Micrerethista africana Davis 1998

Micrerethista africana

MALE (Figure 137).—Forewing length 5.5 mm.

Head: Similar in color and scale dentation to M. denticulata. Antenna 47-segmented, ~0.4 the length of forewing; color and structure similar to M. denticulata.

Thorax: Similar to M. denticulata, generally darker than head. Forewing generally dark brownish gray, faintly irrorated with white, becoming more white toward apex; costal margin mostly dark brownish fuscous, with a U- to V-shaped white band from cell to distal of costa; termen predominantly grayish white, with a more or less distinct fuscous band of dark, narrowly white-tipped scales around margin; fringe beyond fuscous band heavily suffused with paler brownish fuscous scales tipped with white. Hindwing similar in color to M. denticulata.

Abdomen: As described for subfamily except coremata absent as in M. eustena.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

MALE GENITALIA (Figures 211–216).—Tegumen and vinculum with lateral and ventral margins more elongate, thus forming a broader ring around ventral of genital capsule (Figure 212); anterior margin of vinculum more deeply concave on either side of saccus than in M. denticulata. Saccus more slender, ~0.29 the length of valva. Valva with dorsal lobe relatively slender at base, width less than 0.4 its length; ventral lobe ~0.64 the length of dorsal lobe, with apex narrowly rounded. Aedoeagus without basal keel; apex a simple, smooth, tubular opening with a pair of elongate, piliform spines projecting; one pair possessing a minutely bifid apex (Figure 215).

HOLOTYPE.—; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: La Maboké, 3°54′N, 17°53′E, 10 Aug 1970, J. Boudinot, slide 3984, (MNHP).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—August (single record).

DISTRIBUTION (Map 7).—Known only from the type locality, which is in southwestern Central African Republic.

ETYMOLOGY.—The species name is derived from the Latin Africanus (African).