THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 35 



CHRYSOTYPUS Butler 



Chrysotypus Butler, 1879 : 240. Type-species, Chrysotypus dives Butler, by original designation. 



Argyrotypus Butler, 1879 : 241. Type-species, Argyrotypus locuples Butler, by original desig- 

 nation. (Synonymized by Whalley, 1964a : 118.) 



Proterozeuxis Warren, 1899a : 7. Type-species, Proterozeuxis splendida Warren, by original 

 designation. (Synonymized by Whalley, 1964a: 118.) 



Chrysotypus Butler; Whalley, 1967 : 4. 



This genus has a very complicated taxonomic history (Whalley, 1967 : 4). Mor- 

 phologically this genus, together with the newly described Neochrysotypus, is very 

 distinct from other genera in the Thyrididae and the older genus has previously 

 been referred to a family of its own (Chrysotypidae, Berger, 1957) or placed in a 

 different family (Cossidae, Bryk, 1937). All the characters of the genera (with the 

 possible exception of the characteristically shaped aedeagus) appear in other genera 

 in varying degrees of development but together in the Argyrotypinae produce a 

 very distinct group. 



In view of these differences I am retaining the Argyrotypinae as a separate sub- 

 family of the Thyrididae as previously used (Whalley, 1967), with Chrysotypus and 

 Neochrysotypus. 



Chrysotypus can be readily separated from Neochrysotypus by the shape of the 

 antennae and the presence or absence of the modifications of the transtilla. Extern- 

 ally the species of Chrysotypus, most of which have a typical reticulate pattern, are 

 less distinct from the other Thyrididae than is indicated by the structure of the 

 genitalia. The genitalia in the males of Chrysotypus tend to be rather uniform 

 between different species with only small specific differences. 



Chrysotypus is only known from Africa and Madagascar. Eighteen species are 

 known, of which nine are endemic to Madagascar, while the others are African 

 endemics with various distributions. The most widespread species is C. dawsoni, 

 while some of the other species seem to be very localized, but lack of collections 

 makes this difficult to assess. C. luteofuscus, C. quadratus and C. circumfuscus have 

 a distinct rain-forest distribution, while C. subflavus is restricted to the drier parts 

 of South West Africa. 



The main difference between the African and Madagascan species of this genus 

 is in the greater development of this bifid form of the aedeagus in Madagascan 

 species, whereas in African species this is often reduced to a small lateral projection. 



Generic description. Proboscis usually absent or reduced. Eyes without interfacetal 

 hairs. Antennae pectinate, lamellate or dentate, never minutely ciliate ("simple") in the 

 male, occasionally so in the female. Labial palps 3-segmented. Fore tibia with epiphysis. 

 Hind tibia with one or two pairs of spurs. Tarsi without spines. Male genitalia with simple 

 uncus. Gnathus very reduced or absent. Valves broad with prominent median process. 

 Juxta usually with prominent lateral arms. Aedeagus either strongly bifid or with prominent 

 lateral process, never completely smooth. Female with strongly folded (crenellate) anal 

 papillae with sclerotized collar round opening of ductus bursae. Duct short, signum absent. 



Biology. Nothing is known of the biology of the African species. In Mada- 

 gascar, C. caryophyllae Frappa is a pest of Eugenia caryophyllae Thunb. (Myrtaceae) 

 and some data on times of occurence of the Madagascan species are given by Whalley 

 (1967 : 10), with details of life history by Frappa (1954b : 128). 



