Review of the Afrotropical Thyatirinae (Lepidoptera, Drepanidae) with description of a new genus and a new species.

Abstract

A taxonomic review of the Afrotropical Thyatirinae is given and a new genus reminiscent of the Oriental Horipsestis Matsumura, 1933 is established for a new East African species: Watsonopsestis smithi gen. n., sp. n. Based on the analysis of the genital morphology, Aethiopsestis austrina nebulosa Watson, 1965, is raised to species rank: A. nebulosa Watson, 1965 stat. n., and the tribe Aethiopsestini is downgraded to subtribe rank: Aethiopsestina Watson, 1965 stat. n. The female adult and genitalia of Aethiopsestis mufindiae Watson, 1965 are illustrated and the latter is described for the first time. New locality records of Marplena designina Lane, 1973, Aethiopsestis nebulosa and A. mufindiae are reported. A distribution map of all known Afrotropical Thyatirinae is provided. The holotypes and additional specimens of all species together with their genitalia are illustrated in 18 colour and 16 black and white figures.