Parapoynx plumbefusalis ( Hampson, 1917 )

Agassiz, David J. L., 2012, The Acentropinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) of Africa, Zootaxa 3494, pp. 1-73 : 13-14

Parapoynx plumbefusalis ( Hampson, 1917)

Nymphula plumbefusalis Hampson, 1917:370 .

Parapoynx plumbefusalis Viette, 1990: 87

Type locality: Sudan, Blue Nile.

Imago (Figs 11,12): Wingspan ♂ 14–17mm, ♀ 18–23mm. Head white, sometimes suffused fuscous posteriorly. Labial palpus white, curved upwards, segment 3 shorter than segment 2. Thorax whitish, sometimes suffused fuscous. Forewing with ground colour white, often suffused fuscous, especially in female; a small dark fuscous spot in disc at one quarter of wing length; an indistinct fascia at 1/2, extending from dorsum halfway across wing; a blackish discal spot; an indistinct and irregular subterminal line; terminal cilia as wing but tending to be chequered. Forelegs concolorous with forewing ground colour; hindlegs white. Abdomen white.

A variable species ranging from predominantly white to dark fuscous—the typical form described by Hampson.

Male genitalia (Fig. 89): Uncus narrow, clothed with long setae on either side; gnathos strong, almost as long as uncus, gently tapered and apical portion curved towards uncus, without projections. Long setae arising from tegumen on either side of anellus; valva with concave costa, termen rather square, sides parallel, a small projection on inner surface near base. Aedeagus simple, vesica somewhat scobinate. Sternum 8 of abdomen with a posterior dorsal indentation (Fig. 89c).

Female genitalia (Fig. 139): Ostium about one quarter width of segment, ostial chamber spacious, gently narrowed to colliculum, ductus bursae long and narrow, corpus bursae simple, without signum; surface slightly scobinate. Total length about 0.8 x length of abdomen.

Tympanal organs: Venulae extending to posterior edge of 2nd segment, less strong anteriorly.

Diagnosis: The white form could be confused with P. stagnalis from which it differs by the clearer white hindwing, nearly unicolorous dark specimens are unlike any other species in the genus.

Biology: Larva recorded from Nymphoides indica (R.J. Donthwaite, BMNH coll.). The adult has been taken in ii, vii, viii, ix, x, and is probably continuously brooded. Adults rest on the surface of aquatic plants during the day and are disturbed only with difficulty; they fly at night.

Distribution: Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, Angola, Botswana, Kenya; Madagascar.

Material examined: Lectotype ♀, hereby designated to fix the species and define the type series, identified by a purple lectotype label, 5 paralectotypes ♀ ( BMNH), all bearing data: Blue Nile, Flower .

SUDAN: 1♀ Blue Nile ( BMNH); KENYA: 1♀ Choba , 1♀ Nairobi , 1♀ Gazi ( BMNH), 1♀ Nairobi ( KVNM); UGANDA: 2♀ Mwega ( BMNH) 4♂ 4♀ Malamigambo Forest ( DJLA); ZAMBIA: Lochinvar N.P., Kafue Flats 2♂ 3♀ ( BMNH), Ikelenge 4♀ ( NMB); MOZAMBIQUE: 1♀ Dando Forest ( NMB); MALAWI: 1♀ Mkuwabzi Forest, Nkata Bay ( NMB), 1♀ Liwonde N.P. ( AJK); ZIMBABWE: 2♂ 4♀ Matopos ( DJLA), 1♂ Maranellas ( NMB); BOTSWANA: 1♂ 5♀ Manu , 4♀ R. Thamalakane ( BMNH) 5♀ ( NMB), 1♀ R. Semowane ( BMNH), 7♀ Okavanga Delta, Kurunxaraga ( NMB) 9♀ Makala-ma-bedi , Botielle River ( NMB) 16♀ Sepepo , W. Okavanga ( NMB), 1♀ 15k SE South Gate, moreni Nat. Res. ( TMP); SOUTH AFRICA: 2♀ Wilderness, Knysma ; Knysma C.P. Garden of Eden , 1♀ Msali Bridge , 2♂ St Lucia, Nat. , 1♂ New Hanover , 3♀ Zululand ( TMP); 1♀ ( BMNH); ANGOLA: 2♀ 3m N Santa Conbe ( BMNH), 5 ♀ ( MNHNP); CAMEROON: 1♂ 1♀ Dschang ( KVNM); NIGERIA: 1♂ Badeggi ; NIGER: 1♀ Anabara Creek ; SIERRA LEONE: 1♀ Bo, 3♀ Njala ; SENEGAL: 1♂, 17♀ Sédhiou ( BMNH).