Revision of Afrotropical Udea Guenée in Duponchel, 1845, with description of five new species of the U. ferrugalis (Hübner, 1796) group (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae)

Abstract

The Udea species (currently six) present in the Afrotropical realm are revised based on adults. Phlyctaenia epicoena Meyrick, 1937 syn. nov. is found to be identical with U. ferrugalis (Hübner, 1796). Udea delineatalis (Walker in Melliss 1875) and U. hageni Viette, 1952 are redescribed. In addition, five species of Udea are described as new to science: U. kirinyaga Mally sp. nov. from Mount Kenya in Kenya, U. nicholsae Mally sp. nov., U. meruensis Mally sp. nov. and U. momella Mally sp. nov., all three from Mount Meru in Tanzania, and U. namaquana Karisch & Mally sp. nov. from South Africa. A phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data and mitochondrial COI as well as the nuclear wingless gene, where available, places the new species in the U. ferrugalis species group, which also comprises U. ferrugalis as well as U. delineatalis from the oceanic island of St. Helena. Another island endemic, Udea hageni from Tristan da Cunha, is found to be a member of the U. numeralis group, as sister to U. numeralis. An additional synapomorphic character of the genitalia is recognised for the U. ferrugalis group. Udea infuscalis (Zeller, 1852) and U. melanostictalis (Hampson in Poulton 1916) are misplaced in Udea and transferred to Pyraustinae, as Lirabotys infuscalis comb. nov. and Achyra melanostictalis comb. nov., respectively. Adults, tympanic organs, and genitalia of both sexes, where available, are illustrated. A checklist summarises the now eight Afrotropical Udea species.