THYRIDIDAE OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS 171 



Genitalia £ (PI. 46, fig. 260). Uncus simple, stout and broad at base. Gnathus highly 

 modified and sclerotized with two long lateral posterior projecting processes, usually reaching 

 to or beyond base of juxta. Juxta two sclerotized lateral lobes. Valve broader at apex. 

 Sacculus process sclerotized. Prominent, sclerotized, median basal process with three arms, 

 anterior pair more heavily sclerotized than posterior pair. Aedeagus with minute spines on 

 manica. 



$. Wing, 10-5-1 1-5 mm. Third segment of labial palp 1/2 length of second. Colour and 

 pattern as in male. 



Genitalia $ (PI. 64, figs 407, 408). Anal papillae short, sclerotized "shield" present dorsal 

 to anal papillae. Ostium simple. Bursa with patches of spines. 



Discussion. This species is related to fiscinella from which it can be distinguished 

 by its colour and pattern and by the shape of the gnathus in the male. The female 

 of fiscinella is unknown. Externally this species is similar to many other African 

 Thyrididae in general appearance but the male genitalia are quite distinct. The 

 remarkable development of the gnathus in this species together with the sacculus 

 process projecting from the edge of the valve is unusual. In the female the de- 

 velopment of the sclerotized shield over the base of the anal papilla has not been 

 found in any other species. There is some small variation in the size and pattern of 

 the specimens from Rhodesia and Cameroon. 



Distribution. Map 12. Cameroon; Mozambique; Malawi; Rhodesia. 



Material examined. 



Holotype^, Malawi: Mt Mlanje, 24.iv.1913 (Neave), BM slide no. 9599, in BMNH. 



Paratypes. Malawi: i $, locality as type, 15.iv.1913; 1 $, locality as type, 

 12.ii.1914; 1 <$, Mkuwadzi Forest, Nkata Bay, 12. v. 1966, in NMR. 



Material not included in the type-series. Cameroon: i <$, Efulen, i.1916 (Weber), 

 in CMP; Mozambique: i <$, Busi R., Chirinda, x.1953 (Pinhey); Rhodesia: i $, 

 Glenlivet, xi.1955, in NMR. 



Gnathodes fiscinella sp. n. 



(PI. 22, fig. 116; PI. 46, fig. 261) 



cJ. Wing, 10—10-5 mm. Vertex blackish brown, frons not projecting between eyes. An- 

 tennae shortly ciliated. Labial palps strongly upturned reaching vertex, third segment 1/3 

 length of second. Patagia and prothorax black, rest of thorax lighter coloured. Hind tibia 

 with outer spur of distal pair 1/2 length of inner spur, each spur with sclerotized point. Tarsi 

 smooth. Fore wing, pattern as in PI. 22, fig. 116, black with darker transverse maculations, 

 underside paler, patch of black and silver scales in cell. Veins R 3 and i? 4 with short common 

 stalk. Hind wing, colour and pattern as fore wing, but lacking black and silver scales on 

 underside. Sc+R x and Rs approach closely but do not fuse. 



Genitalia <J (PL 46, fig. 261). Uncus elongate and sclerotized. Gnathus highly modified 

 and sclerotized with long median and two lateral projections and one anterior projection. 

 Juxta, narrow plate, with two small lateral lobes. Valves modified. Sacculus process sclero- 

 tized, prominent lateral sclerotized process from sclerotized costal margin of base of valve. 

 Aedeagus with minute spines in vesica. 



$. Unknown. 



Discussion. Externally this species is similar to Neobanisia fuliginea but the 



