THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 149 



Holotype $, West Africa {Dudgeon), 1908, BM slide no. 9618, in BMNH. 

 1 $, no data, probably West Africa, in CMP. 



NEMEA gen. n. 



Type-species, Rhodoneura eugrapha Hampson. 



This genus contains five species but the females of two of them are unknown. 

 It is related to Sijua, from which it can be separated by the lack of the Y-shaped 

 tergite in the males and by the length of the gnathus, which is usually longer in 

 Nemea. Although in external pattern Nemea nivosa looks very similar to N. 

 eugrapha, there are several differences in the genitalia which are not found in other 

 species of Nemea. N . betousalis is unusual in the African Thyrididae in having 

 sexual dimorphism of pattern and colour. There is, however, some element of 

 doubt in the association of males and females in this species. Species of Nemea 

 are at present known only from Africa. 



Generic description. Eyes without interfacetal hairs. Antennae minutely ciliate. 

 Proboscis present. Labial palps 3-segmented. Fore tibia with epiphysis. Hind tibia with 

 two pairs of spurs. Tarsi without spines. Fore wing with radial vein usually from cell. Hind 

 margin of fore wing usually sinuous. Gnathus present, often elongate. Female with minutely 

 spined bursa. 



Biology. No information. 



Key to the African Species of NEMEA 



1 Large species, over 14 mm wing, ground colour snowy white, gnathus of male 



enlarged .......... nivosa (p. 151) 



Large or small species, ground colour usually other than white ... 2 



2 (1) Ciliate antennae in male. Genitalia as in PI. 43, fig. 242. Female usually with 



black patch medially on hind margin of fore wing . . betousalis (p. 153) 



- Minutely ciliate antennae. Genitalia not as above. Females without black 



patch on fore wing ........... 3 



3 (2) Ground colour pale yellow-brown. Prominent brown patch in angle formed by 



termen and hind margin of fore wing, narrow median fascia to fore wing 



eugrapha (p. 149) 



- Dark brown or purplish brown species ........ 4 



4 (3) Dark brown ground colour, gnathus without median process . . tamsi (p. 150) 



- Purplish brown ground colour. Gnathus with median process . ankole (p. 152) 



Nemea eugrapha (Hampson) comb. n. 

 (PI. 18, fig. 91; PL 42, figs 236-238; PI. 64, figs 401, 402) 



Rhodoneura eugrapha Hampson, 1906 : 118. 



Rhodoneura alenica Strand, 1913 : 59. (Synonymised by Gaede, 1917 : 359). 



Rhodoneura eugrapha Hampson; Dalle Torre, 1914 : 22. 



Rhodoneura thermographa Hampson, 1914 : in, syn. n. 



Rhodoneura alenica Strand; Gaede, 191 7 : 359. 



Rhodoneura eugrapha Hampson; Gaede, 1917 : 359. 



Rhodoneura thermographa Hampson; Gaede, 1917 : 364. 



Rhodoneura eugrapha Hampson; Gaede, 1929 : 491. 



Rhodoneura thermographa Hampson; Gaede, 1929 : 491. 



<J. Wing, 14-21 mm. Vertex pale brown. Labial palps with third segment 1/4 length of 



