THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 117 



its smaller size and by the genitalia. The possible relationship of these two species 

 is discussed on page 115. 



Distribution. Map 60. Democratic Republic of the Congo ; Zambia. 



Material examined. 



LECTOTYPE <J, here designated, Democratic Republic of the Congo : Elisa- 

 bethville, 20.ii.1934 (Seydel), BM slide no. 10821, in MRAC. 



Democratic Republic of the Congo: i <J, Elisabethville, ii.1930 {Seydel), in 

 TMP; 1 $, Elisabethville, ii.1934 {Seydel) (paralectotype) ; 2 <$, Elisabethville, 2.iii. 

 1935 {Seydel), one <J in MRAC; 2 <J, Elisabethville, 22.iii.1935, in MRAC; 1 <$, 

 Elisabethville, 12. ix. 1936 {Seydel), in MRAC; 2 <$, Elisabethville, ii.1938 {Seydel), 

 one o* in MRAC; Zambia: 2<J, 1 $, Mwinilunga, Ikalenga, Zambezi Rapids, 24.1.1965, 

 one $, one $ in NMR. 



KUJA gen. n. 



Type-species, Rhodoneura gemmata Hampson. 



This genus, if restricted to two species {gemmata and catenula) is a very distinct 

 one with characteristic wing shape and male genitalia. However, for the present 

 I have enlarged the concept of the genus to include some other species (the squamigera- 

 group, p. 121). This latter group again presents a distinctive unit on external 

 pattern but it also provides a link with the gemmata-group in the structures of the 

 male genitalia. While externally the species of the squamigera-group are very 

 similar (PI. 13, figs 61 , 63 and 65) the genitalia of the species within the group are 

 very different. The question of the similarity of pattern being a convergent or 

 mimetic state must not be overlooked but with the evidence at present available 

 I am grouping the species in both groups in one genus. The pattern of the 

 squamigera-group is also found in species from other regions and further investigation 

 may reveal that they should be treated as belonging to a separate genus. With the 

 differences in genitalia of the males of the squamigera-group I prefer to regard the 

 genitalia as a variable character, grouping the species together on other characters. 

 Possibly an examination of the Indo-Australian fauna will show whether this type 

 of variation in the genitalia is intra-generic or whether new genera will have to be 

 erected for species of the squamigera-group. 



This genus is separated into the gemmata- and squamigera-groups. The gemmata- 

 group, with two species, has a very distinctive wing shape and genitalia. The 

 squamigera-group have a distinctive wing pattern but show greater divergence in the 

 shape of the male genitalia. 



The genus Kuja does not show close affinities with any other African genus. In 

 some respects it is similar to the heterogeneous genus, Sijua, but this genus lacks 

 the black and silver scaling under the fore wing so characteristic of species of Kuja. 

 The females of these genera show differences in the duct of the bursa, these have 

 small sclerotized plates on them in Sijua but they are smooth in Kuja. 



Most of the species of Kuja are West African, the exceptions are K. hamatipex 

 which is known only from the holotype from the Somali Republic, K. squamigera 

 which is Southern African in distribution and K. carcassoni from East Africa. The 



