Taxonomic revision of Asapharcha Meyrick, 1920 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), with descriptions of four new species

Abstract

The Afrotropical genus Asapharcha Meyrick, 1920 is recognized as a senior synonym of Lacistodes Meyrick, 1921, syn. nov. and Melitoxestis Meyrick, 1921, syn. nov. Nine species of Asapharcha are recognized as valid, four of which are described as new: A. angustella sp. nov. (South Africa), A. lacistoides sp. nov. (Namibia, Ethiopia, Sudan), A. ochrocapitella sp. nov. (Zimbabwe), and A. unipunctella sp. nov. (Namibia). Two new synonyms are proposed: Asapharcha crateropa Meyrick, 1930 syn. nov. of Lacistodes tauropis Meyrick, 1921, and Lacistodes brunneostola Janse, 1960, syn. nov. of Asapharcha strigifera Meyrick, 1920. Three new generic combinations are proposed: Asapharcha centrotypa (Meyrick, 1920) (Melitoxestis), comb. nov., Asapharcha fuscomaculata (Bidzilya & Mey, 2011) (Lacistodes), comb. nov., Asapharcha hirsuta (Janse, 1958) (Lasiarchis), comb. nov. The female genitalia of A. strigifera are described for the first time. Asapharcha tauropis is recorded for the first time from Kenya and Ethiopia. All species of Asapharcha are diagnosed, and an identification key to all species of the genus is provided. Wing pattern and genitalia of all species are illustrated, and an updated checklist of the genus is given.