THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 15 



Madagascar! faunae and an examination of the type-species of all the world genera. 

 Some modifications may be necessary when other faunal regions are studied. 



Argyrotypinae 



The species in this subfamily have previously been placed in different subfamilies 

 (p. 34). This subfamily contains medium to large moths (wing, 13-36 mm) 

 usually with a strongly reticulate wing pattern. 



Subfamily description. Proboscis usually reduced or absent. Labial palps 3-segmented. 

 Eyes without interfacetal hairs. Ocelli usually absent. Antennae pectinate, lamellate or 

 dentate, never minutely ciliate. Fore tibia with epiphysis. Hind tibia with one or two pairs 

 of spurs, often with tips strongly sclerotized and pointed. Tarsi without spines. Hind wing 

 with Sc+Rt and Rs free. Frenulum present. Male genitalia with simple uncus. Gnathus 

 absent. Valves broad with prominent median process. Aedeagus with lateral process. Fe- 

 male with anal papillae strongly folded. Ostium usually surrounded by sclerotized plate. 

 Bursa simple, duct usually short, signum absent. 



This subfamily is known only from Africa and Madagascar and contains two genera, 

 Chrysotypus and Neochrysotypus. 



Pachythyrinae 



This subfamily includes the following genera: Dysodia Clemens; Thyris Laspeyres; 

 Glanycus Walker; Hyperthyris Leech; and possibly Gippius Walker. It contains 

 small to medium-sized moths (wing 8-20 mm), mostly rather fat-bodied species, 

 often with prominent translucent areas in their wings. 



Subfamily description. Proboscis usually present. Labial palps 3-segmented. Eyes 

 without interfacetal hairs. Ocelli present or absent. Antennae pectinate, dentate, lamellate 

 or minutely ciliate. Fore tibia with ephiphysis. Hind tibia with two pairs of spurs. Tarsi 

 usually with rows of spines. Hind wing with Sc+R 1 and Rs free. Frenulum present. Male 

 genitalia with simple uncus. Gnathus present or absent. A dorsal process (previously termed 

 "dorsal hump", Whalley, 1968) on the tegumen appears as a long or short blind-ending diverti- 

 culum, immediately posterior to the uncus. Valves simple, no median process. Females with 

 simple, unfolded anal papillae, without much sclerotization round ostium. Bursa usually with 

 secondary sac. Signum present or absent. 



Although this subfamily is pantropical in range there are relatively few species 

 (but still more than the preceding subfamily), mostly in the genus Dysodia. The 

 size of the dorsal process on the tegumen of the male genitalia varies but this structure 

 has not been found in any other subfamily and its significance is not known. 



Striglinae 



This subfamily contains the following genera: Banisia Walker; Neobanisia 

 Whalley; Striglina Guenee; Canaea Walker and Mathoris Guenee. The wing 

 measurement of species in these genera range from 6-18 mm. 



Subfamily description. Proboscis present. Labial palps 3-segmented. Eyes with or 

 without interfacetal hairs. Ocelli present or absent. Antennae pectinate, minutely ciliate 

 or ciliate. Fore tibia with epiphysis. Hind tibia usually with two pairs of spurs. Tarsi with 

 rows of spines or with apical pair of spines on each tarsal segment, never without spines. Hind 



