THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 51 



STRIGLINAE 



The characteristics of this subfamily are given on p. 15. The species in the genera 

 of this subfamily are widespread; from Africa and Madagascar throughout the Indo- 

 Pacific region and two of the genera have species in the Neotropical region. One of 

 the distinctive features of species in this subfamily is the highly modified male 

 genitalia. 



MAT HO RIS Guenee 



Mathoris Guenee, 1877 : 282. Type-species, M. roseola Felder & Rogenhofer, by subsequent 



designation, Whalley, 1964a: 122. 



Mathoris Guenee; Pagenstecher, 1892 : 36. 



Mathoris Guenee; Hampson, 1897 : 611. 



Mathoris Guenee; Dalle Torre, 1914 : 9. 



Mathoris Guenee; Gaede, 191 7 : 374. 



[Heteroschista sensu Gaede, 1917 : 374, nee Warren, 1903]. 



Mathoris Guenee; Gaede, 1929 : 497. 



Mathoris Guenee; Whalley, 1964a : 122. 



This genus contains only one species in Africa. Morphologically Mathoris is a 

 very distinct genus, differing from all other genera in the family in the shape of the 

 eye, which is flattened on the posterior margin in Mathoris, while being practically 

 circular in all other genera. The African species differs from the type of the genus 

 from S. America in the shape of the uncus in the male and in the shape of the ostium 

 on the female. In spite of these differences the African and South American species 

 share many common morphological features which suggest that the species may be 

 closely related rather than that they show convergent resemblances. These features 

 are also shared by Mathoris ignepicta Hampson (comb, n.) from India. 



At present this genus consists of four species, all rather similar externally. Two 

 species are from South America, one from India and one from Africa. 



Generic description. Labial palps 3-segmented. Eyes flattened on posterior margin, 

 slightly reniform, without interfacetal hairs. Fore tibia with epiphysis. Hind tibia with two 

 pairs of spurs. Tarsi each with a pair of apical spines. Fore wing with R 2 +R 3 . Hind wing 

 with Sc + R X and Rs joining for part of length. Male with well developed socii in the genitalia. 



Biology. No information is available on the African species but in India, 

 M. ignepicta has been bred from Mimusops ( = Manilkara) elengi Adans (Sapotaceae) 

 (these specimens are in BMNH). It is interesting that in the other Thyridid genus, 

 Banisia, with species in Africa, America and India, the host plant is also a species 

 of Sapotaceae. 



Mathoris magica Gaede 



(PI. 5, figs 13, 14; PI. 28, fig. 147, PI. 50, fig. 287, Text-fig. 3) 



Mathoris magica Gaede, 1917 : 381. 

 Mathoris magica Gaede; Gaede, 1929 : 497. 



cj. Wing, 7-5-8 mm. Vertex black. Antennae minutely ciliate. Labial palps 3-segmented, 

 third segment 1/4 length of second segment, upturned, just reaching vertex. Frons shortened, 

 proboscis originating at front of head close below antennae. Eyes flattened on posterior margin 

 and slightly reniform in some specimens (Text-fig. 3). Thorax black. Hind tibia thickened 



