Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912

Figs. 1 D–E, 5, 6 A–D.

Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912: 171.

Etymology. africana (adj., Latin): the name is assumed to refer to the origin of the specimens examined by Melichar. It is possible that the name was chosen in opposition to the North American origin of the genus Scolops Schaum, 1850.

Types examined. Lectotype Ƥ of Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912, present designation: [non Scolops Schaum (Am. Sept.) – rest of the label illegible] [Scolopsomorpha n g. africana n sp.] [Zool. Mus. Greifswald, II 27357] left hind wing mounted, abdomen in gelatine capsule (ZIMG).

Paralectotype Ƥ of Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912: [Nguëlo, Afrika] head and prothorax missing (ZIMG).

Coordinates of Nguëlo (presently Ngwelo), Tanzania: 4°36'S 38°23’E.

Note: a lectotype is designated following the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, in order to improve nomenclatural stability in the group.

Diagnosis. The species is easily recognized by the clypeus and disc of frons dark brown (Fig. 6 C), the cephalic process slightly curved dorsad (Fig. 6 B), the lack of dark markings on the sides of the head (Fig. 6 B), the anterior and median coxae black (Fig. 6 C) and the elongate tegmina (LTg/BTg = 3.8) (Fig. 6 A).

Description. LT: Ƥ (n = 1): 13.6 mm. L [anterior margin of eye – apex of tegmina]: 9.7 mm.

Head: yellow-brown; brown-black line on each side of median carina of vertex (Fig. 6 A); carinae, except median on vertex, and small patch under eye brown; disc of frons and postclypeus dark brown (Fig. 6 C); median carina on vertex not extending on process (Fig. 6 A); posterior side black; antennae brown; process projecting antero-dorsad (Fig. 6 B); lateral carinae of process not fused with lateral carina of frons; ratio BV/ LV = 0.15; BF/LF = 0.27.

Thorax: pro-, mesonotum and tegulae yellow-brown with carinae slightly darker; black-brown lines between carinae (Fig. 6 A); sides of prothorax with black patch antero-dorsally behind eye (Fig. 6 B), and brown postero-ventrally (Fig. 6 C); ratio LP+LM/BT = 1; LM/LP = 1.23.

Tegmina: yellow-brown with small apical black-brown spot; black brown patch basally between Sc+R vein and costal margin; claval joint and veins slightly suffused with red (Figs. 6 A–B); ratio LTg/BTg = 3.85.

Hind wings: brown with veins and margins suffused with red (Fig. 6 D).

Legs: yellow-brown with base of tibiae red; coxae I and II black (Fig. 6 C); coxae III brown; tibiae and femora I and II ventrally with lines of black-brown elongate markings; femora I and II with ante-apical blackbrown marking on posterior side; femur III with ante-apical black brown marking visible dorsally and extending ventrally to half of femur length; apices of spines black (Fig. 6 A).

Abdomen: brown suffused with red.

Genitalia 3: unknown.

Biology. Nothing is known about the biology of the species which has only been collected in the Usambara Mountains (Fig. 5).