Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864 )

Kovtunovich, V., Ustjuzhanin, P. & Murphy, R., 2014, Plume moths of Malawi (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), Zootaxa 3847 (4), pp. 451-494 : 466

Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864)

Oxyptilus anisodactylus Walker, 1864: 934 . ( Type locality: Sri Lanka).

Pterophorus diffusalis Walker, 1864: 945 . ( Type locality: Australia).

Sphenarches synophrys Meyrick, 1886: 17 . ( Type locality: New Hebrides, Tonga). Platyptilia pygmaeana Strand, 1913: 64 . ( Type locality: Cameroon). Syn. nov. Megalorhipida rishwani Makhan, 1994: 353 . ( Type locality: Suriname).

Material examined: 1 ♂ Liwonde, 17 – 19.02.2009; 1 ♀ Likhubula, 25.02.2009; 3 ♂, 4 ♀ Nkhorongo, 12.03.2009, 1 ♂ 17 – 21.05.2009, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ 11.06.2011, 2 ♂ 15.09.2011; 1 ♂ Nyika N.P., 7.08. 2009, R. Murphy , 1 ♂, 1 ♀ 30 – 31.12.2011, Kovtunovich V.; 2 ♂, 2 ♀ Vwaza, 15.08. 2009, R. Murphy , 4 ex. 01– 02.01.2012, Kovtunovich V.; 1 ♀ Mugesse Forest, 0 9.04. 2010, R. Murphy ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ Mpatamanga, 16– 17. 01.2009; 2 ♂ Nkhata Bay, 0 5.01.2009, 1 ♀ 23 km N Thazima Gate, 0 8.01.2009, 2 ♀ 23 – 24.12.2010; 1 ♀ Chimaliro Forest, 14.01.2009; 1 ♀ Uzuzu Hill, 17.04.2011, 1 ♂, 2 ♀ 23 – 25.12.2011; 1 ♀ Kalwe Forest, 19.04. 2011, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P.; 1 ♀ Uzumara, 28.02. 2010, R. Murphy .

Distribution: Rep. S. Africa, Cameroon, Seychelles, Reunion Isl., Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, The Gambia, Guenea, Nigeria, Tchad, Malawi, Swaziland, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Panama, Virgin Isl., Bahamas, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Peru, Paraguay, Fiji Isl., New Gebrids, Tonga Isl., New Caledonia, Palau, Bonin Isl., Guam, Nepal, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Solomon Isl., New Guinea, Bismarck Isl., Australia (Gielis 2003).

Notes. During an examination of the type specimen of Platyptilia pygmaeana Strand, 1913 it was found that the latter belongs to Sphenarches anisodactylus . This synonymy was first mentioned by Chr. Gibeaux on the identification label of the type specimen but we didn’t find any mentions of this fact in literature.