54 P. E. S. WHALLEY 



?. Wing, 10-5-1 1*5 mm. Head, labial palps, colour and pattern as in male. Frenulum 

 double. 



Genitalia $ (PI. 50, figs 290, 291). Anal papillae short. Ostium highly modified and 

 sclerotized and enclosed partly in a capsule formed by the VIHth segment. Central spiny 

 process truncate, with two lateral sclerotized "wings" on each side. Anterior to the process 

 are many small spines and one large spine on each side of the VIHth segment. These spines 

 may be broken off but the enlarged holes where they were inserted are always visible. Duct 

 of bursa long, convulute. Bursa with signum consisting of large area of lightly sclerotized plates 

 with two or more heavily sclerotized plates, strongly indented. 



Discussion. The colour and pattern separate this species from any other African 

 Thyridid. The male genitalia are typical of species of Neobanisia but the strongly 

 spined base of the valve separates it from the others in the genus. Little variation 

 in colour or pattern was found. N. fuliginea is closely allied to A7. inoptata but can 

 be distinguished by colour and pattern, the male of inoptata is unknown. The 

 structure of the frons is shown in Text-fig. 1 andP 1. 24, figs 127-129, this is unique 

 in the African Thyrididae. 



Distribution. Map 27. Ghana. 



Material examined. 



Holotype^, Ghana: N. Territories, Kete-Krachi (Cardinall), BM slide no. 10067, i n 

 BMNH. 



Paratypes, Ghana: 7 <$, 15 $, data as holotype. 



Neobanisia joccatia sp. n. 



(PI. 6, fig. 22; PI. 28, fig. 148; PI. 50, figs 288, 289) 



<J. Wing, 11-5-13 mm. Vertex grey-brown. Labial palps nearly 2 x diameter of eye, third 

 segment 1/3 length of second. Frons with tuft of scales produced between eyes. Patagia 

 grey-brown, rest of thorax orange-brown. Hind tibia with scale tuft, outer spur of distal pair 

 less than 1/2 length of inner spur. Inner spur of distal pair long, almost equal to first hind 

 tarsal segment. Fore wing, pattern as in PI. 6, fig. 22, orange-brown with darker transverse 

 fascia. Terminal margin with dark line, fringe with shorter scales red-tipped, longer scales 

 brown. Basal area of wing paler. Underside paler, broad, slightly lilac tinged subterminal 

 fascia, darker subapical area. Veins R 2 and R 3 with common stalk. Hind wing, pattern as 

 fore wing but outer part of fringe white, underside paler. Sc+Ri and Rs run together for part 

 of length. 



Genitalia q* (PI- 28, fig. 148). Uncus simple, strongly angled and rather truncate. Socii 

 well developed. Gnathus arms weakly sclerotized, not joining in mid-line. Valve simple, costal 

 margin with sclerotized process at base, median basal process sclerotized. Juxta, a simple 

 plate. Base of sacculus heavily spined. Aedeagus with small sclerotized cornutus covered 

 with spines. Manica sclerotized and strongly toothed, apex of aedeagus with long, sclerotized, 

 toothed plate. 



$. Wing, 12-14 mm. Colour and pattern as male. Labial palps 2 X diameter of eye. 

 Frenulum triple. 



Genitalia $ (PI. 50, figs 288, 289). Anal papillae short. VIHth segment sclerotized. 

 Ostium strongly sclerotized and spiny with prominent lateral processes at edge of opening. 

 Duct covered with minute spines, long, sinuous. Indistinct, lightly sclerotized, oval area of 

 plates with small spines, forming signum. 



Discussion. Externally this species is similar to Banisia myrtea Drury from 

 India but the genitalia are distinct. The modification of the VIHth segment round 



