REVISION OF AFRICAN SPECIES OF CLEORA g 



on the Comoro Is., and three species in the Gulf of Guinea, tamsi on Principe I., and 

 viettei and prosema on Sao Thome I. Subcincta subcincta is an endemic subspecies 

 on Sao Thome I. and the most widely distributed species, rothkirchi, is represented 

 by an endemic subspecies on the island of Socotra and by another on Madagascar. 

 The other species occurring on Madagascar, quadrimacidata, is distributed also on 

 the coasts of East Cape Province and Natal ; this limited distribution, without 

 any apparent subspeciation, suggests that its arrival in continental Africa is of 

 recent origin. 



Biology. 



Little is known of the biology of the Ethiopian species of Chora ; herbuloti is 

 known to have defoliated introduced timber trees, Pinus patula and species of 

 Eucalyptus, showing an adaptability comparable with the African forest dwelling 

 species of Buzura, B. abruptaria Walker and B. edwardsi Prout, which extensively 

 damaged introduced softwoods in Western Uganda in 1961 (W. K. Brown, 1962, 

 Uganda Forest Department, Technical Note No. 99 (62) ; 1-8, figs.). 



Species-Groups. 



Among the Ethiopian species of Cleora a number of species-groups are recognizable, 

 but there remain nevertheless several species which appear to be structurally remote 

 and which it has not been possible to place with any certainty. 



The acaciaria group, which includes acaciaria, transversaria, betularia and flavi- 

 venata, possesses in common in the male genitalia a smoothly tapered process on the 

 sacculus, partially enclosed in a membranous fold from the ventral margin of the 

 valve. In the female genitalia there is a simple lamella postvaginalis and a well- 

 developed colliculum, tapered anteriorly ; papillifer and cancer are included on the 

 basis of the male genitalia ; melanochorda is included on the basis of habitus and on 

 the form of the process on the sacculus, but differs in not having the membranous 

 fold on the valve developed. The distribution of the acaciaria group is shown on 

 Map 1. 



Allied to the preceding is the oculata group, which includes oculata, anacantha, 

 prosema and epiclithra. In the male genitalia the process on the sacculus extends 

 parallel with the ventral margin of the valve and is partially enclosed in a mem- 

 branous fold ; the apex of the process is incurved and bears a dense cluster of spines. 

 The female of epiclithra is unknown, but the genitalia of the other three species are 

 diverse in form. Carcassoni is tentatively associated with the oculata group ; the 

 ventral fold is present and the aedeagus is similar to that of anacantha. The distri- 

 bution of the group is shown on Map 2. 



Species of the raphis group, which includes raphis, aculeata and panarista, are 

 recognizable in the male by the presence of a coarsely scobinate area just basad of 

 the cucullus and a stout tapered process on the sacculus ; in the female the series 

 of concentric, medial ridges on the lamella postvaginalis and the form of the ostium 

 bursae are distinctive. Echinodes and boetschi are placed in the raphis group on 

 the basis of the male genitalia. Quadrimacidata and lacrymata are associated 



