ; GS 3578 GB. – TMSA; 1 3; Hogsback (32 27 CA), 24-25.II.1978, M. J. Scoble legit . – TMSA; 8 ♀♀; Deepwalls For. Res. nr Knysna , 17-21.II.1978, M. J. Scoble legit . – TMSA; 13; Tokai , 11.III.1956, CGC. Dickson legit ; GS 3771 GB. – CB; 1♀; Kogelberg, Nature Reserve , 14- 21.III.1983, Kroon & Molekane legit ; GS 3753 GB. – MFNB and CB; 1133, 5♀♀; Stellenbosch , Assegaibosch N. R., 25.III.2009, LF, W. Mey legit ; GS 5193 and 5210 GB . – RSA, Eastern Cape. – Kroon Collection; 1♀; Zingcuka Forest, Mt. Fletcher Dist. , 28.XI.1976, D.M. Kroon legit .

REMARKS: This is the correct type series. Crambus proteus has two closely related species ( Bassi, 2012): C. attis Bassi and C. rossinii Bassi. They are characterized by their similar external appearance and genitalia of both sexes, C. proteus usually differing in the more ochreous tinge of the dark scales in forewings, in male genitalia the gnathos is only slightly longer than the uncus, the tegumen is S-shaped, the costal process of the valva is stronger and longer, the tip of the phallus is longer, and in female genitalia the lateral processes of the sterigma are pointed as opposed to rounded in C. attis and elongate in C. rossinii .