THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 63 



Banisia aldabrana (Fryer) comb. n. 



Rhodoneura aldabrana Fryer, 1912 : 21. 



The subspecies described below are separated on the basis of size and colour, 

 otherwise they are morphologically similar. B. aldabrana was regarded as endemic 

 to Aldabra (Legrand, 1965) but specimens from the mainland differ very little from 

 those from Aldabra, and there is also some overlap in the size of the two subspecies. 



Key to the Subspecies of BANISIA ALDABRANA Fryer 



1 Wing 7-5-11 mm. Pale grey to dark grey ..... a. carta (p. 64) 



- Wing under 7-5 mm. Reddish brown . . . . .a. aldabrana (p. 63) 



Banisia aldabrana aldabrana (Fryer) stat. n. 



(PI. i, E; PI. 29, fig. 155; PI. 52, figs 299, 300) 



Rhodoneura aldabrana Fryer, 191 2 : 21. 

 Betousa aldabrana (Fryer) Gaede, 1929 : 496. 

 Rhodoneura aldabrana Fryer; Legrand, 1965 : 88. 



(J. Wing, 7-7-5 mm. Vertex brown. Antennae minutely pectinate. Labial palps short, 

 approximately equal to diameter of eye, third segment 1/3 length of second. Frons slightly 

 produced between eyes. Thorax brown. Hind tibia with outer spur of distal pair 1/2 length 

 of inner spur. Fore wing, pattern as in PI. 1, E, reddish brown with darker brown transverse 

 lines. Underside with darker subapical patch, otherwise similar to upper. Radial veins from 

 cell. Hind wing, pattern as fore wing, Sc+R 1 and Rs approach but do not touch. 



Genitalia <$ (PI. 29, fig. 155). Uncus bifid. Socii prominent with long scales. Gnathus 

 weakly sclerotized. Median basal process on valve curved, prominent inward projecting peg 

 from this process. Aedeagus with minute spines in vesica. 



$. Wing, 10-10-5 mm. Pattern as in male but much more reddish in colour. Labial palps 

 i\ X diameter of eye. 



Genitalia ? (PI. 52, figs 299, 300). Anal papillae short. Ostium slightly sclerotized. Duct 

 long. Bursa with large signum consisting of small sclerotized plates, each with a small spine. 

 Secondary sac present on bursa. 



Discussion. This species has very similar genitalia to B. myrsusalis elaralis, 

 differing mainly in the shape of the median basal process of the valve and the lack 

 of the long spines at the apex of the gnathus arms. Although no differences could 

 be found in the genitalia of the male specimens from Africa from those of Aldabra, 

 there is generally a difference in size and colour. The Aldabran specimens tend to 

 be smaller and more reddish brown, while the African specimens are distinctly grey. 

 This is particularly true of the female specimens from Aldabra, which are a very 

 reddish brown, but unfortunately no females from Africa were available for com- 

 parison. The separation of these two subspecies is therefore on very slight 

 differences. 



Distribution. Map 29. Aldabra (Seychelles Islands). 



Material examined. 



LECTOTYPE <$, here designated, Seychelles: Aldabra (Fryer) (Percy Sladen 

 Trust Expedition), BM slide no. 9821, in BMNH. 



