Antheua imitata (Druce, 1896), comb. nov.

Habitus: Figs 46a–i, Genitalia: Figs 47a–e, Distribution map: Fig. 48.

Phalera imitata Druce, 1896, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History including Zoology, Botany, and Geology (6th series) 17: 356.

Holotype: ♂, [Tanzania], Dar-es-Salaam [6°48'S, 39°12'E] / East Africa (in coll NHMUK).

Synonym:

Phalera imitata septentrionalis Kiriakoff, 1962

Anales du Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale Tervuren, Belgique. Série in-8°. Sciences Zoologiques 114: 50.

Holotype: ♂, [DRC], Uele, Paulis [= Isiro, ca. 2°48'N, 27°35'E] (in coll. RMCA).

Material examined (142 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀).

Angola. 3 ♂♂, Huila Prov., 5 km SSW Bonga, 1.xii.2013, 1053 m, leg. S. Naumann, E. Ott & H. Sulak, GS: MWM 35.227 (MWM / ZSM). 1 ♂, Prov. Benguela, 14 km E Cutembo, 965m, 2.iv.2014, leg. Sulak, Naumann & Ott (CGM). 1 ♂, Huila Prov., 17 km WNW Ndongwe, 15°21.564’S, 13°55.132’E, 1356m, 02.xii.2013, leg. Naumann, Ott & Sulak; 2 ♂♂, Huila Prov., ca. 3 km N Camawa, 14°49.446’S, 14°13.594’E, 1414m, 30.xi.2013, leg. Naumann, Ott & Sulak; 1 ♂, Prov. Benguela, btw. Catenque and Cubai, 13°00.329’S, 13°48.236’E, 830m, 24.iii.2014, leg. Naumann, Ott & Sulak; 2 ♂♂, same site and collectors, 31.iii.2014 (ANHRT). Botswana. 1 ♂, 10km S. Ghanzi, 1080 m, 21.xii.2012 (CGM). Ethiopia. 3 ♂♂, 3km N Turmi, 8.v. 2008, 910m, leg. Hacker & Schreier (CGM). Kenya. 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Transmara, Lolgorien, 2000m, iv.2000, leg. Politzar, GS: MWM 35.228, MWM 35.229 (MWM / ZSM). 1 ♂, Kibwezi, 700 m, 15–30.iv.2002, leg. Dr. Politzar, GS: GU 60-94 (CAS). 2 ♂♂, Nairobi, Ololua Forest, NMK-IPR Compound, 01°22’S, 36°43’E, 1800m, MV light, 11.iv.1999, leg. B. Bytebier (ANHRT). Malawi. 1 ♂, Chitipa Distr., Jemova Reserve, 18 km SSE Chisenga, 1870m, 10°08'S, 33°27'E, 1–10.i.1989, leg. Rawlins & Thompson (CMNH). Mozambique. 1 ♂, Maputo Special Reserve, Mangrove Camp, Mangrove-Woodland Mosaic, 26°19'35.9"S, 32°42'35.7"E, 9m, 7– 9.xii.2016, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Cristovão, J., László, G., Miles, W. leg.; 2 ♂♂, Maputo Special Reserve, West Gate, Sand Thicket, Sand Forest, 26°30'14.2"S, 32°42'59.6"E, 22m, 9–17.ii.2018, MV and Actinic Light Trap, László, G., Mulvaney, J., Smith, L. leg., DNA barcode id.: ANHRTUK00017401, BOLD process id.: ANLMN5164-21; 1 ♀, same site and collectors, 24.ii.2018, DNA barcode id.: ANHRTUK00035104, BOLD process id.: ANLMN5165-21 (ANHRT). RSA. 1 ♂, 8 km S Louis Trichardt, Bem Lavin Nature Reserve, 1000m, 7–21.xii.2007, leg. de Freina, GS: MWM 23.343; 1 ♀, KwaZulu-Natal, Royal Natal N.P., 1800m, 15.xii.2004, leg. de Freina, GS: MWM 23.342; 1 ♂, Mpumalanga Prov., Hazyview, 1100 m, 15.i.2002, leg. S. Murzin, GS: GU 89-89 (MWM / ZSM). 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Soutpansberg, 1400 m, 2–13.ii.2013, leg Stadie & Schintlmeister (CAS). 2 ♂♂, Krüger N.P., P. Krüger Gate, Garden of Protea Hotel, 300m, 22–23.iii.2014, leg. M. Hluchy & G. László; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Cumberland Nature Reserve, 660m, 28°30’50"S, 30°30’17"E, 15– 16.ii.2018, R.V. Yakovlev & V. Kovtunovich leg., DNA barcode id.: ANHRTUK00105261, BOLD process id.: ANLMN5166-21; 1 ♂, Limpopo Prov., Soutpansberg Mts, 11 km N Louis Trichard, The Ultimate Guesthouse, 1200m, 22.983415°S, 29.912823°E, 22.xi.2016, leg. H. Sulak, A. Prozorov & R. Yakovlev; 1 ♂, Limpopo Prov., Ohringstadt, 750m, 24°34’52"S, 30°37’53"E, 13.ii.2016, leg. H. Sulak, S. Naumann & E. Ott (ANHRT). South Sudan. 14 ♂♂, Akotos Prov., Lolibai Mts., 1300 m, 15.viii.– 10.ix.2010, leg. V. Gurko, GS: MWM 35.231, MWM 23.344 (CAS, MWM / ZSM, CGM). Tanzania. 1 ♂, Morogoro Prov., Route de Malolo, 594m, 5.v.2004, leg. Ph. Darge, GS: MWM 23.044; 1 ♀, Dodoma region, Chunnyu, 881m, 5.i.2008, GS: MWM 22.757 (MWM / ZSM); 2 ♂♂, Njombe, Masaulwa, S 09°07', E34°35', 2700m, iii–iv.2013, local coll. (ANHRT). Zambia. 12 ♂♂, Jiwundu Swamp, 11°51'54"S, 25°33'20"E, 1340m, 21–24.xi.2014, light trap, leg. Smith, R., Takano, H., Oram, D., GS: ANHRT 00249; 17 ♂♂, same site, 25–30.x.2017, leg. Carter, M., Lloyd, A., Miles, W., Oram, D., Smith, R.; 6 ♂♂, same site, 29.x.–4.xi.2018, actinic and MV light trap, leg. Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D.; 2 ♂♂, Kambishi, Jiwundu, 11°54'39"S, 25°29'05"E, 1340m, 18–19.x.2014, light trap, leg. Smith, R., Takano, H., Oram, D.; 7 ♂♂, Kambishi School, 11°54'42"S, 25°28'50"E, 1346m, 10–13.xi.2017, MV light trap, leg. Carter, M., Lloyd, A., Miles, W., Oram, D., Smith, R.; 5 ♂♂, Nyangombe Falls, (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), 11°48'25"S, 24°32'12"E, 1300m, 17–23.xi.2019, MV Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, R., Smith, R. leg.; 3 ♂♂, same site, 15–17.xi.2018, leg. Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., László, G., Oram, D.; 1 ♂, Chitunta Plain (Miombo / Dambo mosaic), 11°29'12"S, 24°24'18"E, 1396m, 29.xi.–4.xii.2019, MV Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L. leg.; 1 ♂, Hillwood, Ikelenge (Miombo / Riverine forest mosaic), S11°16'02", E24°18'59', 1400m, 23–30.xi.2019, LepiLED Light Trap, Bashford, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R. leg.; 5 ♂♂, Chilambwe Falls, Kafubu River, 09°50'13"S, 30°43'35"E, 1420m, 8–12.ii.2019, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Mulvaney, L., Takano, H. leg.; 1 ♂, Nkwaji, Mwinilunga S11°36'22", E24°33'17" 1316m, 29.x.–3.xi.2013, Light Trap leg. Smith, R., Takano, H., Chmurova, L., Smith, L.; 2 ♂♂, Mayukuyuku, Kafue NP, 14°54'55"S, 26°03'47"E, 1080m, 21–26.xi.2013, Light Trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram; 1 ♂, Ndole Bay, on the shores of the lake Tanganyika, 08°28'42"S, 30°26'59"E, 777m, 30.iv.–5.v.2013, Light Trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram; 2 ♂♂, Kapishya Hot Springs, Shiwa N'gandu Estate, 11°10'13"S, 31°36'00"E, 1437m, i–iii.2016, M. T. Harvey coll., leg. Smith, R. & Takano, H.; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same site, 22.xi.–8.xii.2015, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram; 1 ♀, Chilambwe Falls, Kafubu River, 09°50'13"S, 30°43'35"E, 1420m, 8–9.xi.2014, Light Trap, leg. Smith, Takano & Oram, GS: ANHRT 00250; 1 ♀, Kabweluma Falls, Kalungwishi River, 09°31'28"S, 29°21'10"E, 1120m, 6–7.ii.2019, Actinic Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Mulvaney, L., Smith, R., Takano, H. leg.; 1 ♂, Mutinondo Wilderness Area, Mpika, Northern Prov., S12°27'06", E31°17'30", 1460m, 16–20.iii.2017, MV, Oram, D., Miles, W., Smith, L. leg.; 13 ♂♂, Muchinga Province, Jombo village, 10°27'01"S, 33°14'30"E, 1400m, 30.xi.– 05.xii.2023, MV light trap, Bashford, M., Collins, A., László, G., Morgan, L., Volynkin, A. leg.; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Muchinga Province, Kalungu, King's Highway Rest Camp, 09°40'52"S, 32°42'50"E, 1280m, 12– 13.xii.2023, MV light trap, László, G., Morgan, L., Volynkin, A. leg.; 6 ♂♂, Bruce-Miller Farm Choma, 16°38'12"S, 27°01'30"E, 1179m, 28.ii.–8.iii.2019, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Imakando, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L. leg. (ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 20–24 mm in males and 26–29 mm in females. This unmistakable species closely resembles the Palaearctic Phalera bucephala Linnaeus, sharing the distinctive “buff tip” of the forewing. Due to this external similarity, this species has formerly been assigned to Phalera Hübner. However, genital morphology indicates its closer relationship to Antheua, consistent with other dark-coloured Afrotropical taxa that were formerly classified under Phalera. Besides the conspicuous buff forewing apex, this species is characterised by a yellow anal field and black tinged veins of the hindwings. The female is sexually dimorphic, possessing forewings markedly broader than those of males, dark brown hindwings, and a uniform black 7th abdominal segment.

The male genitalia have a variably long, narrow, and weakly sclerotized uncus with a tip of variable shape; it can be apically pointed, rounded, spatulate, or knob-shaped. The socii are conspicuously robust, with a large, more or less quadrangular basal lobe and an additional, smaller, elongate-triangular distal process; these characters also exhibit significant intraspecific variability. The valva is short, medially dilated with an evenly rounded costa bearing a short, broadly rounded digitus process and a short, rounded-triangular editum. The sacculus is short and weakly sclerotized with a hump- or crest-like medial lobe. The phallus is short and narrow, with a pair of heavily sclerotized triangular carina processi, projecting apically and subapically. The size and shape of the carina processi are largely variable.

The female genitalia are characterised by a short but wide, dome-like ovipositor with a triangular anal papilla, a variably long, rather broad ribbon-like 8th tergite with short, thin anterior apophyses, a pair of narrow, anteriorly rounded antevaginal plates, a very short and rather thick, membranous ductus bursae, and a small, sub-spherical, membranous corpus bursae without signum.