Scrobipalpa meridioafricana Bidzilya & Mey, 2011

Figs 77, 78, 143, 144, 188

Scrobipalpa meridioafricana Bidzilya & Mey, 2011 in Mey 2011: 210, Pl. 4, fig. 18, 19; pl. 9, fig. 38, pl. 32, fig. 15.

Type material examined. Holotype of meridioafricana ♂, RSA, Western Cape, Knersvlakte, Groot Graafwater, 27.x.2007, Turm, leg. W. Mey (gen. slide 8/10, O. Bidzilya) (TMSA). Paratypes: South Africa: 3 ♀, Northern Cape, Richtersveld, Koeroegapvlakte, 14–16.x.2001, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 7/10, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Richtersveld, BIOTA observatory Numees, Helskloof Gate, 9–12.x.2001, LF (Mey); 1 ♀, Northern cape, 50 km NE Bitterfontein, Drai-Hoek, 25.xi.2008, LF (Ebert, Kuene & Mey); 1 ♀, Northern Cape, Molopo Lodge, south of Twee Rivieren, 7.x.2007 (Mey) (gen. slide 340/07, O. Bidzilya). Namibia: 1 ♀, Namibia, Noordoewer, Orange River, 18.xi.1993, LF (Mey & Ebert) (gen. slide 345/07, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, Karas, Gondwana Canyon Lodge, Swartkoppies, 8–12.iii.2003 (Mey) (all MfN).

Material examined. 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Namibia: Rooisand, Gamsberg pass, 20.i.2007, aut. Falle (Mey & Ebert) (MfN). South Africa: 2 ♀, Sprinbokfarm 10 km SW, 6.iii.2014, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 128/17, O. Bidzilya) (MfN); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Springbok, 5 m East, 11–12.viii.1961 (van Son & Vari); 1 ♀, Worcester, Fairy Glen, 15, 19.x.1966 (Vari & Potgieter); 1 ♂, Nababiep, C.P., 30.viii–2.ix.1962 (Vary & Goode) (gen. slide 130/17, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, Nababieb C.P., 13–14.viii.1961 (Vari & van Son); 1 ♂, Rosh Pinah Loc 29 SE 27 16 Dd, 4.x.1989 (Cottrel); 1 ex, Vredendal, 23–30.vii.1927 (G. van Son) (all TMSA).

Diagnosis. The species is easily recognized externally by its light brown forewing with two narrow, ochreous-brown, basal, oblique stripes edged with black on their inner margins. This forewing pattern is unique among Palaearctic and Afrotropical species of Scrobipalpa. The male genitalia are characterized by a slender valva; a long, inward-curved sacculus; and a short, broad saccus; and these feature separate it from its congeners. The female genitalia can be separated from other South African species of Scrobipalpa by having the ventromedial depression broadly covered with foam-sculpturing, very short apophyses anteriores, and a distinctly broadened anterior portion of the ductus bursae.

Biology. Host plant unknown. Adults fly in January, March, and from July to early September.

Distribution. Namibia, South Africa.