172 P. E. S. WHALLEY 



genitalia are quite distinct. The large gnathus is a similar development to that in 

 helvella but the shapes are different in these two species. 



Distribution. Map 12. Democratic Republic of the Congo; Angola. 



Material examined. 



Holotype $, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Elisabeth ville, 26.iii.1936 

 (Seydel), BM slide no. 10552, in MRAC. 

 Paratype, Angola: i <$, Mt Moco, Luimbale, 1800-1900 m, 16.iii.1934 (Jordan). 



SINECALCA gen. n. 



Type-species, Sinecalca insolita sp. n. 



Although two new species are described in this genus, one of them (S. confusa) 

 differs in a number of characters from the type-species and further material of 

 this species is needed to evaluate its generic position. Basically the genus Sinecalca 

 contains two species where the frenulum is absent in both sexes. Both species have 

 some morphological similarities, with long, slender bodies, similar wing shapes and 

 similar genitalia. However, apart from differences in the origin of the radial veins 

 of the wing, the epiphysis on the fore tibia is absent in both sexes of S. insolita. 



The loss of the frenulum has not been found in any other Thyridid genus in Africa 

 and the loss of the epiphysis is peculiar to S. insolita. The frenulum is lost in some 

 species in other families of the Lepidoptera, e. g. Drepanidae (Watson, 1965 : 5), 

 apart from the families in which the frenulum is absent in all species (e. g. Hepialidae). 

 The loss of the epiphysis occurs occasionally in other families of Lepidoptera, e.g. 

 Drepanidae, Nidarinae (Watson, 1965). Both species of Sinecalca differ in the num- 

 ber of pairs of spurs on the hind tibia, S. confusa has two pairs but S. insolita has 

 only one pair on the hind tibia, this condition is found in several Thyridid genera and 

 is characteristic of the genus Cecidothyris. 



The relationship of the genus Sinecalca with the other genera in the Thyrididae is 

 not clear. It shows some special characters but it also has characters in common 

 with other genera. The genitalia are similar to some of the species of Cecidothyris 

 and the genus Sinecalca is thus placed tentatively near that genus. However, 

 since both these genera have certain peculiar specializations (? simplifications), 

 speculation on their affinities is of little value at present. 



The genus is known at present only from the mainland of Africa. 



Generic description. Proboscis reduced. Eyes without interfacetal hairs. Labial palps 

 3-segmented. Antennae ciliate or monopectinate. Frenulum absent. Fore tibia with or 

 without epiphysis. Hind tibia with one or two pairs of spurs. Tarsi without spines. 

 Radial veins of fore wing from cell or with R 3 + R t . Gnathus in male, weakly sclerotized loop. 

 Female without signum in bursa. 



Biology. No information. 



Key to the African Species of SINECALCA 



1 Epiphysis on fore tibia. R 3 and i? 4 in fore wing from cell . . . confusa (p. 173) 



- No epiphysis on fore tibia. R 3 +R t in fore wing with common stem . insolita (p. 173) 



