THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 137 



wing rather narrow usually with R t +R 5 . Fore tibia with epiphysis. Hind tibia with proximal 

 spurs reduced. Tarsi without spines. Gnathus present in male genitalia. Bursa of female 

 minutely spined. 



Biology. No information. 



Key to the African Species and Subspecies of BUPOTA 



1 Sandy-yellow colour, reticulations indistinct .... galbana (p. 138) 

 Brown or orange-brown, often with white maculations ..... 2 



2 (1) Brown, maculations indistinct. Wing over 10-5 mm 



tranquilla tranquilla (p. 137) 

 Orange-brown, distinct white maculations. Wing under 10-5 mm 



tranquilla scripta (p. 138) 



Bupota tranquilla sp. n. 



This species is divided into two subspecies on the basis of the colour pattern 

 and the shape of the juxta. B. t. scripta is smaller than the nominate subspecies 

 and more orange-brown with distinct maculations. It is possible, that when more 

 material is examined, the status of the two subspecies will have to be revised. B. 

 tranquilla has a very distinctive wing shape and the shape of the basal process in the 

 male genitalia separate it from other African Thyrididae. 



Bupota tranquilla tranquilla ssp. n. 



(PI. 14, fig. 71; PI. 40, fig. 222; PI. 63, fig. 391) 



o*. Wing, IO-5-I3-5 mm. Vertex brown with white scales in line across vertex from base of 

 antennae. Antennae moderately ciliate. Frons flattened between eyes. Proboscis reduced. 

 Labial palps very short, equal to diameter of eye, third segment only slightly longer than second. 

 Patagia brown with white posterior band. Thorax brown. Hind tibia with one distal pair of 

 spurs, outer spur almost equal in length to inner spur. Fore wing, pattern as in PI. 14, fig. 71, 

 dark reddish brown with small, inconspicuous, white maculations. Terminal margin dark, 

 longer part of fringe white. Costal margin narrowly white with white spots. Underside, as 

 upperside, maculations slightly clearer. Hind wings, colour as fore wing but with blacker 

 scales near posterior angle. Underside paler than upper but with distinct black and white 

 maculations in posterior area. Sc+R t and Rs free. 



Genitalia $ (PI. 40, fig. 222). Uncus simple. Gnathus a lightly sclerotized loop, no medial 

 process. Valve simple, prominent sclerotized basal process with conspicuous rounded sclero- 

 tized plate near juxta. Juxta with sclerotized lateral lobes, spiny at apex. Aedeagus with 

 strongly spined manica. 



$. Wing, 10 mm. Colour and pattern as male. 



Genitalia $ (PI. 63, fig. 391). Anal papillae short. Ostium with lightly sclerotized edge. 

 First part of neck lightly sclerotized. Bursa without spines. 



Discussion. The single pair of spurs on the hind tibia, the reduced proboscis 

 and small labial palps separate this species from K. maculanota. The male genitalia 

 of B. t. tranquilla and B. t. scripta are similar but the shape of the juxta is slightly 

 different. Some colour variation exists in the series of B. t. tranquilla and the single 

 female is much smaller than the male. The reduction of the tibial spur also occurs 

 in C. subscripta. 



