Genus Pseudopoliosia Krüger, 2015

The genus Pseudopoliosia was established by Krüger (2015), with Poliosia nigrifrons Hampson, 1900 as the type species. Initially comprising four taxa, it has now been reduced to three species (without pulverosa) plus two herein newly described species (see checklist hereafter).

The main autapomorphic character defining Pseudopoliosia is the ventrally concave vinculum in the male genitalia. Moreover, Krüger (2015) reports the “subapically notched dorsal part of the valvae” and the conspicuous processus distalis plicae, both conditions being observed in the two new species. Here we observe that the vesica of the aedeagus can contain cornuti, and we note the presence of at least one dimple-shaped signum on the corpus bursae of the female genitalia.

The genus has an Afrotropical distribution (Nigeria and Uganda, in Krüger 2015). The two new species hereafter described enlarge the genus’ range to include Gabon. Both of them confirm the genus’ affinity with wet forested environments (see also Durante & Panzera 2001: 469, Figs. 1–3, and Krüger 2015: 49).

Checklist of Pseudopoliosia species (alphabetic order)

- Pseudopoliosia aestuariensis Durante n. sp.

- Pseudopoliosia conica Durante n. sp.

- Pseudopoliosia danella (Durante & Panzera, 2002)

Pusiola danella Durante & Panzera, 2002; Durante, M.A. & Panzera, S. (2002) I Lepidotteri del Delta del Niger (quarto contributo) (Arctiidae, Lithosiinae). Lambillionea, 102 (2), 136.

Pseudopoliosia danella (Durante & Panzera, 2002); Krüger, M. (2015) Generic classification of Afrotropical footman moths sensu stricto (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini (partim)). Transvaal Museum Monograph, 15: 49. - Pseudopoliosia nigeriana (Durante & Panzera, 2002)

Pusiola nigeriana Durante & Panzera, 2002; Durante, M.A. & Panzera, S. (2002) I Lepidotteri del Delta del Niger (quarto contributo) (Arctiidae, Lithosiinae). Lambillionea, 102 (2): 137.

Pusiola nigeriana Durante & Panzera, 2002, synonymized with Pusiola nigrifrons (Hampson, 1900) by Kühne (2005).

Pseudopoliosia nigeriana (Durante & Panzera, 2002); Krüger, M. (2015) Generic classification ofAfrotropical footman moths sensu stricto (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini (partim)). Transvaal Museum Monograph, 15: 49. - Pseudopoliosia nigrifrons (Hampson, 1900), type species

Poliosia nigrifrons Hampson, 1900; Hampson, G. F. (1900) Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Arctiadae (Nolinae, Lithosianae). Vol. II. Trustees of the British Museum, London: 109.

Pusiola nigrifrons (Hampson, 1900); Kühne L. (2005) Neue Taxa und Synonyne afrikanischer Arctiidae (Lepidoptera). Lambillionea, 105 (3): 490.

Pseudopoliosia nigrifrons (Hampson, 1900); Krüger, M. (2015) Generic classification of Afrotropical footman moths sensu stricto (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini (partim)). Transvaal Museum Monograph, 15: 49.

Key to Pseudopoliosia species (wings)

(Figures in Table 1)

The following key is to be considered tentative: although the wing colours seem quite stable within the species, many species are described on the basis of only one or very few specimens, leaving a degree of uncertainty regarding intraspecific variation.

1. Forewing upperside ground colour different from hindwing ground colour........................................ 2

- Upperside ground colour quite similar in fore- and hindwings.................................................. 3

2(1). Forewings with costa straw yellow.................................................................. danella

- Forewings with costa concolourous with upperside ground colour...................................... conica n.sp.

3(1). Wing upperside ground colour grey-white........................................................... nigrifrons

- Wing upperside ground colour from ivory to light brown...................................................... 4

4(3) Wing upperside ground colour ivory (slightly darker and warmer than nigrifrons)....................... nigeriana n.sp.

- Wing upperside ground colour light brown (slightly darker than nigeriana)......................... aestuariensis n.sp.

Key to Pseudopoliosia species (male genitalia)

(Figures in Table 1)

1. Ala valvae with long S-shaped process (more than 1/3 of the total length of the ala valvae)........................... 2

- Ala valvae process short (about 1/5 of the total length of the ala valvae), thorn-like................................. 3

2(1). Aedeagus with cornutus........................................................................... danella

- Aedeagus without cornutus............................................................... aestuariensis n.sp.

3(1). Distal end of supravalva finger-like with sparse, fairly smooth setae............................................. 4 - Distal end of supravalva sub-oval with one margin (morphologically the dorsal one—see description) densely covered in thick setae and spines (arrows in Table 1)............................................................. conica n. sp.

4(3). Distal process of the ala valva large, reinforced by a thick V-shaped crested sclerotization (arrow in Table 1)...... nigeriana

- Distal process of the ala valva slender, with an X-shaped reinforcement (arrow in Table 1).................... nigrifrons

Key to the species of Pseudopoliosia (female genitalia)

(Figures in Table 1)

Pseudopoliosia aestuariensis n. sp. and P. nigeriana are not included as the female is unknown.

1. Bursa copulatrix with one dimple-shaped signum............................................................ 2

- Bursa copulatrix with one double dimple-shaped signum........................................... conica n. sp.

2(1). Ductus bursae short, highly sclerified.............................................................. nigrifrons

- Ductus bursae long, membranous.................................................................... danella