Scrobipalpa varivansoni sp. nov.

Figs 45, 116

Type material. Holotype ♂, [Namibia], Nababieb, C.P., 13–14.viii.1961, Vari & van Son (gen. slide 173/17, O. Bidzilya) (TMSA).

Diagnosis. The new species is nearly indistinguishable externally from S. asantesana sp. nov., but it is larger (wingspan 14.0 mm vs to 9.2–11.0 mm) and has a more contrasting creamy-white subcostal pattern. The male genitalia are recognized by a combination of the valva far exceeding the top of uncus and a short sacculus. They are most similar to those of S. natalensis sp. nov., from which they can be distinguished by their shorter tegumen, stronger curved valva, and broader vincular process.

Description. Adult (Fig. 45). Wingspan 14.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae covered with brown grey-tipped scales, frons light grey; labial palpus upcurved, palpomere 2 light grey to white, mottled with brown on lower surface, palpomere 3 light grey with diffuse medial and subapical rings; scape brown with greyish-white scales distally, flagellum brown, white-ringed; forewing covered with grey brown-tipped scales, diffuse creamy-white narrow longitudinal pattern under costal margin from base to about 2/3–3/4 length, indistinct brown spot at base under costal margin, diffuse black spots on 1/3 and 2/3 on mid-width, folds slightly mixed with light brown; cilia grey, black-tipped; hindwing and cilia light grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 116). Uncus twice as long as broad, gradually narrowed apically, posterior margin rounded; gnathos short, weakly curved, culcitula well developed, elongated; tegumen elongated, anterior emargination extending to 1/4 length; valva broad at base, then nearly uniform in width, weakly narrowed in middle, gradually curved, extending far beyond top of uncus; sacculus slightly broader than valva in middle, about 1/8 length of valva, narrowed distally, subrectangular with distinct posterolateral corner, apex with pointed inward-curved tip, separated from valva by large triangular gap; vincular processes slightly shorter than sacculus, broad at base, distally very narrow, outwardly curved, separated from sacculus by broad gap; vinculum slightly broader than long, medial incision deep, triangular; saccus slender, evenly narrowed towards weakly rounded apex, extending slightly beyond top of pedunculus; distal portion of phallus straight, apex rounded with distinct, weakly curved hook, caecum moderately swollen, about 1/3 length of distal portion of phallus.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. Host plant unknown. The holotype was collected in mid-August.

Distribution. Namibia.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Lajos Vári and Georg van Son, well-known South African lepidopterologists and former curators of Lepidoptera at the TMSA, who collected the holotype of new species.