Coleophora sabaea Baldizzone 2007

Coleophora sabaea Baldizzone, 2007

(Fig. 3)

Literature: Baldizzone, 2007: 426 (description, imago, genitalia); Baldizzone et al., 2006 (World Catalogue).

Material examined: 1 ♂ (PG Bldz 16919) “ UGANDA: Fort Portal, 5000 ft., F.W. Edwards, Ruwenzori Range, xii.1934 - i.1935, B. M. E. Afr. Exp., B. M. 1935-203, coll. NHMUK. 1 ♂ (GP Wf 8438) “ KENYA Rift Valley | Kap- tagat, 7000ft | 15.i.2000 | D.J.L. Agassiz”, coll. NHMUK.

Note: The species was described from a single male in modest conditions. Based on the African specimens, particularly those from of Kenya, we provide a more accurate description of the adult.

Diagnosis: Species with a light brown, uniform, shiny colour. The male genitalia are completely different from those of all the Afrotropical species. In the shape of phallotheca and vesica and in overall appearance, it resembles Coleophora facilis (Falkovitsh, 1988), a species from Turkmenistan, but with obvious differences: in the male genitalia of C. facilis the tegumen is narrower and longer, the cucullus is much shorter, and the sacculus is larger with a triangular tip in the ventral corner.

Description: Wingspan 12 mm. Head shiny light brown. Antenna completely light brown, scape without erect scales. Labial palpus pale brown, with a darker shade on the dorsal side; the second article as long as the third. Proboscis short, about the length of the second article of the labial palpus. Thorax and tegula of the same colour as the head. Forewing of uniform shiny light brown, with darker shade at the apex; fringes of the same colour. Hindwing light grey with fringes the same colour as the ones on the forewing. Abdomen light brown.

Bionomy: The early stages and the foodplant are unknown.

Distribution: This species, previously known only from Yemen (Arabian Peninsula), is new for Africa: Uganda and Kenya .