Blastobasis chuka Adamski

Blastobasis chuka Adamski

DIAGNOSIS. Blastobasis chuka is most similar to B. glauconotata but differs from the latter by having a more angular digitate process of the upper part of the valva, a wider microtrichiate part of the lower part of the valva, a slightly longer aedeagus, a more acutely curved aedeagus, and female with an antrum that is cuplike.

DESCRIPTION.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales brownish gray tipped with pale brown; labial palpus with outer surface of segments I and II brown intermixed with pale brownish gray scales to apical margin, segment III pale brown; inner surface pale brown; scape of antenna pale brownish gray, flagellum pale gray; male first flagellomere dilated, forming a notch between itself and flagellomeres 2–4. Proboscis pale brownish gray.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum brown intermixed with pale brown scales. Legs brown with a pale brown band on apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 44) length 6.3–8.2 mm (n = 6), submedian fascia faint, complete, chevron shaped; basal 1/3 from base to submedian fascia pale brown intermixed with a few brown scales, distal 2/3 from submedian fascia to margin brown intermixed with a few pale brown scales; cell with two faint, small spots on distal end near crossvein; submarginal spots faint. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 16): Uncus wide basally, narrowing apically, acutely curved subapically, apex rounded narrowly; gnathos narrow, dorsoventral margin shallowly bidentate medially; dorsal strut present; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part produced into a setose, digitate process; lower part of valva moderately wide, subventral area reflexed to apicoventral margin, apicoventral margin angular, produced into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; process flattened on inner margin; proximal flange elongate, apicoventral margin angular, overlaid by dense microtrichiate, contiguous with digitate process; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus subapically acutely curved near apical 1/3; anellus elongate, bearing several conical setae. Female genitalia (Figure 36): Eighth tergum with a narrow, darkly pigmented streak on median longitudinal axis; ostium slightly posterior to seventh segment; antrum cuplike; membrane surrounding ostium densely microtrichiate to lateral margin; ductus bursae longer than ovipositor, with imbricate platelets on anterior half; inception of ductus seminalis slightly anterior to ostium; anterior part of corpus bursae with a signum bearing a spinelike process arising from an elongate base.

HOLOTYPE. ♂, “Chuka Forest, 0°21.06'S, 37°35.80'E; 1600 m, 20 Jan. 2003; A & M Coll[ection] # 2372, R.S. Copeland; ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Prunus africana”; “Restrictions Apply, NMK/ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 5025” [yellow label]; “USNM ENT 00196885” [barcode label] [NMK].

PARATYPES (12 ♂, 15 ♀). 2 ♂, “Kenya, Burguret Forest, 0°07.208'S, 37°05.147'E, 23 May 2002,

MAP 11. Distribution of Blastobasis chuka.

A & M Coll[ection] # 2020, r.f. Vepris simplicifolia”; “♂ Slide 4905”; “00196886”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83449”; “♂ Slide 4906”; “00196887”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83433” [USNM]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, “Mt. Kenya Forest, 0°14.256'S, 37°33.924'E, 2040 m, 7 Nov. 2001, A & M Coll[ection] # 1521, r.f. Chrysophyllum gorungosanum”; “♂ Slide 4914”; “00196888” [BMNH]; “00196413” [USNM]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “6 Dec. 2001, A & M Coll. # 1625”; “♀ Slide 5105”; “00196366” [BMNH]; “00196414” [USNM]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “7 Nov. 2001, R.S. Copeland”; “ex. fruits, Chrysophyllum gorungosanum, Coll. # 1521” “♂ Slide 5066”; “00196404”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83444” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “0°14.19'S, 37°37.14'E, 1893 m, 9 April 2002, A & M Coll. # 1870, r.f. unknown fruit”; “♀ Slide 5120”; “00196380”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83434” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “Mt. Kenya Forest, 0°14.19'S, 37°34.14'E, 1893 m, 9 April 2002, A & M Coll. 1870, r.f. unknown fruit”; “♀ Slide 4907”; “00196320”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83435” [USNM]; 3 ♂, “Gatamayu Forest, 0°58.45'S, 36°41.83'E, 17 April 2001, A & M Coll. # 1170, r.f. Podocarpus latifolius”; “♂ Slide 5042”; “00196889” [NMK]; “♂ Slide 5055”; “00196398” [BMNH]; “♂ Slide 5061”; “00196403”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83436” [USNM]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “A & M Coll. 1169, r.f. Landolphia buchananii”; “♂ Slide 5058”; “00196400”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83437” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “A & M Coll. 1179, r.f. Allophylus abyssinicus”; “♀ Slide 5090”; “00196354” [NMK]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “2284 m, 17 April 2001, A & M Coll. # 1170, r.f. Podocarpus latifolius”; “♀ Slide 5108”; “00196369”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83438” [USNM]; “00196418” [USNM]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “A & M Coll. # 1169, r.f. Landolphia buchananii”; “♀ Slide 5112”; “00196373” [MRAC]; “00196406” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “A & M Coll. # 1177, r.f. Passiflora mollissima”; “♀ Slide 5100”; “00196364”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83439” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “0°57.12'S, 36°41.43'E, Coll. 23 March 1999, Lot 38, r.f. Garcinia volkensii”; “♀ Slide 5097”; “00196361”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83440” [USNM]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “Ololua Forest, ca. 1°21.534'S, 36°42.417'E, 16 Aug. 1999, Coll. A & M 244, r.f. Drypetes gerrardii fruit”; “♂ Slide 4226”; “00196890” [NMK]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “Shimba Hills, 4°15.42'S, 39°22.96E, 23 April 2002, A & M Coll. # 1896, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Dictyophleba lucida”; “♂ Slide 5092”; “00196356” [MRAC]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “Kaya Kinondo, ca. 4°23.71S, 39°32.84'E, coll. 20 July 2000, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 767, r.f. Diphasia sp. Fruit”; “♂ Slide 5093”; “00196357” [BMNH]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “Koru/Brooks, ca. 0°8.87'S, 35°15.77'E, 17 Aug. 2000, Lot 808, r.f. Flacourtia indica”; “♂ Slide 4344”; “00196301”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83445” [USNM]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “Chuka Forest, 0°21.06'S, 37°35.80'E, 1600 m, 20 Jan. 2003, A & M Coll. # 2372, r.f. Prunus africana”; “♀ Slide 5031”; “00196881”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83441” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 5029”; “00196879”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83442” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “Kirimiri Forest, 0°25.62'S, 37°32.83'E, 1710 m, 28 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll. # 2197, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Rawsonia lucida”; “♀ Slide 4917”; “00196323”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83443” [USNM]. Paratypes deposited in BMNH, MRAC, NMK, and USNM.

ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet, chuka, is derived from Chuka Forest, the type locality.

DISTRIBUTION. Blastobasis chuka is known from habitats along the southeastern coast and in the central highlands.

HOSTS. Fruits of Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk. (Sapindaceae); Chrysophyllum gorungosanum Engl. (Sapotaceae); Dictyophleba lucida (K. Schum.) Pierre (Apocynaceae); Diphasia sp. (Rutaceae); Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. (Euphorbiaceae); Flacourtia indica (Burm. F.) Merr. (Salicaceae); Garcinia volkensii Engl. (Clusiaceae); Landolphia buchananii (Hallier f.) Stapf. (Apocynaceae); Passiflora mollisima (Kunth) L. H. Bailey (Passifloraceae); Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) Mirb. (Podocarpaceae); Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae); Rawsonia lucida Harv. & Sond. (Achariaceae); Vepris simplicifolia (Engl.) Mziray (Rutaceae).