164 P. E. S. WHALLEY 



This genus contains six species in Africa. Opula Walker has, until recently, been 

 regarded as a junior synonym of Rhodoneura Guenee. As a result it is possible that 

 there are species from the Oriental region, at present in the genus Rhodoneura, 

 which should be transferred to Opula. Species of the genus Opula can be dis- 

 tinguished from Rhodoneura by the absence of spines on the tarsal segments, these 

 are present in Rhodoneura. The two species of the genus known from Madagascar 

 (0. chopardi Viette and 0. lineata Whalley) differ slightly from the African species in 

 the shape of the female genitalia. It is possible that the Madagascan species should 

 be placed in a separate subgenus but this will have to wait for the collection and 

 study of more material. 



The genus Opula is known only from Africa and Madagascar. It shows some 

 similarities with Sijua Whalley, differing primarily in the development of the 

 signum in the females. The African species of Opula all look rather similar and have 

 a mostly West African distribution. 



Generic description. Labial palps 3-segmented. Proboscis present. Eyes without 

 interfacetal hairs. Fore wing with radial veins from cell. Fore tibia with epiphysis. Hind 

 tibia with two pairs of spurs. Tarsal segments without spines. Male with a simple uncus. 

 Gnathus present. Juxta usually with incurved apices to the lateral lobes. Female with 

 prominent spiny signum in bursa. 



Biology. Larvae of 0. spilotata have been bred from leaves of rice in Nigeria. 



Key to the African Species of OPULA 



1 Wing over 20 mm ........... 2 



- Wing under 20 mm ........... 3 



2 (1) Prominent black spot over apex of cell of fore wing . . monsterosa (p. 169) 



- No black spot on fore wing ....... hebes (p. 168) 



3 (1) Black spots on fore wing subapically, often a row of black spots subterminally. 



Male with strong hooked median basal process on valve. Female with trans- 

 verse signum in anterior third of bursa nearer duct . . spilotata (p. 166) 



- No black spots in fore wing. Median basal process not hooked. Signum trans- 



verse or oblique near middle of bursa ....... 4 



4 (3) Hind wings lighter coloured than fore wing, less heavily patterned scardialis (p. 167) 



- Fore and hind wings similarly coloured ....... 5 



5 (4) Over 13 mm wing. Edges of valve of male roughly parallel. Female with 



strong transverse signum in posterior 1/3 of bursa . . impletalis (p. 164) 



- Wing less than 13 mm. Male with valve narrowing towards apex. Female 



with oblique signum ....... perigrapha (p. 165) 



Opula impletalis Walker 

 (PL 21, fig. 109; PL 45, fig. 253; PL 66, figs 422, 423) 



Opula impletalis Walker, 1869 : 371. 

 Rhodoneura impletalis (Walker) Hampson, 1897 : 618. 

 Rhodoneura micragraphalis Hampson, 1897 : 619, syn. n. 

 Rhodoneura impletalis (Walker); Dalle Torre, 1914 : 25. 

 Rhodoneura micragraphalis Hampson; Dalle Torre, 1914 : 26. 

 Rhodoneura impletalis (Walker); Gaede, 1917 : 364. 

 Rhodoneura micragraphalis Hampson; Gaede, 1917 : 364. 



