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s m i t h s o n i a n c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o z o o l o g y • n u m b e r 6 3 0

A Review of African Blastobasinae 

(Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: 

Coleophoridae), with New 

Taxa Reared from Native 

Fruits in Kenya

David Adamski, Robert S. Copeland, 

Scott E. Miller, Paul D. N. Hebert, 

Karolyn Darrow, and Quentin Luke
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s m i t h s o n i a n c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o z o o l o g y • n u m b e r 6 3 0

A Review of African Blastobasinae 

(Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: 

Coleophoridae), with New 

Taxa Reared from Native 

Fruits in Kenya

David Adamski, Robert S. Copeland, 

Scott E. Miller, Paul D. N. Hebert, 

Karolyn Darrow, and Quentin Luke

washington d.c.

2010
ABSTRACT

Adamski, David, Robert S. Copeland, Scott E. Miller, Paul D. N. Hebert, Karolyn Darrow, and Quentin Luke. A 

Review of African Blastobasinae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Coleophoridae), with New Taxa Reared from Native 

Fruits in Kenya. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 630, vi + 68 pages, 62 figures, 13 maps, 2 tables, 

2010. — Twenty-five species of African Blastobasinae (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) are reviewed; 12 species are 

redescribed, and 13 species are described as new. Rearing of Lepidoptera ancillary to sampling efforts targeted for 

fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their parasitoids was conducted in and near forested areas in coastal, central 

highland, and western highland habitats in Kenya. Reared moths were associated with fruits of 64 plant species 

in 34 families. Two new species, Blastobasis millicentae and Neoblastobasis perisella, were discovered in mixed 

original type series of species described by Meyrick and also reared from fruit. Eight new species, Blastobasis acirfa, 

B. aynekiella, B. chuka, B. elgonae, B. kenya, B. glauconotata, and Neoblastobasis ximeniaella, and N. wangithiae, 

are known only from specimens reared from fruit. One new species, Blastobasis catappaella, was reared from 

fruit and collected at black light. Finally, two new species, Neoblastobasis laikipiae and Blastobasis mpala, are 

known only from black light samples. DNA barcodes augmented the ability to discriminate between some closely 

related species within several genera. Male specimens of Blastobasis kenya, B. acirfa, and B. aynekiella and some 

associated female conspecifics, in particular, had distinctly different barcodes but were not initially diagnosed using 

standard morphological features. Subsequently, corroborative morphological features were found to support the 

DNA barcode data, and both data are discussed herein. Lectotypes are designated for Blastobasis arguta Meyrick, 

1918; B. byrsodepta Meyrick, 1913; B. egens Meyrick, 1918; B. eridryas Meyrick, 1932; B. extensa Meyrick, 1918; 

B. indigesta Meyrick, 1931; B. industria Meyrick, 1913; and B. trachilista Meyrick, 1921. Zenodochium arguta

Meyrick, 1918 is transferred to Calosima Dietz, 1910, new combination, and Tecmerium irroratella Walsingham, 

1891 and Blastobasis extensa Meyrick, 1918 are transferred to Holcocera Clemens, 1863, new combinations. Neoblastobasis indigesta (Meyrick, 1931), revised status, is transferred to Blastobasis Zeller, 1855. Syndroma Meyrick 

is a junior synonym of Holcocera Clemens, 1863, and Syndroma lignyodes Meyrick, 1914 is transferred to Holcocera, new combination. The first African records for Holcocera, Calosima, and Neoblastobasis are reported. A key 

for all African Blastobasinae is included, together with photographs of the adults and illustrations of the male and 

female genitalia. Distribution maps are provided for all new species reared from fruits. All taxonomic decisions such 

as new species, lectotype designations, synonymies, and transfers are attributed to the senior author.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, Blastobasis, Calosima, Holcocera, Neoblastobasis, Africa, fruit, DNA barcodes, cytochrome c oxidase I mitochondrial gene.

Cover images, from left to right: photographs of holotypes of Blastobasis glauconotata, B. kenya, and Calosima 

arguta.

Published by Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press

P.O. Box 37012, MRC 957

Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

www.scholarlypress.si.edu

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A review of African Blastobasinae (Lepidoptera:Gelechioidea:Coleophoridae), with new taxa reared from 

native fruits in Kenya / David Adamski . . . [et al.].

 p. cm. — (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 630)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Coleophoridae—Africa—Classification. I. Adamski, David, 1950–

QL561.C58R48 2010

595.78—dc22

2009048764

ISSN: (print) 0081-0282 / (online) 1943-6696

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for 

Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48–1992.
Contents

LIST OF MAPS AND FIGURES v

INTRODUCTION 1

Acknowledgments 2

MATERIALS AND METHODS 2

RESULTS 3

Key to the Species of Blastobasinae (Coleophoridae) from Africa 5

Holcocerini Adamski & Brown, 1989 6

 Holcocera Clemens, 1863 6

 Holcocera lignyodes (Meyrick, 1914), new combination 6

 Holcocera extensa (Meyrick, 1918), new combination 7

 Holcocera irroratella Walsingham, 1891, new combination 7

 Calosima Dietz, 1910 8

 Calosima arguta (Meyrick, 1918), new combination 8

Blastobasini Meyrick, 1894 9

 Neoblastobasis Kuznetzov & Sinev, 1985 9

 Neoblastobasis laikipiae Adamski, new species 9

 Neoblastobasis wangithiae Adamski, new species 11

 Neoblastobasis perisella Adamski, new species 11

 Neoblastobasis ximeniaella Adamski, new species 14

 Blastobasis Zeller, 1855 14

 Blastobasis millicentae Adamski, new species 15

 Blastobasis kenya Adamski, new species 17

 Blastobasis acirfa Adamski, new species 20

 Blastobasis aynekiella Adamski, new species 23

 Blastobasis catappaella Adamski, new species 25

 Blastobasis glauconotata Adamski, new species 25

 Blastobasis chuka Adamski, new species 29

 Blastobasis elgonae Adamski, new species 31

 Blastobasis indigesta Meyrick, 1931, revised status 33

 Blastobasis eridryas Meyrick, 1932 33
i v • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

 Blastobasis mpala Adamski, new species 34

 Blastobasis egens Meyrick, 1918 36

 Blastobasis fatigata Meyrick, 1914 36

 Blastobasis taricheuta Meyrick, 1909 37

 Blastobasis trachilista Meyrick, 1921 37

 Blastobasis determinata Meyrick, 1921 38

 Blastobasis byrsodepta Meyrick, 1913 38

 Blastobasis industria Meyrick, 1913 39

DISCUSSION 40

Host Plant Distribution of Reared Blastobasinae 40

Geographical Distribution of Reared Blastobasinae 40

DNA Sequence Data 44

FIGURES 2–62 45

REFERENCES 61

INDEX OF INSECT NAMES 65

INDEX OF PLANT NAMES 67
Maps and Figures

Map 1. Distribution of Neoblastobasis laikipiae 10

Map 2. Distribution of Neoblastobasis wangithiae 12

Map 3. Distribution of Neoblastobasis perisella 13

Map 4. Distribution of Neoblastobasis ximeniaella 15

Map 5. Distribution of Blastobasis millicentae 16

Map 6. Distribution of Blastobasis kenya 19

Map 7. Distribution of Blastobasis acirfa 22

Map 8. Distribution of Blastobasis aynekiella 24

Map 9. Distribution of Blastobasis catappaella 26

Map 10. Distribution of Blastobasis glauconotata 28

Map 11. Distribution of Blastobasis chuka 30

Map 12. Distribution of Blastobasis elgonae 32

Map 13. Distribution of Blastobasis mpala 35

Figure 1. A compressed subtree sequence data of Blastobasinae 

(Coleophoridae) 4

Figures 2–4. Male genitalia of Calosima arguta, Neoblastobasis 

laikipiae, and N. wangithiae 45

Figures 5–7. Male genitalia of Neoblastobasis perisella,

N. ximeniaella, and Blastobasis fatigata 46

Figures 8–10. Male genitalia of Blastobasis indigesta, B. millicentae,

and B. kenya 47

Figures 11–13. Male genitalia of Blastobasis acirfa, B. aynekiella,

and B. catappaella 48

Figures 14–16. Male genitalia of Blastobasis glauconotata, 

B. elgonae, and B. chuka 49

Figures 17–19. Male genitalia of Blastobasis mpala, B. eridryas,

and B. egens 50

Figures 20–23. Female genitalia of Calosima arguta, Neoblastobasis 

perisella, N. ximeniaella, and Holcocera extensa 51

Figures 24–27. Female genitalia of Blastobasis egens, B. trachilista, 

B. taricheuta, and B. kenya 52
v i • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Figures 28–30. Female genitalia of Blastobasis acirfa, B. aynekiella,

and B. determinata 53

Figures 31–34. Female genitalia of Blastobasis glauconotata, 

B. industria, Holcocera irroratella, and B. byrsodepta 54

Figures 35–37. Female genitalia of Blastobasis catappaella, 

B. chuka, and B. mpala 55

Figures 38–49. Adults of Blastobasis millicentae, B. industria, 

B. eridryas, B. determinata, Holcocera extensa, B. indigesta, 

B. chuka, B. egens, B. glauconotata, B. byrsodepta, 

H. irroratella, and B. elgonae 57

Figures 50–58. Adults of Blastobasis taricheuta, Calosima arguta, 

B. trachilista, Neoblastobasis ximeniaella, N. wangithiae, 

B. mpala, B. aynekiella, B. acirfa, and N. laikipiae 58

Figures 59–62. Adults of Blastobasis catappaella, B. kenya, 

B. fatigata, and Neoblastobasis perisella 59
A Review of African Blastobasinae 

(Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Coleophoridae), 

with New Taxa Reared from 

Native Fruits in Kenya

iNTRODUCTION

Collaboration among the International Centre of Insect Physiology and 

Ecology (ICIPE), the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural 

History (USNM), the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), and the Department 

of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, in understanding the Lepidoptera 

of Kenya has provided an opportunity to review the Blastobasinae (Coleophoridae) of Africa. From 1999 to 2004, Copeland directed an insect-rearing program from native fruit at sampling sites throughout Kenya. Much of the data 

from this study, which focused primarily on fruit flies (Tephritidae), has been 

published elsewhere (Copeland et al., 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006; De Meyer et al., 

2002; White et al., 2003; Barr et al., 2006; Copeland and Wharton, 2006; De 

Meyer and Freidberg, 2006). Additionally, this study has provided the largest 

sample of reared Blastobasinae known from the African continent.

From 1998 to 2006, Miller (Miller, 2000) intensively sampled moths with 

black light at Mpala Research Centre (MRC) in central Kenya, thus providing a 

long-term view of the Blastobasinae at a single site. In order to provide a context 

for these samples, we examined the type material of all the previously described 

species of Blastobasinae from Africa. We used classical morphological characters and DNA barcodes (Hebert et al., 2003; Burns et al., 2007, 2008) to assess species limits. Although we are still accumulating samples of Blastobasinae 

from additional African localities, we are publishing this paper now to provide 

a taxonomic framework for further studies and to make the fruit-rearing data 

available for further analysis.

In the modern keys to moth families in Africa, only Delvare and Aberlenc 

(1989) and Holloway et al. (1987) included Blastobasinae; Janse (1932–1964), 

Pinhey (1975), and Scholtz and Holm (1985) did not. We follow Hodges (1998), 

who treated Blastobasidae sensu Meyrick (1894) as one of four subfamilies 

David Adamski, Department of Entomology, 

National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 

37012, NHB - E523, Smithsonian Institution, 

Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, USA; Robert S. 

Copeland, Department of Entomology, Texas 

A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, 

USA, and International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772, Nairobi 00100, 

Kenya; Scott E. Miller and Karolyn Darrow, Department of Entomology, National Museum of 

Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, USA; Paul D. N. 

Hebert, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, 

Canada; Quentin Luke, East African Herbarium, National Museums of Kenya, Box 45166, 

Nairobi, Kenya. Correspondence: D. Adamski, 

adamskid@si.edu. Manuscript received 19 December 2008; accepted 14 July 2009.
2 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

within Coleophoridae. Both Hodges (1998) and Adamski 

and Brown (1989) agree on the monophyly of the Blastobasinae. These small- to medium-sized moths can be identified by the following combination of characters: forewing 

with pterostigma between Sc and R1, base of CuA2 at or 

near right angle to cubitus, subcubital retinaculum present 

in female, spiniform setae on abdominal terga, aedeagal 

sclerite present, valva divided, and anellus setose.

Acknowledgments

We thank Kuniko Arakawa, Mizukino, Moriya-shi, 

Japan, and José Alejandro Herrera, San José, Costa Rica, 

for the illustrations of the genitalia; Lauren Helgen, Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, for assistance with finishing the manuscript, including Figure 

1; and Dan G. Cole, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, for the production of the 

distribution maps. We thank Kevin Tuck, Natural History Museum, London; Barbara Dombrowsky, Transvaal 

Museum, Pretoria, South Africa; and Margie Cochrane, 

South African Museum, Cape Town, South Africa, for the 

loan of type specimens. Funding was provided through 

collaboration between the International Centre of Insect 

Physiology and Ecology and the Smithsonian Institution, 

in cooperation with the National Museums of Kenya. We 

thank Richard Bagine, Kenya Wildlife Service, for permission to sample wild fruits.

This work was supported by USAID grant PCE-G-00-

98-0048-00 (in collaboration with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and its African Fruit 

Fly Initiative) and in part by USDA/CSREES/IFAFS grant 

00-52103-9651, both awarded to R. A. Wharton, Texas 

A&M University.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is based on approximately 300 specimens, 

including primary types of all named species, over 250 

genitalic dissections, and 169 cytochrome c oxidase I 

(COI) sequences.

As part of biodiversity inventories undertaken in 

collaboration among MRC, ICIPE, USNM, and NMK 

(Miller, 2000; Miller and Lazell, 2003; Miller and Rogo, 

2003), moths were collected at MRC by Scott Miller 

and Tina Kuklenski on 24 nights from May 1998 to December 1999 and on an additional 8 nights from 2000 

through 2003. Moths were collected at mercury vapor and 

florescent black lights. The microlepidoptera were individually killed and spread in the field.

The MRC is a biological field station managed in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service, NMK, Princeton 

University, and the Smithsonian Institution. It is located in 

semiarid savanna on the Laikipia Plateau of central Kenya, 

west of Mount Kenya, 50 km north of the equator, and 50 

km from Nanyuki town. MRC is at 1650 m elevation at 

0.293°N and 36.899°E. Young et al. (1995, 1997), Keesing 

(1998, 2000), and the Mpala Wildlife Foundation (http://

www.mpala.org) provide general descriptions of the environment. Annual mean rainfall at MRC is between 550 

and 660 mm, but with substantial spatial and temporal 

heterogeneity (Berger, 1989). The vegetation is characteristic of semiarid African savannas, predominantly grassy 

savanna bushland, with patches of woodland and open 

grassland. Dominant trees include Acacia (Mimosaceae), 

Balanites (Balanitaceae), and Boscia (Capparaceae).

Although MRC has excellent facilities and is well situated in one of the most biologically interesting regions of 

Kenya, little invertebrate inventory work has been conducted there. Moreover, the Laikipia area has historically 

been ignored both by visiting biological expeditions and 

by local Kenyan residents, in part because it is outside of 

the famous wildlife parks. Early expeditions collected some 

insects in the Laikipia area, but they collected very few 

moths (e.g., von Höhnel, 1894; Chanler, 1896; Gregory, 

1896; Rehn, 1936). On a purely historical note of interest, 

a nearby ranch was featured in the recent movie I Dreamed 

of Africa, based on the book by Kuki Gallmann (1991), and 

the natural history of another adjacent ranch has been recorded elegantly in popular essays by Grant (1995, 2001).

Rearing methods and sampling strategy for the native fruit-rearing program are provided by Copeland et 

al. (2002) and Copeland (2006). All fruits were collected 

from native plant species except for Passiflora mollissima

(Kunth) L. H. Bailey (Passifloraceae). Ripe and unripe 

fruits were collected from plants and occasionally from 

the ground; samples showing noticeable rotting were discarded. Because of the rearing conditions and multiple 

techniques involved, the quality of adult moths varied. 

Thus, some specimens were not used in the analysis because of their poor condition.

The color standard for the description of the adult 

vestiture is from Kornerup and Wanscher (1978). Genitalia were dissected as described by Clarke (1941), except Mercurochrome and chlorazol black were used as 

stains. Pinned specimens and genital preparations were 

examined with dissecting and compound microscopes. 
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 3

All descriptions and redescriptions are based on adult 

morphology. The descriptions of the male and female 

genitalia, with respect to the orientation of a structure or 

structures relative to each other, were made as they are observed on the body proper and not how they may be illustrated from a permanent slide preparation. Measurements 

of wings were made using a calibrated ocular micrometer. 

Label data are given verbatim within quotations for all 

primary types and for selected paratypes. Other label data 

for reared specimens having “R.S. Copeland,” “ICIPE/

USAID,” and “Restrictions Apply, NMK/ICIPE, Agreement # 5,” and the prefix of all eight-digit barcodes are 

omitted from the text. Genitalia slide numbers are in D. 

Adamski series unless noted otherwise. Acronyms for the 

depositories of specimens examined are as follows.

BMNH Natural History Museum, London, UK

NMK National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

MRAC Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, 

Belgium

SAMC South African Museum, Cape Town, South 

Africa

TMP Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa

USNM National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA

All new species are attributed to the senior author.

Sequences were produced at the University of Guelph. 

DNA was extracted from legs of adult specimens and 

amplified using a QIAGEN DNeasy Tissue Kit. Primers 

LepF1 and LepR1 (Hebert et al., 2004) were used to obtain a 658 base pair fragment of COI with a standard thermocycling regime (Hajibabaei et al., 2006). PCR products 

were sequenced subsequently on an ABI 3730 capillary 

sequencer. Sequences are available at the National Center 

for Biotechnology Information GenBank database (accession numbers GQ330121–GQ330289) and at the Barcode 

of Life Database (BOLD). Neighbor-joining (NJ) trees 

were generated from nucleotide sequences as implemented 

in BOLD (Ratnasingham and Hebert, 2007). Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses were conducted 

using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) 

version 4 (Tamura et al., 2007). While we recognize the 

limitations of NJ trees, they are an efficient means of analyzing and presenting DNA barcode data (Hajibabaei et 

al., 2006, 2007; DeSalle, 2007; Waugh et al., 2008). Our 

initial species identifications were based on morphology 

and were then tested against clustering based on DNA. 

We rechecked morphology when there were inconsistencies. DNA was especially helpful in associating conspecific 

males and females, as well as revealing some initial errors 

in morphological identifications. In only three cases (see 

“DNA Sequence Data” in “Discussion”) did morphology and DNA not agree on species identification, likely 

because of contamination. Because we expect to add DNA 

sequences for many species in the future, we are delaying 

more detailed analysis of sequences.

In this study, we regard all specimens within a type 

series that contains two or more specimens of a species 

described by E. Meyrick as syntypes. Although Meyrick 

indicated to Janse (in personal correspondence) in October 1909 and July 1912 that he considered the specimens 

studied and returned to Transvaal as “types” (see Janse, 

1968), Meyrick did not specify a “type” in his original 

descriptions. Therefore, the “gentleman’s agreement” 

between Meyrick and Janse is not binding under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), 

and it is our opinion that Janse erroneously labeled such 

specimens as “holotype.” Gozmány and Váry (1973) support this view, citing ICZN article 73(b), and they further 

indicate that Janse’s “holotype” designations are actually 

“lectotype” selections. We do not agree with Gozmány 

and Váry’s conclusion about “lectotype” selections by 

Janse, but we believe that their decision originated from 

their belief that all specimens within a type series that contains two or more specimens of a species described by E. 

Meyrick were indeed syntypes. If this is true, then their 

view supports our argument. We thus treat all specimens 

within Meyrick’s type series as having equal status, and 

our “lectotype” designations are based on the quality of 

the specimens rather than present deposition.

RESULTS

The taxon tree or phenogram (Figure 1) represents a 

total of 169 sequence samples for 15 species of Blastobasinae (Coleophoridae) reared from fruit or collected at 

black light in Kenya. Sequence data for Blastobasis kenya 

are represented by 57 samples and 1 “outlier” sequence of 

Blastobasis chuka (♂: 00196357, DA 5093).

Blastobasis elgonae is represented by two sequences 

(♂: 00196891, DA 5020 and ♀: 00196892, DA 5021) that 

cluster with one sample of B. glauconotata (♂: 00196387, 

DA 5019) and near one sample of B. glauconotata (♂: 

00196367, DA 5106). Species assignments for these samples are resolved by examination of the male genitalia.

Four specimens from Shimba Hills diverge from the 

main Blastobasis acirfa cluster. Three of these (♂: 00196314, 
4 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

DA 5062; ♀: 00196381, DA 5121; ♀: 00196410) may represent an undescribed species, but we do not treat this in 

the taxonomic section because their identities are not clear 

because of the poor condition of the specimens. The fourth 

specimen in the divergent cluster (♂: 00196356, DA 5092) 

is identified as Blastobasis chuka and is treated below.

Two divergent samples (♀: 00196429 and ♀: 

00196430) near Blastobasis kenya are treated as unassociated females and are not included in the taxonomic part of 

the text. Similarly, two divergent samples (♀: 00196893, 

DA 4361 and ♀: 00196405) near Blastobasis mpala are 

treated as unassociated females.

FIGURE 1. A compressed subtree sequence data of Blastobasinae (Coleophoridae) taken from 169 samples among 15 species from Kenya based 

upon neighbor-joining analysis with Kimura 2-parameter model using pairwise deletion of gaps and or missing data. The analysis shows that 

168 of the 659 sites exhibited variability. Subtrees are compressed into triangles with a vertical scale of 2 pixels per specimen; the horizontal 

scale corresponds to divergence. A single asterisk (*) indicates a sample of Blastobasis kenya with one “outlier” sample (USNM 00196357); 

** indicates two “outlier” samples of Blastobasis glauconotata (USNM 00196387 and 00196367).
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 5

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BLASTOBASINAE (COLEOPHORIDAE) FROM AFRICA

1. Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2. Juxta platelike; dorsoposterior margin of gnathos entire; Holcocerini [Figure 2] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calosima arguta

Juxta bandlike or divided; dorsoposterior margin of gnathos medially bidentate; Blastobasini [Figures 3–19] . . . . . . . . 3

3. Lower part of valva with basal spinelike process [Figures 3–6] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Lower part of valva without such a process [Figures 7–19] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4. Basal spinelike process extending less than or half length of lower part of valva [Figures 3–4] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Basal spinelike process extending more than half length of lower part of valva [Figures 5–6] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5. First flagellomere of the antenna unmodified; anellus of aedeagus bilobed apically [Figure 3]. . . . . Neoblastobasis laikipiae

First flagellomere of the antenna notched; anellus of aedeagus broadly rounded apically [Figure 4] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neoblastobasis wangithiae

6. Basal spinelike process extending to apicoventral margin of lower part of valva [Figure 6]. . . . Neoblastobasis ximeniaella

Basal spinelike process extending beyond apicoventral margin of lower part [Figure 5] . . . . . . . Neoblastobasis perisella

7. Juxta divided; valva bearing a large spinelike seta or a cluster of several elongate spinelike setae [Figures 7, 9] . . . . . . . 8

Juxta not divided; valva not bearing a large spinelike seta or a cluster of several large spinelike setae [Figures 8, 10–19] 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

8. Base of digitate process of upper part of valve bearing one elongate spinelike seta; base of digitate process of upper part 

of valva without spinelike setae [Figure 9] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis millicentae

Base of digitate process of upper part of valva bearing a cluster of several spinelike setae [Figure 7]. . . .Blastobasis fatigata

9. Dorsal strut of tegumen present [Figures 13–14] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Dorsal strut of tegumen absent [Figures 8, 10–12, 15–19] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

10. Basiventral margin of proximal flange emarginate [Figure 13] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis catappaella

Basiventral margin of proximal flange broadly rounded [Figure 14] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis glauconotata

11. Gnathos narrow [Figures 10–12, 15–16] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Gnathos wide [Figures 8–9, 17–19] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

12. Vesica with hairlike cornuti [Figures 10–11] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Vesica without cornuti [Figures 12, 15–16] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

13. Dorsoposterior margin of gnathos widely bidentate medially [Figure 11] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis acirfa

Dorsoposterior margin of gnathos narrowly bidentate medially [Figure 10] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis kenya

14. Apicoventral margin of lower part of valva broadly rounded [Figure 15] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis elgonae

Apicoventral margin of lower part of valva short and angular [Figures 12, 16] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

15. Dorsoposterior margin of gnathos near level of base of uncus; aedeagus acutely curved near apical 1/3 [Figure 16] . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis chuka

Dorsoposterior margin of gnathos anterior to level of uncus; aedeagus serpentine shaped [Figure 12] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis aynekiella

16. Uncus broadly rounded apically; aedeagus straight or nearly so [Figures 17, 19] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Uncus narrowly rounded apically; aedeagus broadly curved [Figures 8, 18] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

17. Dorsoposterior margin of gnathos protuberant medially; anellus of aedeagus wide thorough length [Figure 17] . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis mpala

Dorsoposterior margin of gnathos not protuberant; anellus of aedeagus gradually narrowed from base [Figure 19] . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis egens

18. Microtrichiate part of valva subquadrate [Figure 8] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis indigesta

Microtrichiate part of valva elongate, narrowed distally [Figure 18] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis eridryas

19. Ostium near anterior end of eighth sternum [Figures 20, 23, 33], Holcocerini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Ostium near posterior end of seventh sternum [Figures 21–22, 24–32, 34–37], Blastobasini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

20. Signum present [Figures 20, 23] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Signum absent [Figure 33] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holcocera irroratella
6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

21. Inception of ductus seminalis posterior to posterior margin of seventh sternum [Figure 20] . . . . . . . . . Calosima arguta

Inception of ductus seminalis anterior to posterior margin of seventh sternum [Figure 23] . . . . . . . . . Holcocera extensa

22. Ductus bursae not extending beyond posterior margin of sixth segment; ductus bursae, without internal imbricate platelets or spinules [Figure 24] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis egens

Ductus bursae extending beyond anterior margin of sixth segment, with internal imbricate platelets or spinules in anterior 

end [Figures 21–22, 25–32, 34–37] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

23. Seventh tergum with stout, spinelike setae [Figures 21–22, 29–30, 34] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Seventh tergum without stout, spinelike setae [Figures 25–28, 31–32, 35–37] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

24. Paired lobelike invaginations posterolateral to ostium [Figure 22] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neoblastobasis ximeniaella

Lobelike invaginations absent [Figures 21, 29–30, 34] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

25. Signum capitulate [Figures 21, 29] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Signum not capitulate [Figures 30, 34] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

26. Membrane lateral to ostium densely microtrichiate [Figure 29] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis aynekiella

Membrane lateral to ostium without microtrichiae [Figure 21] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neoblastobasis perisella

27. Eighth sternum subquadrate [Figure 34] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis byrsodepta

Eighth sternum elongate [Figure 30] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis determinata

28. Base of signum elongate [Figures 27–28, 31, 35–36] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Base of signum not elongate [Figures 25–26, 32, 37] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

29. Membrane adjacent to ostium densely microtrichiate [Figures 27, 31, 36] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Membrane adjacent to ostium sparsely microtrichiate [Figures 28, 35] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

30. Base of signum angular [Figure 27] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis kenya

Base of signum not angular [Figures 31, 36] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

31. Ductus bursae longer than ovipositor [Figure 36] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis chuka

Ductus bursae about 2/3 length of ovipositor [Figure 31] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis glauconotata

32. Spinelike process of signum arising from middle of funnel-shaped base [Figure 28] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis acirfa

Spinelike process of signum originating asymmetrically from base [Figure 35] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis catappaella

33. Ductus bursae longer than ovipositor [Figure 26] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis taricheuta

Ductus bursae shorter than or as long as ovipositor [Figures 25, 32, 37] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

34. Antrum elongate [Figure 32] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis industria

Antrum shallow [Figures 25, 37] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

35. Ductus bursae about as long as ovipositor [Figure 37] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis mpala

Ductus bursae shorter than ovipositor [Figure 25] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blastobasis trachilista

Holcocerini Adamski & Brown, 1989

Holcocerini are the best-known blastobasine moths 

in the New World. This is likely because the tribe contains the largest species within the subfamily. Although 

the tribe contains over 160 described species, host associations for fewer than 13% of the total species are known. 

The Holcocerini can be distinguished by the following 

apomorphies: male aedeagus with a ring support at base 

and female having a telescopic ovipositor with three membranous subdivisions posterior to eighth segment, eighth 

sternum with anterior margin emarginated medially, ostium near anterior end of eighth sternum, and inception 

of ductus seminalis distant from ostium. In addition, there 

are several plesiomorphies found in most species of Holcocerini listed by Adamski and Brown (1989) that are helpful in differentiating them from species of Blastobasini.

Holcocera Clemens, 1863

Type Species. Holcocera chalcofrontella Clemens, 1863, by subsequent designation (Walsingham, 1907).

The genus contains more species than all other genera 

within the Holcocerini worldwide. However, this disparity 

may be a result of disproportionate sampling. This genus 

is recognized by having a gnathos with the ventrolateral 

margin weakly fused with the tegumen, anellus multisetose, and a valva with the proximal flange not overlaid by 

microtrichiate membrane or sclerotized integumen.

Holcocera lignyodes (Meyrick, 1914),

new combination

Syndroma lignyodes Meyrick, 1914b:271, type species of 

Syndroma Meyrick, 1914b. New synonym.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 7

Syndroma lignyodes Meyrick, 1914b:271.—Clarke, 1963: 

497.

Holotype. ♂, “M[ount] Mlanje, Nyasaland 

[Malawi], 20.I.1914, S.A. Neave, 1914-SSC”; “Syndroma 

lignyodes, Meyr., Type M603”; “Genotype, Syndroma 

Meyrick”; “♂ wing venation on slide 13.V.1949, JFGC 

9480” [wing only, abdomen missing] [BMNH].

Remarks. The presence of a notched first flagellomere of the antenna combined with holcocerine venational characteristics of the holotype justifies synonymy of 

the genus. The species is not included in the key because 

the pattern is worn and the abdomen is missing from the 

holotype.

Holcocera extensa (Meyrick, 1918), 

new combination

Figures 23, 42

Blastobasis extensa Meyrick, 1918:55.—Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Except for Holcocera lignyodes, 

H. extensa and H. irroratella are the only two species of 

Holcocera known from Africa. Although H. extensa is 

slightly larger and darker in appearance than H. irroratella, the female genitalia appear more reliable for differentiating the two species. H. extensa can be distinguished 

from H. irroratella by having a wider notch on the anterior 

margin of the eighth sternum, signum present within the 

corpus bursae, and the anterior part of the ductus bursae 

spinulate. Relationships of Holcocera extensa and H. irroratella are uncertain because males are not known and 

female genital characters tend to be conservative in nature 

throughout Blastobasinae.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with narrow pale 

gray scales. Outer surface of labial palpus grayish brown 

or gray intermixed with a few gray scales tipped with pale 

gray, white scales near subapical area of segment II and 

basal area of segment III, inner surface paler. Scape of antenna with scales grayish brown tipped with pale gray, flagellum grayish brown, gradually paler to apex. Proboscis 

with scales grayish brown tipped with pale gray.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum gray on anterior 

and posterior 1/3, pale gray on transverse median 1/3. Legs 

with scales grayish brown tipped with white with a white 

band near midfemur and apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 42) length 8.2–8.5 mm (n = 2), 

grayish brown intermixed with grayish brown scales tipped 

with pale gray and pale gray scales; two grayish brown 

streaks along radius and cubitus of cell; cell with a grayish brown spot on distal end near cubitus. Fringe grayish 

brown tipped with pale gray. Undersurface grayish brown. 

Hindwing: Pale grayish brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 23): Eighth sternum trapezoid, deeply 

emarginate medially on anterior end; antrum cuplike; inception of ductus seminalis on ductus bursae near anterior 

end of seventh sternum; posterior margin of seventh sternum straight; ductus bursae longer than ovipositor, slightly 

spiculate internally on anterior 2/3; corpus bursae ovoid, 

signum spiculate, ovoid.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♀, “[South 

Africa] Pret[oria], North, 12-2 [February]-1912, C.J. Swierstra”; “539”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 

4489” [yellow label]; “Blastobasis extensa Meyr., Type 

No. 2551” [TMP]. A lectotype is designated in order to 

maintain stability of usage of the name of a taxon with 

congeners that look similar.

Paralectotype. ♀, “Pretoria, Transvaal, 

C.J. S[wierstra] 25-12 [December]-[19]16”; “Blastobasis extensa Meyr[ick], 1/1, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick 

Coll[ection]”; “Meyrick Coll[ection], BM 1938-290”; 

“extensa Meyr[ick]” [abdomen missing] [BMNH].

Remarks. Sinev (2004) treated two syntypes 

of Blastobasis extensa as blastobasine moths without examining the original type series and without designating 

a lectotype for the species. Therefore, the identifications 

for the two specimens that Sinev (2004) provided are 

unreliable.

Holcocera irroratella Walsingham, 1891, 

new combination

Figures 33, 48

Blastobasis irroratella Walsingham, 1891:122, pl. VI, fig. 

63.—Janse, 1917:192, check list.—Medler, 1980:307, 

check list.

Tecmerium irroratella: Sinev, 2004:117.

Diagnosis. H. irroratella can be distinguished 

from H. extensa by having a narrower notch on the anterior margin of the eighth sternum, signum absent within 

the corpus bursae, and the anterior part of the ductus bursae absent of spinules. Relationships of Holcocera irroratella and H. extensa are uncertain because males are not 

known and female genital characters tend to be conservative in nature throughout Blastobasinae.
8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus white intermixed 

with a few white scales tipped with brown and a few brown 

scales. Outer surface of labial palpus brown intermixed 

with a few white scales and white scales tipped with brown, 

inner surface white intermixed with a few brown scales; 

segment II short; scape of antenna white intermixed with a 

few brown scales, flagellum white. Proboscis white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum white intermixed 

with white scales tipped with brown and a few brown 

scales. Legs brown intermixed with white scales tipped with 

brown, with a white band near midfemur and apices of all 

segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 48) length 6.6 

mm (n = 1), white intermixed with white scales tipped with 

brown and some brown scales; median fascia and marginal spots absent; three distinct markings; brown streak 

near midcell, brown spot posterior midcell streak in area 

between CuP and margin, and large brown spot near crossvein extending to tornus. Fringe white tipped with brown. 

Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale brown, gradually 

darkening to apex.

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 33): Eighth sternum deeply emarginated 

medially along anterior margin; posterior margin of seventh sternum straight; ductus bursae longer than ovipositor, gradually widening from ostium; inception of ductus 

seminalis anterior to posterior margin of seventh segment; 

corpus bursae spherical; signum absent.

Holotype. ♀, “Bathurst, GAMBIA, XI-1885, 

Carter, 1886, No. 881”; “Walsingham Collection, 1910-

427”; “Blastobasis irroratella Wlsm. Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond. 

1891. 122-3, Pl. VI-63, Type ♀, descr.”; “BM Genitalia 

Slide No. 30237” [BMNH].

Remarks. Although Sinev (2004) examined 

the holotype female of Blastobasis irroratella, the absence 

of males makes generic assignment within the Holcocerini 

unreliable. However, the female features described above 

are more similar to Holcocera than Tecmerium.

Calosima Dietz, 1910

Type Species. Calosima argyrosplendella 

Dietz, 1910, by original designation.

As with Holcocera, there are fewer Calosima recorded 

from the Old World than from the New World. Four species of Calosima are known in Thailand, and one species 

is known from Africa. Species of this genus have an aedeagus that is bulbous basally, a gnathos with a median 

ridge, and a juxta with an emarginate ventral margin.

Calosima arguta (Meyrick, 1918),

new combination

Figures 2, 20, 51

Blastobasis arguta Meyrick, 1918:36.—Janse, 1917:192, 

check list.

Zenodochium arguta: Sinev, 2004:117.

Diagnosis. Calosima arguta is most similar to 

C. albafaciella Adamski, 2002 from Thailand, but it differs from the latter species by having a wider gnathos, a 

narrower spinelike process of the lower part of the valva, 

and a longer and less curved aedeagus. In Africa, Calosima 

arguta is most similar to Holcocera extensa in sharing a 

spinulate anterior part of the ductus bursae and a platelike 

signum within the corpus bursae. However, because the 

male of H. extensa is not known, relationships between 

the two species are uncertain.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales brown 

or pale brown tipped with white. Outer and inner surfaces 

of labial palpus with scales brown tipped with white, apical 

area of segment II and all of segment III paler. Scape of antenna with scales brown or pale brown tipped with white, 

flagellum gray, wider and with more cilia in male; first flagellomere unmodified in male. Proboscis with scales brown 

or pale brown tipped with white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with scales brown 

or pale brown tipped with white. Leg scales brown tipped 

with white intermixed with dark brown scales tipped with 

white, with a pale brown band near midfemur and apices 

of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 51) length 

6.7–7.0 mm (n = 3), scales brown or dark brown tipped 

with white, intermixed with pale brown scales, some tipped 

with white; basal and median fasciae brown or dark brown, 

complete, bisected by a wide, transverse, white band; apical 1/3 slightly paler than median fascia; large brown spot 

below distal end of cell near posterior margin. Fringe brown 

or pale brown tipped with white. Undersurface brown. 

Hindwing pale brown, slightly darkening to apex.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 2): Uncus setose, 

slightly elongate, ventrally keeled, ventral margin serrate; 

arms of gnathos projecting ventroanteriorly, fused medially, 

forming a widened band; vinculum narrow; juxta platelike; 

valva divided; upper part of valva widened basally, gradually narrowed from an abrupt, ventral emargination, produced into a digitate process, apex rounded; lower part of 

valva wide, subventral area reflexed to apicoventral angle, 
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 9

distally produced into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus broadly curved from 

base to apex; anellus with several microsetae. Female genitalia (Figure 20): Eighth sternum trapezoid shaped, deeply 

emarginate anteriorly; posterior margin of seventh sternum 

straight; ductus bursae about twice as long as ovipositor, narrow throughout length, with microspinules from inception 

of ductus seminalis to corpus bursae; inception of ductus 

seminalis posterior to seventh sternum; corpus bursae subovate; signum spiculate, on posterior end of corpus bursae.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♂, “Umkomaas [Natal, South Africa], 6-1[Jan][19]14, A.J.T. Janse”; 

“M-3831”; “Blastobasis arguta M[eyrick]”; “♂ Genitalia 

Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4628” [yellow label]; “Blastobasis arguta M[eyrick] Type No. 805” [TMP]. A lectotype 

is being designated in order to maintain stability of usage 

of the name.

Paralectotypes (1 ♂, 1 ♀). ♂, “Syntype” [round, blue-bordered label]; “Umkomaas, Natal, 

A.J.T.J. 18-1[Jan][19]14”; “Blastobasis arguta Meyr[ick], 

1/1, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll[ection]”; “Meyrick 

Coll[ection], B.M. 1938-290”; “arguta Meyr[ick]”; “B.M. 

♂ Genitalia Slide No. 30235” [BMNH]; ♀, “Umkomaas, 

[Natal], 6-1[Jan][19]14, A.J.T. Janse”; “M-3833”; “♀

Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4629”; “Blastobasis 

arguta M[eyrick], Cotype No. 806” [TMP].

Remarks. Sinev (2004) erroneously transferred Blastobasis arguta to Zenodochium. Adamski and 

Brown (1989) synonomized Zenodochium with Blastobasis, and H. arguta possesses holcocerine characters and 

not blastobasine characters (see Figures 2 and 20).

Blastobasini Meyrick, 1894

On the basis of holdings in museum collections, Blastobasini are the more numerous of the two tribes of Blastobasinae. Many Old World species have unique male genital 

features, and the acknowledgment of these features may 

result in a proliferation of new genera by future workers. 

Species within Blastobasini may be recognized by having 

a forewing with a reduced tornus, male tegumen with tergal setae dorsolateral area, vinculum wide, juxta bandlike, anellus with stout setae or with macrosetae, gnathos 

with arms projecting ventrolaterally, anellus separate from 

juxta, female with telescopic ovipositor with four membranous divisions posterior to eighth segment, eighth tergum with a darkly pigmented median longitudinal streak, 

ostium slightly posterior to seventh sternum, and signum 

hornlike or spinelike.

Neoblastobasis Kuznetzov & Sinev, 1985

Type Species. Blastobasis biceratala Park, 

1984, by subsequent designation (Kuznetzov and Sinev, 

1985).

Neoblastobasis contains about eight species that are 

found only in the Old World. Members of the genus can 

be recognized by having a large spinelike projection arising from the base of the lower part of the valva.

Neoblastobasis laikipiae Adamski, new species

Figures 3, 58, MAP 1

Diagnosis. Neoblastobasis laikipiae is similar 

to N. wangithiae in wing pattern and male genitalia but 

differs from the latter by being larger and having the first 

flagellomere of the antenna unmodified in the male.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales brownish gray tipped with pale gray; labial palpus with outer surface of segments I and II dark brownish gray intermixed 

with pale gray scales to apical margin, segment III dark 

brownish gray intermixed with a few pale gray scales; scape 

of antenna pale gray, flagellum gray; first flagellomere in 

male unmodified; proboscis pale gray.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum pale brownish 

gray intermixed with pale gray. Legs brownish gray, with 

a pale gray band on apices of all segments and tarsomeres. 

Forewing (Figure 58) length 6.3 mm (n = 1), brownish gray 

intermixed with gray and pale gray; cell with two small 

gray spots on distal end near crossvein, middle obliterated 

by gray submedian fascia; submedian fascia complete; area 

basad of submedian fascia pale gray, base gray; area distad 

of submedian fascia pale gray, gradually darkening to margin; submarginal spots faint. Undersurface brownish gray. 

Hindwing pale gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 3): Uncus 

abruptly curved subapically, apex narrowly rounded; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; 

membrane below gnathos microtrichiate; vinculum wide; 

juxta bandlike; valva divided; upper part with costa distally 

produced into a setose, digitate process, apical part lobelike; base of costa overlaid by a triangular, densely microtrichiate, membranous covering; lower part of valva wide, 

bearing a short, basal spinelike process, extending to near 

1/3 length of costa; subventral area reflexed to apicoventral 

margin; apicoventral margin broadly rounded, produced 

into a inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus and 
1 0 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

sclerite of aedeagus slightly curved near apical 1/3; anellus apically bilobed, bearing several conical setae. Female 

genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Laikipia Plateau, Mpala 

Research Centre, 0.293°N, 36.899°E, 23-26 Dec. 1999, 

1650 m, S.E. Miller & T.M. Kuklenski”; “Restrictions 

Apply, NMK-ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂

Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4144” [yellow label]; 

“USNM ENT 00194974” [barcode label] [hindwings in 

gelatin capsule attached to pinned specimen] [NMK].

MAP 1. Distribution of Neoblastobasis laikipiae.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 1 1

Etymology. The species epithet, laikipiae, is 

derived from the geographical locality where the species is 

known to occur.

Distribution. Neoblastobasis laikipiae is 

known only from the eastern escarpment of the Rift Valley, known as the Laikipia Plateau.

Remarks. Neoblastobasis laikipiae and the 

following three species represent the first records of Neoblastobasis in Africa.

Neoblastobasis wangithiae Adamski,

new species

Figures 4, 54, Map 2

Diagnosis. Neoblastobasis wangithiae is similar to N. laikipiae in wing pattern and male genitalia but 

differs from the latter by having the first flagellomere of 

the antenna notched in the male.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus pale brown, most 

scales missing; labial palpi missing; scape of antenna pale 

brown, flagellum gray; first flagellomere of male basally dilated, forming a notchlike concavity; proboscis pale brown.

Thorax: Tegula pale brown; mesonotum dark 

brownish gray anteriorly, pale brown posteriorly. Legs 

missing. Forewing (Figure 54) length 4.1 mm (n = 1), pale 

brown intermixed with brown and brown scales tipped 

with white; median fascia faint; cell with three small, faint 

spots, one near middle and two on tornus; marginal spots 

faint. Undersurface dark brown. Hindwing pale gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 4): Uncus 

abruptly curved subapically, apex broadly rounded; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; 

membrane below gnathos sparsely microtrichiate; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; upper part wide 

basally, developed apically into a setose, digitate process, 

apical part lobelike; base of costa overlaid by a triangular, 

microtrichiate, membranous covering; lower part of valva 

wide, bearing a short, basal spinelike process, extending 

about 1/3 length of costa, subventral area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin angular, produced 

into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus 

slightly curved near middle, sclerite of aedeagus curved 

near apical 1/3; anellus subconical, bearing several conical 

setae. Female genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Gongoni Forest, 

4°24.37'S, 39°28.26'E, 3 May 2001, A & M Coll[ection] 

# 1255, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Pleiocarpa pycnantha”; “Restrictions Apply, NMK-ICIPE, Agreement # 

5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 

5044” [yellow label]; “USNM ENT 00196948” [barcode 

label] [NMK].

Etymology. This species is named in honor 

of Juliet Wangithi Muriuki, who provided technical support for the collection of fruit and reared many of the 

moth specimens included in this paper.

Distribution. Neoblastobasis wangithiae is 

restricted to coastal lowland habitats in southeastern 

Kenya.

Host. Pleiocarpa pycnantha (K. Schum.) (Apocynaceae).

Neoblastobasis perisella Adamski, new species

Figures 5, 21, 62, Map 3

Diagnosis. Neoblastobasis perisella is most 

similar to N. ximeniaella but differs from the latter by 

having a narrower uncus, fewer tergal setae, a more elongate basal spinelike process on the lower part of the valva, 

and a more acutely curved apical part of the aedeagus.

Description.

Head: Vertex pale brown; frontoclypeus pale brown 

with brown scales on lateral margin. Labial palpus with 

widened segments, segment II as wide as scape, inner surface flattened, pale brown; outer surface with segment I and 

basal half of segment II brown, distal half of segment II and 

segment III pale brown; scape of antenna pale brown, flagellum brownish gray; first flagellomere of male basally dilated, 

forming a notchlike concavity. Proboscis pale brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum pale brown intermixed with some brown scales basally. Legs pale brown intermixed with brown scales tipped with white, with a white 

band near middle of all segments and apices of all segments 

and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 62) length 5.1–5.5 mm 

(n = 2), pale brown from base to near midcell, except for 

some brown scales along costa, brown scales and pale brown 

scales tipped with brown intermixed with fewer pale brown 

scales from midcell to outer margin; a brown midcell spot 

and a faint spot near distal end of cell. Fringe pale brown 

intermixed with brown scales tipped with pale brown. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale grayish brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 5): Uncus narrowed medially, slightly broadened apically; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; membrane 

below gnathos microtrichiate; vinculum wide; juxta divided; 

valva divided; costa of upper part basally narrow, developed 

into a setose, digitate process apically; costa base overlaid by 

a triangular, densely microtrichiate, membranous covering; 
1 2 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

lower part of valva wide, bearing a long, broadly curved 

spinelike process, extending beyond lower part of valva to 

near apex of digitate process of upper part of valva; subventral marginal part reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin broadly rounded, produced apically into an 

inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus and sclerite 

of aedeagus curved near apical 1/3; anellus narrowly acuminate, with several conical setae. Female genitalia (Figure 21): Eighth tergum without narrow, darkly pigmented 

streak on median longitudinal axis; membrane surrounding 

MAP 2. Distribution of Neoblastobasis wangithiae.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 1 3

ostium lacking microtrichiae; seventh sternum with spinelike setae; ductus bursae about half as long as ovipositor, 

with internal imbricate platelets in anterior half; inception 

of ductus seminalis slightly anterior to ostium; signum capitulate, with an elongate spinelike inner process.

Holotype. ♂, “Eala, Belgium Congo [Democratic Republic of Congo], JC, 8- [19]35”; “Blastobasis 

byrsodepta Mey[rick], 8/8, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick 

Coll[ection]”; “Meyrick Coll[ection], BM 1938-290”; 

“BM ♂ Genitalia Slide No. 30238” [BMNH].

MAP 3. Distribution of Neoblastobasis perisella.
1 4 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Paratypes (1 ♂, 1 ♀). ♂, “Kenya: Shimba 

Hills, 389 m, 4°15.42'S, 39°22.96'E, 9 Aug. 2002, A & M 

Coll[ection] # 2142, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f.

Hugonia castaneifolia”; “♂ Slide 4911”; “00196947”, 

[NMK]; ♀, “Kenya: Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, 3°12.18'S, 

39°55.63'E, 3 Jan. 2001; A & M Coll. # 960, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Ximenia caffra”; “♀ Slide 5103”; 

“00196946” [NMK].

Etymology. Neoblastobasis perisella is named 

in honor of Peris Machera, an extraordinary and tireless 

worker in the insect-rearing laboratory in Nairobi, Kenya.

Distribution. Neoblastobasis perisella is restricted to coastal lowland habitats in southeastern Kenya.

Hosts. Hugonia castaneifolia Engl. (Linaceae), 

and Ximenia caffra Sond. (Olacaceae).

Remarks. Although the holotype of Neoblastobasis perisella possesses Meyrick’s syntype labels bearing the name B. byrsodepta, the specimen is not part of the 

original series from which the latter species was described.

Neoblastobasis ximeniaella Adamski,

new species

Figures 6, 22, 53, Map 4

Diagnosis. Neoblastobasis ximeniaella is most 

similar to N. perisella but differs from the latter by having 

a wider uncus, more tergal setae, a shorter spinelike process on the lower part of the valva, and a straight aedeagus.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus pale brown; labial 

palpus missing; scape of antenna pale brown; first flagellomere basally dilated, forming a notchlike area between 

dilation and flagellomeres 2–4, distal flagellum missing; 

proboscis pale brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum dark gray basally, 

pale brown distally. Legs missing. Forewing (Figure 53) 

length 6.1–6.7 mm (n = 2), pale brown intermixed with a 

few dark gray scales; base of costa with a few dark gray 

scales; median fascia absent; cell with three dark gray spots, 

one near midcell and two parallel with crossvein near distal 

end. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 6): Uncus 

abruptly curved subapically, apex broadly rounded; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; 

membrane below gnathos microtrichiate; vinculum wide; 

juxta bandlike; valva divided; basal 1/3 of costa of upper 

part overlaid by an elongate covering of dense microtrichiate membrane; distal 2/3 developed into a setose, digitate 

process; lower part of valva wide, bearing a straight spinelike process, extending to near base of acuminate process 

of lower part of valva; subventral area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin rounded, produced 

into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus 

straight, sclerite of aedeagus abruptly curved near apical 

1/3; anellus bearing several conical setae. Female Genitalia (Figure 22): Eighth tergum without a narrow, darkly 

pigmented streak on median longitudinal axis; membrane 

surrounding ostium not microtrichiate; a pair of short, 

membranous, lobelike, invaginations posterolateral to ostium; posterior margin of seventh sternum straight; ductus 

bursae about as long as ovipositor, with imbricate platelets 

on anterior end; inception of ductus seminalis anterior to a 

short membranous antrum; corpus bursae with a hornlike 

signum arising from a small base.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Arabuko-Sokoke 

Forest, 3°12.18'S, 39°55.63'E, 3 Jan. 2001, A & M 

Coll[ection] # 960, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Ximenia caffra”; “Restrictions Apply, NMK-ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, 

No. 5052” [yellow label]; “USNM ENT 00196943” [barcode label]; “DNA” [blue label] [NMK].

Paratypes (1 ♂, 2 ♀). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Same 

label data as holotype except, “101 m”; “♂ Slide 5057”; 

“00196944”; “Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83367” 

[USNM]; “♀ Slide 5104”; “00196945”, ♀ Genitalia Slide 

by DA, USNM 83369” [USNM]; 1 ♀, same as above except, “Kaya Kinondo, 4°23.93'S, 39°31.96'E, 7 July 2001, 

A & M Coll. # 1370, R.S. Copeland; ICIPE/USAID, r.f. 

Calophyllum inophyllum”; “♀ Slide 5851” “00196415”; 

“♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83368.” All paratypes 

deposited in USNM.

Etymology. The species epithet, ximeniaella, 

is derived from the generic name of the plant from which 

the moth was first reared.

Distribution. Neoblastobasis ximeniaella 

is restricted to coastal lowland habitats in southeastern 

Kenya.

Host. Ximenia caffra Sond. (Olacaceae), Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Clusiaceae).

Blastobasis Zeller, 1855

Type Species. Oecophora (Scythris) phycidella Zeller, 1839, by subsequent designation (Walsingham, 1907).

Blastobasis is closely related to Neoblastobasis, but 

in the absence of a phylogenetic analysis their relationship is uncertain. Species of Blastobasis can be recognized 

by having a dilated first flagellomere of the antenna with 

an inner surface bearing palmate scales and corpus bursae 

with a posterior lobe near inception of ductus bursae.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 1 5

Blastobasis millicentae Adamski, new species

Figures 9, 38, Map 5

Diagnosis. Blastobasis millicentae is easily 

distinguished from its congeners by having the following 

autapomorphies: an angular basal part of the costa of the 

upper part of the valva and a large spinelike seta on the 

ventral ridge of the base of the valva.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales pale 

brownish gray tipped with white. Outer surface of labial 

MAP 4. Distribution of Neoblastobasis ximeniaella.
1 6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

palpus white intermixed with brown, inner surface white. 

Scape of antennae brownish gray intermixed with white, 

flagellum pale gray; first flagellomere of male basally dilated laterally, forming a notchlike concavity. Proboscis 

white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with brown scales 

tipped with white. Legs with brown scales tipped with 

white and a white band on apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 38) length 4.1–4.5 mm (n = 2), 

pale brown on basal 2/3 intermixed with a few brown 

MAP 5. Distribution of Blastobasis millicentae.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 1 7

scales, brown intermixed brown scales tipped with white 

and pale brown scales on distal 1/3; a brown spot in cell 

near distal end. Fringe brown tipped with white. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 9): Uncus wide, 

narrowed distally into a slightly rounded apex; gnathos 

wide, dorsoposterior margin protuberant, bidentate medially; vinculum wide; juxta divided; valva divided; upper part 

of valva setose, apically digitate; base of digitate process bifurcate, costal arm angled beyond dorsal articulation, ventral arm reflexed ventrally forming an upturned ridge fusing 

with lower part of valva; ridge bearing a moderately large, 

spinelike seta; lower part of valva wide, subventral area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin moderately angular, produced into an inwardly curved, acuminate 

process; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus slightly curved 

broadly; anellus slightly elongate conical, bearing several 

conical setae. Female genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, “Verulam, [South Africa] 

28.1[January][19]16, A.J.T. Janse”; “26/75”; “Blastobasis egens M[eyrick], Cotype No. 798”; “♂ Genitalia 

Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4739” [TMP].

Paratype. ♂, “Kenya, Shimba Hills, 389 m, 

4°15.42'S, 39°22.96'E, 9 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll[ection] 

# 2139, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Hirtella zanzibarica fruit”; “♂ Slide 4910”; “00196942” [NMK].

Etymology. Blastobasis millicentae is named 

in honor of Millicent Okumu, who, with great skill, managed the laboratory insect-rearing program in Nairobi, 

Kenya.

Distribution. Blastobasis millicentae is restricted to coastal lowland habitats in southeastern Kenya.

Host. Hirtella zanzibarica Oliv. (Chrysobalanaceae).

Remarks. The holotype of Blastobasis millicentae is from the type series of B. egens.

Blastobasis kenya Adamski, new species

Figures 10, 27, 60, Map 6

Diagnosis. Blastobasis kenya is similar to 

B. acirfa and B. aynekiella but differs from the latter two 

species by having a gnathos that is narrower, an acuminate distal process of the lower part of the valva that is 

nearly cylindrical, and female with a base of signum that 

is angular.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales grayish 

brown tipped with pale brown; outer and inner surfaces of 

labial palpus with segment I dark gray; segment II dark gray, 

pale brown subapically; segment III pale brown intermixed 

with few dark gray scales; scape of antenna and first flagellomere pale brown intermixed with few dark gray scales in 

both sexes, flagellum dark gray; first flagellomere of antenna 

dilated, forming a notchlike concavity between dilation and 

flagellomeres 2–4 in male; proboscis grayish brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum dark gray basally, 

grayish-brown scales tipped with pale brown distally. Legs 

dark gray with a pale brown band near midlength of segments and apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing 

(Figure 60) length 6.0–9.2 mm (n = 45), grayish brown intermixed with pale brown and dark brown, or pale brown 

basally, grayish brown distally; costa grayish brown intermixed with a few dark gray scales; basal area with irregular 

patches of dark gray; median fascia complete or incomplete; 

cell with three small dark gray spots, one near midcell and 

two parallel to crossvein near end of cell; marginal spots 

dark gray or faint. Undersurface brown. Hindwing gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 10): Uncus 

abruptly narrowed from base near 1/2 length, gradually 

narrowed to an acuminate apex; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; vinculum wide; juxta 

bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part developed 

into a setose, digitate process; proximal flange elongate, 

overlaid by dense microtrichiate membrane, narrowed distally, contiguous with digital process; lower part of valva 

moderately wide, subventral area reflexed to apicoventral 

margin; apicoventral margin angular, produced into an inwardly curved, cylindrically acuminate process; diaphragm 

aedeagus microtrichiate; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus 

abruptly curved near apical 1/3; anellus bearing several 

conical microsetae near base; vesica near anellus with several hairlike apical cornuti. Female genitalia (Figure 27): 

Eighth tergum with a narrow, darkly pigmented streak on 

median longitudinal axis; membrane surrounding ostium 

densely microtrichiate to lateral margin; ductus bursae 

about a long as ovipositor, with internal imbricate platelets 

on anterior half; inception of ductus seminalis slightly anterior to ostium; corpus bursae with a short spinelike process 

on an angular base.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Karu/Brooks, ca. 

0°8.87'S, 35°15.77'E, Coll[ected] 17 Aug. 2000, R. Copeland, Lot 808, r.f. Flacourtia indica fruit”; “Restrictions 

Apply, NMK/ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂

Genitalia Slide by DA, No. 4218” [yellow label]; “USNM 

ENT 00196941” [barcode label], [holotype is missing labial palpi] [NMK].

Paratypes (20 ♂, 39 ♀). 1 ♀, Same label 

data as above except, “1614 m, 0°08.87'S 36°15.77'E”; 
1 8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

“♀ Slide 5079”; “00196346”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83370” [USNM]; 1 ♀, same label data as above 

except, “0°07.353'S, 35°16.254'E, 28 April 2001, A & M 

Coll. # 1202”; “r.f. Vepris nobilis”; “♀ Slide 5107”; 

“00196368”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83371” 

[USNM]; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, “Kenya: Shimba Hills, 389m, 4°15.42'S, 

39°22.96'E, 9 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll. # 2114, r.f. Trilepisium madagascariense”; “♂ Slide 4902”; “00196289”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83372” [USNM]; “♀

Slide 4919”; “00196325”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83373” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 5098”; “00196362” 

[NMK]; “♀ Slide 4918”; “00196324” [NMK]; 2 ♀, data 

as above except, “A & M Coll. # 2118, r.f. Landolphia

sp.”; “♀ Slide 5113”; “00196374”, “♀ Genitalia Slide by 

DA, USNM 83374” [USNM]; “00196417” [USNM]; 1 ♂, 

“A & M Coll. # 2128, r.f. Xylopia parviflora”; “♂ Slide 

4908”; “00196292” [BMNH]; 1 ♀, “A & M Coll. # 2139, 

r.f. Hirtella zanzibarica”; “♀ Slide 5118”; “00196378” 

[NMK]; 2 ♂, “10 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll. # 2140, r.f. 

Diospyros kabuyeana”; “♂ Slide 4903”; “00196290” 

[NMK]; “♂ Slide 4913”; “00196294” [NMK]; 1 ♂, 

“A & M Coll. # 2111, r.f. Adenia sp.”; “♂ Slide 4904”; 

“00196291”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83375” 

[USNM]; 1 ♀, “A & M Coll. # 2131, r.f. Chrysophyllum 

viridifolium”; “♀ Slide 4921”; “00196326”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83376” [USNM]; 1 ♂, “4°14.27'S, 

39°23.74'E, 436 m, 8 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll. # 2097, 

r.f. Dracaena mannii”; “♂ Slide 4912”; “00196293”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83377” [USNM]; 1 ♀, 

“4°14.68S, 39°25.30E, 398 m, 9 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll. 

# 2075, r.f. Rourea minor”; “♀ Slide 4916”; “00196322” 

[BMNH]; 4 ♀, “Coast Prov., Shimba Hills, 4°14.27'S, 

39°23.74'E, 22.IV.2002, R.S. Copeland”; “ex Fruits 

Mimusops aedificatoria, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. # 1909”; 

“♀ Slide 5076”; “00196940” [BMNH]; “00196411” 

[USNM]; “00196409” [USNM]; “00196408” [USNM]; 

1 ♂, “4°15.696'S, 39°22.747'E, 23.IV.2002, R. S. Copeland”; “ex Hirtella zanzibarica, ICIPE/USAID Coll. 

A & M 1919”; “♂ Slide 5065”; “00196319” [NMK]; 

1 ♂, “4°15.696'S, 39°22.747'E, 23.IV.2002, R.S. Copeland”; “ex fruits, Hirtella zanzibarica, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. 

# 1919”; “♂ Slide 5064”; “00196316”, “♂ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83378” [USNM]; 1 ♂, “4°15.696'S, 

39°22.747'E, 23.IV.2002, R.S. Copeland”; “ex fruits, Hirtella zanzibarica, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. # 1919”; “♂ Slide 

by 5063”; “00196315” [NMK]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “4°14.27'S, 39°23.74'E, 22.IV.2002”; “ex fruits, 

Cola minor, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. # 1906”; “♀ Slide 

5101”; “00196365” [NMK]; 1 ♀, data as above except, 

“407 m, 4°12.330'S, 39°26.412'E, 10 Aug. 2002, A & M 

Coll. # 2070, r.f. Toddalia asiatica”; “♀ Slide 5091”; 

“00196355”; “♀ Slide 5101”; “00196355”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83395” [USNM]; 1 ♂, “Kenya: 

Kaya Kinondo, 4°23.71'S, 39°32.84'E, 5 m, 9 June 2000, 

A & M Coll. # 737, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Diphasia sp.”; “♂ Slide 5053”; “00196312” [NMK]; 1 ♀, 

data as above except, “4°23.93'S, 39°31.96'E, 10 m, 7 

July 2001, A & M Coll. 1359, r.f. Oxyanthus goetzei ssp.

keniensis”; “♀ Slide 5038”; “00196304”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83379” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above 

except, “4°23.71'S, 39°32.84'E, 5 m, 21 July 2000, lot 

779, Terminalia catappa fruit”; “00196427” [USNM]; 1 

♀, data as above except, “4°23.93'S, 39°31.96'E, A & M 

Coll. # 1369, r.f. Terminalia catappa”; “00196419” 

[USNM]; 2 ♂, data as above except, “4°23.71'S, 

39°32.84'E, 5 m, Coll. 20 July 2000, Kip - 654, r.f. Terminalia catappa fruit”; “♂ Slide 5074”; “00196342”; “♂

Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83380” [USNM]; “♂ Slide 

4351”; “00196331” [NMK]; 1 ♂, data as above except, 

“Coll. 21 July 2000, Coll. A & M - 779, r.f. Terminalia 

catappa fruit”; “♂ Slide 4229”; “00196300” [NMK]; 

1 ♂, data as above except, “5 m, 9 Feb. 2003, A & M 

Coll. # 2503, r.f. Inhambanella henriquezii”; “♂ Slide 

5018”; “00196302”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83381” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “Coll. 20 

July 2000, Coll. A & M 763, r.f. Olea woodiana disjuncta

fruit”; “♀ Slide 4363”; “00196340” [NMK]; 1 ♂, data 

as above except, “4°23.93'S, 39°31.96'E, 7 July 2001, 

A & M Coll. # 1346, r.f. Ludia mauritiana”; “♂ Slide 

5043”; “00196305”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83382” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “A & M 

Coll. # 1370, r.f. Calophyllum inophyllum”; “♀ Slide 

5114”; “00196375”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83383” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “A & M Coll. # 1369, r.f. Terminalia catappa”; “♀ Slide 5073”; “00196341”; “♀

Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83384” [USNM]; 1 ♀, 

“4°23.93'S, 39°31.96'E, 7.VII.2001, R.S. Copeland”; “ex 

fruits, Terminalia catappa, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. # 1369”; 

“♀ Slide 5075”; “00196343”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83385” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “Arabuko Sokoke Forest, 

ca. 3°18.01'S, 39°59.14'E, Coll. 15 May 2000, R. Copeland, Kip – 548, r.f. Deinbollia borbonica fruit”; “♀ Slide 

4360”; “00196338”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83386” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “Coll. 16 

May 2000, Kip – 559, r.f. Manilkara sansibarensis fruit”; 

“♀ Slide 4358”; “00196336”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83387” [USNM]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “ca. 

3°19.32'S, 39°57.48'E, Coll. 9 Jan. 2000, Kip – 339, 

r.f. Ximenia caffra”; “♂ Slide 4219”; “00196295”; “♂

Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83388” [USNM]; 1 ♀, 
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 1 9

MAP 6. Distribution of Blastobasis kenya.
2 0 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

data as above except, “3°18'S, 39°59'E, A & M Coll. # 

423, r.f. Strychnos madagascariensis, form e”; “♀ Slide 

5089”; “00196353” [NMK]; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, data as above 

except, “3°17.921'S, 39°59.994'E, 25 Aug. 1999, Kip – 

128, r.f. Salacia elegans”; “♀ Slide 5080”; “00196347” 

[NMK]; 2 ♂, 3 ♀, data as above except, “Gede Forest, 

ca. 3°18.563'S, 40°1.076'E, Coll. 2 April 1999, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 51, r.f. Lepisanthes senegalensis fruit”; 

“♂ Slide 4150”; “00196317”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83389” [USNM]; “♂ Slide 5115”; “00196865”; 

“♀ Slide 4148”; “00196384”; “00196385”; “00196416” 

[MRAC]; 1 ♂, “3°18.47'S, 40°01.05'E, 23-V-2000, R. 

Copeland, Kip – 571, Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius fruit”; 

“♂ Slide 5054”; “00196313” [NMK]; “♀ Slide 5101”; 

“00196365” [NMK]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “Arabuko Sokoke Forest, ca. 3°18.01'S, 39°59.14'E, Coll. 15 

May 2000, R. Copeland, Kip - 548, r.f. Deinbollia borbonica fruit”; “♀ Slide 4360”; “00196338” [NMK]; 1 ♂, 

data as above except, “Kenya: Muhaka Forest, 4°19.76'S, 

39°31.55'E, 2 May 2001, A & M Coll. # 1224, R.S. Copeland, r.f. Diospyros sp.”; “♂ Slide 5051”; “00196311”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83390” [USNM]; 1 ♀, 

data as above except, “4°19.88'S, 39°31.02'E, 12 April 

2000, Kip - 483, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, Reared 

from Unknown fruit”; “♀ Slide 5119”; “00196379”; 

“♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83391” [USNM]; 1 

♂, 1 ♀, data as above except, “Mrima Hill, 4°29.25'S, 

39°15.37'E, 3 May 2001, A & M Coll. # 1221, R.S. 

Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Dovyalis macrocalyx”; “♂

Slide 5047”; “00196307”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83392” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 5086”; “00196350”; 

“♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83396” [USNM]; 

1 ♀, data as above except, “A & M Coll. # 1223, R.S. 

Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Saba comorensis”; “♀ Slide 

5085”; “00196349” [NMK]; 1 ♀, data as above except, 

“Western Koru, Coffee Research Station, 0°08.202'S, 

35°17.086'E, 5.VIII.1999, A & M 232, unknown plant”; 

“♀ Slide 5122”; “00196382”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83393” [USNM];1 ♀, data as above except, “Kericho/Kisumu Road, ca. 0°16.189'S, 35°09.682'E, Coll. 21 

Nov. 1999, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 361, r.f. Vepris 

nobilis fruit”; “♀ Slide 4362”; “00196339”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83394” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as 

above except, “1615 m, 21 Nov. 1999, A & M Coll. # 

361, r.f. Vepris nobilis”; “00196407” [USNM]; 1 ♂, data 

as above except, “Kibwezi Forest, 2°27.95'S, 37°54.91'E, 

988 m, 11 Jan. 2000, A & M Coll. # 424, R.S. Copeland, 

ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Trichilia emetica”; “♂ Slide 5049”; 

“00196309” [MRAC]. Paratypes deposited in BMNH, 

MRAC, NMK, and USNM.

Remarks. Two female specimens missing abdomens (00196429 and 00196430) cluster together in the 

phenogram, apart from the main cluster of Blastobasis 

kenya (Figure 1); we treat as unassociated females, and 

they represent an unknown species.

Etymology. The species epithet, kenya, is a 

noun in apposition recognizing the country of Kenya.

Distribution. Blastobasis kenya is found 

in habitats in the coastal lowlands, eastern midaltitudes 

(Kibwesi Forest, 988 m), and the western highlands.

Hosts. Adenia sp. (Passifloraceae); Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Clusiaceae); Chrysophyllum viridifolium J. M. Wood & Franks (Sapotaceae); Cola minor

Brenan (Sterculiaceae); Deinbollia borbonica Scheff. (Sapindaceae); Diospyros kabuyeana F. White (Ebenaceae); 

Diphasia sp. (Rutaceae); Dovyalis macrocalyx (Oliv.) 

Warb. (Salicaceae); Dracaena mannii Baker (Dracaenaceae); Flacourtia indica (Burm. F.) Merr. (Salicaceae) 

Hirtella zanzibarica Oliv. ssp. zanzibarica (Chrysobalanaceae); Inhambanella henriquezii (Engl. & Warb.) Dubard 

(Sapotaceae); Landolphia sp. (Apocynaceae); Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius Baker ssp. scassellatii (Chiov.) Friis 

(Sapindaceae); Lepisanthes senegalensis (Poir.) Leenh. 

(Sapindaceae); Ludia mauritiana J. F. Gmel. (Salicaceae); 

Manilkara sansibarensis (Engl.) Dubard (Sapotaceae); 

Mimusops aedificatoria Mildbr. (Sapotaceae); Olea 

woodiana Knobl. ssp. disjuncta P. S. Green (Oleaceae); 

Oxyanthus goetzei K. Schum spp. keniensis Bridson (Rubiaceae); Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston (Connaraceae); 

Saba comorensis (Bojer) Pichon (Apocynaceae); Salacia

elegans Oliv. (Celastraceae); Strychnos madagascariensis

Poir., form e of Leeuwenburg (Loganiaceae); Terminalia 

catappa L. (Combretaceae); Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. 

(Rutaceae); Trichilia emetica Vahl (Meliaceae); Trilepisium madagascariense DC. (Moraceae); Vepris nobilis

(Delile) Mziray (Rutaceae); Ximenia caffra Sond. (Olacaceae); and Xylopia sp. (Annonaceae).

Blastobasis acirfa Adamski, new species

Figures 11, 28, 57, Map 7

Diagnosis. Blastobasis acirfa is similar to 

B. kenya and B. aynekiella but differs from the latter two 

species by having a wider gnathos, dorsoposterior margin 

of gnathos widely bidentate medially, and female with a 

funnel-shaped signum within the corpus bursae.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with grayish 

brown scales tipped with pale grayish brown; outer and 
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 2 1

inner surfaces of labial palpus with basal segments brown 

and dark brown intermixed with pale grayish brown scales 

to near apical margin, terminal segment grayish brown intermixed with a few brown scales; scape of antenna yellowish brown, flagellum gray; first flagellomere dilated, 

forming a notchlike concavity between dilated part and 

flagellomeres 2–4 in male; proboscis grayish brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum brown on basal 

half, grayish brown scales tipped with pale grayish brown 

on distal half. Legs dark grayish brown, with a pale brown 

band near middle of all segments and apices of all segments 

and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 57) length 5.9–9.3 mm 

(n = 16), brownish gray intermixed with pale brownish 

gray scales, brownish gray scales tipped with pale brownish gray and brown scales; cell with three small, dark 

brown spots, one near midcell, two near distal end; marginal spots present or absent. Undersurface brown. Hindwing gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 11): Uncus narrowed apically from a slightly elevated base, acuminate 

apex, slightly recurved; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior 

margin widely bidentate medially, shallowly grooved 

between dents; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part produced into a setose, digitate 

process, extending from apicoventral margin of proximal 

flange; proximal flange elongate, overlaid by dense microtrichiate membrane, narrowed distally, contiguous with 

digitate process; lower part of valva moderately wide, 

subventral area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin angular, produced into an acute, inwardly 

curved, acuminate process; process flattened on inner surface; diaphragma microtrichiate; aedeagus and sclerite of 

aedeagus abruptly curved near apical 1/3; anellus with 

several conical setae; vesica near anellus with several hairlike cornuti. Female genitalia (Figure 28): Eighth tergum 

without a narrow, darkly pigmented streak on median 

longitudinal axis; membrane surrounding ostium moderately microtrichiate to lateral margin; seventh sternum 

darkly pigmented along posterolateral margins; ductus 

bursae shorter than ovipositor, with internally imbricate 

platelets on anterior half; inception of ductus seminalis 

slightly anterior to ostium; corpus bursae with a with a 

funnel-shaped signum.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Kakamega Forest, 

0°13.66'N, 34°53.12'E, 15 Aug. 2000, A & M Coll. 

# 817, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Olea welwitschii”; “Restrictions Apply, NMK/ICIPE, Agreement 

# 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, No. 5048” 

[yellow label]; “USNM ENT 00196308” [barcode label] 

[NMK].

Paratypes (3 ♂, 10 ♀). 1 ♀, same label 

data as holotype except, “coll. 11 Oct. 2000, R. Copeland, Lot 912, r.f. Mimusops bagshawei fruit”; “♀ Slide 

4355”; “00196334”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83397” [USNM]; 1 ♂, data as above except, “0°13.14'N, 

34°53.76'E, 14 Oct. 1999, Coll. # 311, R.S. Copeland, 

ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Manilkara butugi”; “♂ Slide 5050”; 

“001966310”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83404” 

[USNM]; 3 ♀, data as above except, “coll. 14 July 2000, 

R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 752, r.f. Manilkara butugi fruit”; “♀ Slide 4345”; “00196327”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83398” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 4346”; 

“00196328” [BMNH]; “♀ Slide 4347”; “00196329”; 

“♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83400” [USNM]; 2 

♀, data as above except, “0°13.14'N, 34°53.76'E, coll. 

15 Aug. 2000, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 820, r.f. Mimusops bagshawei fruit”; “♀ Slide 4353”; “00196332” 

[NMK] “♀ Slide 4359”; “00196337” [MRAC]; 1 ♂, 

data as above except, “ca. 0°14.13'N, 34°51.87'E, 

coll. 14 Aug. 2000, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 821, r.f. 

Olea welwitschii fruit”; “♂ Slide 4225”; “00196297”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83403” [USNM]; 1 

♂, data as above except, “ca. 0°12.34'N, 34°53.57'E, 

coll. 2 June 2000, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 713, r.f. 

Tiliacora funifera fruit”; “♂ Slide 4228”; “00196299” 

[BMNH]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “ca. 0°11.90'N, 

34°52.68'E, coll. 25 Feb. 2000, R. Copeland, Coll. 

A & M 534, r.f. Synsepalum cerasiferum fruit”; “♀ Slide 

4356”; “00196335”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83399” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “0°14.16'N, 

34°51.82'E” “26 April 2001, A & M Coll. # 1215, R.S. 

Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Prunus africana”; “♀ Slide 

5077”; “00196344”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83401” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “Western 

Prov., Kakamega Forest, 0°14.13'N, 34°51.87'E, on 

Olea welwitschii, Oleaceae, 14.VIII.2000, R. Copeland, 

A & M 821”; “♀ Slide 5110”; “00196371”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83402” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data 

as above except, “Coast Prov., Kaya Kinondo, 4°23.71'S, 

39°32.84'E, on Olea woodiana subsp. disjuncta, Oleaceae, 20.VII.2000, R. Copeland, A & M 763”; “♀ Slide 

5095”; “00196359” [NMK]. Paratypes deposited in 

BMNH, MRAC, NMK, and USNM.

Remarks. Four specimens (2 ♂, 2 ♀) from 

Shimba Hills diverge from the main cluster of Blastobasis acirfa in the phenogram (Figure 1). Three of these 

specimens are not treated in the taxonomic section because their identities are uncertain due to their poor condition. Their label data are as follows: 1 ♂, “KENYA: 

Coast Province, Shimba Hills, 4°10.659'S, 39°26.677'E, 
2 2 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

24.IV.2002, R.S. Copeland”; “ex fruits, Saba comorensis, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. # 1901”; “♂ Slide 5062”; 

“00196314” [NMK]; 1 ♀, “Shimba Hills, 4°14.27'S, 

39°23.74'E, 22 Apr. 2002, R.S. Copeland”; “ex fruits 

Mimusops aedificatoria, ICIPE/USAID, Coll. # 1909”; 

“00196410” [NMK]; 1 ♀, “Shimba Hills, 389 m, 

4°15.42'S, 39°22.96'E, 9 Aug. 2002, A & M Coll. # 

2139, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Hirtella zanzibarica fruit”; “♀ Slide 5121”; “00196381” [NMK]. 

The fourth specimen in the divergent cluster (♂ USNM 

MAP 7. Distribution of Blastobasis acirfa.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 2 3

00196356, DA 5092) has been identified as Blastobasis 

chuka and is treated below.

Etymology. The species epithet, acirfa, is 

taken from the name of the continent in which this species 

is known to occur, but spelled backward.

Distribution. Blastobasis acirfa has a disjunct distribution; it is recorded from habitats in the 

coastal lowlands and western highlands.

Hosts. Manilkara butugi Chiov. (Sapotaceae); 

Mimusops bagshawei S. Moore (Sapotaceae); Olea welwitschii (Knobl.) Gilg & Schellenb. (Oleaceae); Olea woodiana Knobl. ssp. disjuncta P. S. Green (Oleaceae); Prunus 

africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae); Synsepalum cerasiferum (Welw.) T. D. Penn. (Sapotaceae); Tiliacora funifera (Miers.) Oliv. (Menispermaceae).

Blastobasis aynekiella Adamski, new species

Figures 12, 29, 56, Map 8

Diagnosis. Blastobasis aynekiella is similar to 

B. kenya and B. acirfa but differs from the latter two species by having the dorsoposterior margin of the gnathos 

more anterior to the base of the uncus, an aedeagus that is 

serpentine shaped, and female with two to three irregular 

rows of spinelike setae on the seventh tergum.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with grayish 

brown scales tipped with pale grayish brown; outer and 

inner surfaces of labial palpus with basal segments brown 

and dark brown scales intermixed with pale grayish brown 

scales to near apical margin, terminal segment grayish 

brown intermixed with few brown scales; scape yellowish 

brown, flagellum gray; first flagellomere of antenna dilated, 

forming a notch between dilation and flagellomeres 2–4 in 

male; proboscis grayish brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with brown scales 

tipped with pale brown. Legs dark brown with a pale brown 

band near middle of segments and apices of all segments 

and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 56) length 6.9–8.3 mm 

(n = 8), yellowish brown intermixed with yellowish brown 

scales tipped with pale yellowish brown and brown scales; 

submedian fascia faint; cell with three small, dark brown 

spots, one near midcell, two near distal end; marginal spots 

present. Undersurface brown. Hindwing gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 12): Uncus 

abruptly narrowed from broadened base, subapically 

curved ventrally, gradually narrowed to an acuminate 

apex; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin bidentate 

medially; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; 

costa of upper part of valva 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 with a flattened inner surface; 

proximal flange elongate, apicoventral margin rounded 

distoventrally, overlaid with dense microtrichiate membrane, narrowed distally, contiguous with digitate process; 

diaphragma microtrichiate; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus serpentine shaped; anellus bearing several conical 

setae throughout length. Female genitalia (Figure 29): 

Eighth tergum without a narrow, darkly pigmented streak 

on median longitudinal axis; membrane surrounding ostium moderately microtrichiate to lateral margin; seventh 

tergum with two to three irregular rows of spinelike setae 

on posterior end; ductus bursae shorter than ovipositor, 

with internal rows of imbricate platelets on anterior half; 

inception of ductus seminalis slightly anterior to ostium; 

corpus bursae with a moderately large capitulate signum 

with a hornlike process.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Kakamega Forest, 

0°14.16'N, 34°51.82'E, 26 April 2001, A & M Coll. # 

1215, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Prunus africana”; 

“Restrictions Apply, NMK/ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, No. 5045” [yellow 

label]; “USNM ENT 00196306” [barcode label] [NMK].

Paratypes (2 ♂, 7 ♀). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, “Kenya: Kakamega Forest, ca. 0°14.13'N, 34°51.87'E, Coll. 14 Aug. 

2000, R. Copeland, Lot 821, r.f. Olea welwitschii fruit”; 

“♂ Slide 4222”; “00196296”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83405” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 4350”; “00196330” 

[NMK]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “31 Oct. 2001, A & M 

Coll. # 1506, R.S. Copeland; ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Mimusops 

bagshawei”; “♀ Slide 4915”; “00196321”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83448” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above 

except, “0°13.10'N, 34°54.06'E, 31 Oct. 2001, A & M Coll. 

1499, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Prunus africana”; 

“00196420” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “0°13.44'N, 34°53.44'E, coll. 

2 May 2000, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 651, r.f. Tiliacora 

funifera fruit”; “♀ Slide 4354”; “00196333”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83406” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data 

as above except, “0°13.14'N, 34°53.76'E, coll. 16 Dec. 

1999, R. Copeland, Coll. A & M 390, r.f. Chrysophyllum 

albidum fruit”; “♂ Slide 4227”; “00196298” [BMNH]; 1 

♂, “Kenya: Western Kakamega Forest on Prunus africana, 

0°14.13'N, 34°51.87'E, 29.III.2000, R. Copeland, A & M 

574”; “♂ Slide 5036”; “00196303” [MRAC]; 1 ♀, data 

as above except, “0°13.14'N, 34°54.14'E; Coll. 13 Apr. 

1999, R. Copeland, Lot 67, r.f. Prunus africana fruit”; 

“♀ Slide 4145”; “00196428”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 
2 4 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

USNM 83407” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “0°13.44'N, 34°53.44'E, 

2.V.2000, R. Copeland, A & M 658”; “♀ Slide 5078”; 

“00196345” [NMK]. Paratypes deposited in BMNH, 

MRAC, NMK, and USNM.

Etymology. The species epithet, aynekiella, 

is taken from the name of the country in which this species 

is known to occur, but spelled backward, with the Latin 

suffix -iella (meaning small) added.

Distribution. Blastobasis aynekiella is known 

only from the western highlands of the Kakamega Forest.

Hosts. Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don (Sapotaceae); Mimusops bagshawei S. Moore (Sapotaceae);

MAP 8. Distribution of Blastobasis aynekiella.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 2 5

Olea welwitschii (Knobl.) Gilg & Schellenb. (Oleaceae); 

Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae); Tiliacora 

funifera (Miers.) Oliv. (Menispermaceae).

Blastobasis catappaella Adamski, new species

Figures 13, 35, 59, Map 9

Diagnosis. Blastobasis catappaella is similar 

to Blastobasis kenya, B. acirfa, and B. aynekiella in wing 

pattern but differs in having a narrower base of the uncus, 

an abruptly narrowed basiventral margin of the proximal 

flange, a narrower base of the digitate process of the upper 

part of the valva, dorsal strut on the dorsoanterior part of 

the tegumen, and female signum with a spine asymmetrically located on base.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus pale brown; labial 

palpus missing; scape of antenna pale brown, flagellum pale 

gray; male first flagellomere dilated, forming a notch adjacent to flagellomeres 2–4; proboscis pale brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum brown basally, 

pale brown distally. Legs brown with a pale brown band 

near middle of all segments and apices of all segments 

and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 59) length 4.0 mm 

(n = 1), pale brown intermixed with brown and a few reddish brown and dark brown scales; middle pale brown intermixed with a few reddish brown scales; median fascia 

present or absent; costal area and area beyond cell brown 

intermixed with a few pale brown scales; cell with three 

dark brown spots, one near middle, two on distal end near 

crossvein; dark brown marginal spots present. Undersurface 

brown. Hindwing pale brown, gradually darkening to apex.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 13): Uncus narrowed near midlength, slightly widened distally; gnathos 

wide, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; dorsal 

strut present; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; 

costa of dorsal 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 surface; proximal flange abruptly 

emarginate basiventrally, overlaid by a dense microtrichiate membrane; contiguous with digitate process; diaphragm 

sparsely microtrichiate; aedeagus and aedeagal sclerite 

broadly curved; anellus elongate, bearing several conical 

setae. Female genitalia (Figure 35): Eighth tergum with a 

narrow, elongate, and darkly pigmented streak on median 

longitudinal axis; membrane surrounding ostium sparsely 

microtrichiate to lateral margin; ductus bursae shorter than 

ovipositor, with internal, imbricate platelets on anterior 2/3; 

inception of ductus seminalis slightly anterior to ostium; 

corpus bursae with a signum with a short spinelike process 

asymmetrically placed on an elongate base.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Laikipia Plateau, 

Mpala Research Centre, 0.293°N, 36.899°E, 1650 m, 16–

19 June 2003, S.E. Miller”; “Restrictions Apply, NMK/

ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide 

by DA, no. 5071” [green label]; “USNM ENT 00196867” 

[barcode label] [NMK].

Paratypes (9 ♂, 4 ♀). 4 ♂, “Kenya: Laikipia Plateau, Mpala Research Centre, 0.293°N, 36.899°E, 

1650 m, 23-26 Dec. 1999, S.E. Miller & T.M. Kuklenski”; 

“♂ Slide 4140”; “00194978”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83408” [USNM]; “♂ Slide 4141”; “00194942”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83410” [USNM]; “♂

Slide 4147”; “00194932” [MRAC]; “♂ Slide 4139”; “♂

Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83411” [USNM]; 2 ♂, 2 

♀, “16-19 June 2003”; “S.E. Miller”; “♀ Slide 5072”; 

“00196868”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83412” 

[USNM]; “00196873” [USNM]; “00196874” [USNM]; 

“00196875” [USNM]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, “6-9 Dec. 2002”; “♂

Slide 5073”; “00196869”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83413” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 5074”; “00196870”; 

“♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83414” [USNM]; 1 ♂, 

1 ♀, “19-21 May 1999”; “♂ Slide 4146”; “00196871” 

[BMNH]; “♀ Slide 4143”; “00192236”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83415” [USNM]; 1 ♂, “Kenya: Kaya 

Kinondo, ca. 4°23.71'S, 39°32.84'E, Coll[ected] 20 July 

2000, R. Copeland, Kip - 654, r.f. Terminalia catappa

fruit”; “Slide 4339”; “00196866” [NMK]. Paratypes deposited in BMNH, MRAC, NMK, and USNM.

Etymology. The specific epithet, catappaella, 

is derived from the species name of the host.

Distribution. Blastobasis catappaella is 

known from habitats along the southeastern coast and in 

the xeric central highlands.

Host. Fruits of Terminalia catappa Linnaeus 

(Combretaceae).

Blastobasis glauconotata Adamski,

new species

Figures 14, 31, 46, Map 10

Diagnosis. Blastobasis glauconotata is most 

similar to B. chuka, but it differs from the latter by having a slightly narrower uncus, a wider inner surface of the 

acuminate process of the lower part of the valva, a narrower microtrichiate area of the valva, a shorter aedeagus, 

a broader anellus of the aedeagus, and female with a ductus bursae that is 2/3 the length of the ovipositor.
2 6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales grayish brown tipped with pale grayish brown; labial palpus 

with outer surface of segments I and II grayish brown intermixed with few pale grayish brown scales to apical margin, 

segment III grayish brown; inner surface as above except, 

segment III darker; scape and flagellum of antenna pale 

grayish brown; male first flagellomere dilated, forming a 

notch between itself and flagellomeres 2–4; proboscis pale 

grayish brown.

MAP 9. Distribution of Blastobasis catappaella.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 2 7

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum brown basally, 

grayish brown distally. Legs brown with a pale grayish 

brown band near middle of all segments and apices of all 

segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 46) length 6.8–

9.1 mm (n = 23), grayish brown intermixed with a few pale 

grayish brown and brown scales or basal 1/3 pale grayish 

brown, distal 2/3 slightly darker; four small brown spots 

present; three spots within cell, one near middle and two 

on distal end near crossvein; one spot posterior to midcell 

spot on CuP; marginal spots dark gray or faint. Undersurface grayish brown. Hindwing pale grayish brown basally, 

gradually darkening to apex.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 14): Uncus 

broadly curved ventrally from a slightly widened base, 

apex rounded narrowly; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior 

margin 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 slightly angular, produced into 

an inwardly curved process; process broad, inner surface 

flattened; proximal flange elongate, overlaid by dense microtrichiate membrane, narrowed distally, contiguous with 

digitate process; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus slightly 

curved slightly above midlength; anellus broadly rounded 

apically, bearing several conical setae. Female genitalia

(Figure 31): Eighth tergum with a narrow, darkly pigmented 

streak along median longitudinal axis; ostium slightly posterior to seventh segment; membrane surrounding ostium 

microtrichiate; medioposterior margin of seventh sternum 

slightly emarginate medially; inception of ductus seminalis 

slightly anterior to ostium; ductus bursae about 2/3 length 

of ovipositor, with internal imbricate platelets on anterior 

half; corpus bursae slightly elongate; signum with a spinelike process arising from middle of a slightly elevated base.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: 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. 5023” [yellow label]; “USNM ENT 

00196876” [barcode label] [NMK].

Paratypes (13 ♂, 25 ♀). 3 ♂, 3 ♀, Same 

label data as above except, “♂ Slide 5024”; “00196882”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83421” [USNM]; “♂

Slide 5026”; “00196883”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83430” [USNM]; “♂ Slide 5027”; “00196884”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83416” [USNM]; “♀

Slide 5022”; “00196877”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83417” [USNM]; “♀ Slide 5028”; “00196878”; 

“♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83418” [USNM]; “♀

Slide 5030”; “00196880”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83419” [USNM]; 1 ♂, label data as above except, “1576 [m], 0°21.237'S, 37°36.184'E, Coll. # 2365, 

r.f. Toddalia asiatica”; “♂ Slide 5017”; “00196386”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83420” [USNM]; 1 

♂, “Mount Elgon, 2452 m, 1°01.730'N, 34°45.280'E, 

29 Jan. 2003, Coll. # 2408, r.f. Ekebergia capensis”; “♂

Slide 5019”; “00196387” [BMNH]; 1 ♂, “Ololua Forest, ca. 1°21.52'S, 36°42.33'E, Coll. 16 July 1999, Coll. 

A & M 181, r.f. Drypetes gerrardii fruit”; “♂ Slide 4223”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83408”; “♂ Wing Slide 

by DA, USNM 83422”; “00196318” [USNM]; 1 ♀, 

data as above except, “8 Apr. 2000, Lot 603, r.f. Solanum anguivi”; “♀ Slide 5094”; “00196358”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83431” [USNM]; 2 ♂, “Nairobi, 

1°16.44'S, 36°48.83'E, 3 June 2001, A & M Coll. # 1290 

[# 1271, for second specimen], r.f. Afrocarpus falcatus”; 

“♂ Slide 5037”; “00196394” [BMNH]; “♂ Slide 5040”; 

“00196395” [NMK]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “21 

April 2001, A & M Coll. # 1190, r.f. Afrocarpus falcatus”; “00196425” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, 

“19 Oct. 2001, A & M Coll. # 1450”; “00196426” 

[USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “30 Mar. 2001, 

A & M Coll. 1129”; “Slide 5106”; “00196367”; 1 ♀, 

data as above except, “29 Jan. 2001, A & M Coll. # 972”; 

“00196422”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83423” 

[USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “29 Jan. 2001, 

A & M Coll. # 972”; “00196422” [USNM]; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, 

“Central Prov. Njukini Forest, 0°31.15'S, 37°25.19'E, 24 

July 2001, A & M Coll. # 1397, r.f. Chaetacme aristata”; 

“♂ Slide 5041”; “00196396” [NMK]; “♀ Slide 5116”; 

“00196376” [MRAC]; “♀ Slide 5117”; “00196377” 

[NMK]; “00196423” [USNM]; 1 ♂, “Ngong R[oa]d Forest, 1°18.82'S, 36°43.88E, 6 April 2001, A & M Coll. 

# 1151, r.f. Warburgia ugandensis”; “♂ Slide 5046”; 

“00196397” [MRAC]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “6 April 

2001, A & M Coll. # 1156, r.f. Schrebera alata”; “♀ Slide 

5109”; “00196370”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 

83432” [USNM]; “00196412” [USNM]; 1 ♂, “A & M 

1157, r.f., fruit Vepris simplicifolia”; “♂ Slide 5059”; 

“00196401”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83424” 

[USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “A & M Coll. # 1153, 

r.f. Mimusops kummel”; “♀ Slide 5099”; “00196363” 

[MRAC]; 1 ♀, data as above except, “6 April 2001, Coll. 

A & M 1151, r.f. Warburgia ugandensis”; “♀ Slide 5096”; 

“00196360”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by DA, USNM 83425” 

[USNM]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “1829 m, A & M 

Coll. # 1149, r.f. Elaeodendron buchananii”; “♀ Slide 

5111”; “00196372” [BMNH]; “00196421” [USNM]; 2 
2 8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

♂, “Karura Forest, 1759 m, ca. 1°14.28'S, 36°47.66'E, 9 

Apr. 2001, A & M Coll. # 1162, r.f. fruit, Schrebera alata”; 

“♂ Slide 5056”; “00196399”; “♂ Genitalia Slide by DA, 

USNM 83446” [USNM]; “♂ Slide 5060”; “00196402” 

[BMNH]; 2 ♀, data as above except, “1655 m, 1°14.95'S, 

36°50.83'E, 26 April 2004, A & M Coll. # 2778”; “r.f. 

Vepris trichocarpa”; “00196432” [USNM]; “00196434” 

[USNM]; 1 ♀, “Ngala Forest, lower portion, 1230 m, 

0°19.87'N, 38°01.96'E, 27 May 2004, A & M Coll. 

# 2918, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID”; “r.f. Strychnos 

MAP 10. Distribution of Blastobasis glauconotata.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 2 9

mitis”; “00196433” [USNM]; 1 ♀, data as above except, 

“upper portion, 1420 m, 0°23.36'N, 38°00.88'E, 10 Sept. 

2003, A & M Coll. # 2571”; “r.f. Rawsonia lucida”; 

“00196431” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “Kirimiri Forest, 1745 m, 

0°25.45'S, 37°32.71'E, 8 Nov. 2001, A & M Coll. 

# 1510, RS Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Cussonia spicata”; “♀ Slide 5084”; “00196348”; “♀ Genitalia Slide 

by DA, USNM 83428” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “City Park Forest, 

1697 m, 1°15.61'S, 36°49.76'E, 19 April 2001, A & M 

Coll. # 1183, RS Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Strychnos mitis”; “♀ Slide 5088”; “00196352”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83429” [USNM]; 1 ♀, “Mau Forest, 2175 m, 0°14.13'S, 35°32.94'E, 3 Feb. 2003, A & M 

Coll. 2459, R.S. Copeland, ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Vepris nobilis”; “♀ Slide 5021”; “00196892”; “♀ Genitalia Slide 

by DA, USNM 83427” [USNM]. Paratypes deposited in 

BMNH, MRAC, NMK, and USNM.

Etymology. The species epithet, glauconotata, is a compound word derived from the Latin, 

glauco, meaning gray, and nota, meaning spot, referring 

to the dark gray marginal spots on the distal third of the 

forewing.

Distribution. Blastobasis glauconotata is 

known from habitats in the central and western highlands 

and in the central midaltitudes of Ngaia Forest at 1230 m.

Hosts. Fruits of Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) 

C. N. Page (Podocarpaceae); Chaetacme aristata Planch. 

(Ulmaceae); Cussonia spicata Thunb. (Araliaceae); Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. (Euphorbiaceae); Elaeodendron buchananii (Loes.) Loes. (Celastraceae); Ekebergia capensis

Sparrm. (Meliaceae); Mimusops kummel A. DC. (Sapotaceae); Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae); 

Rawsonia lucida Harv. & Sond. (Achariaceae); Schrebera 

alata (Hochst.) Welw. (Oleaceae); Solanum anguivi Lam. 

(Solanaceae); Stychnos mitis S. Moore (Loganiaceae); Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. (Rutaceae); Vepris nobilis (Delile) 

Mziray (Rutaceae); Vepris simplicifolia (Engl.) Mziray 

(Rutaceae); Vepris trichocarpa (Engl.) Mziray (Rutaceae); 

Warburgia ugandensis Sprague (Canellaceae).

Blastobasis chuka Adamski, new species

Figures 16, 36, 44, Map 11

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, 
3 0 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

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 

MAP 11. Distribution of Blastobasis chuka.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 3 1

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).

Blastobasis elgonae Adamski, new species

Figures 15, 49, Map 12

Diagnosis. Blastobasis elgonae is most similar to B. indigesta but differs from the latter by having a 

narrower uncus, a narrower gnathos, more tergal setae on 

dorsolateral part of tegumen, a broader apicoventral margin of the lower part of the valva, and a longer aedeagus.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales grayish 

brown tipped with white; labial palpus with outer margin 

of segments I and II grayish brown intermixed with pale 

brown scales to near apical margin, segment III brown intermixed with few pale gray scales; scape of antenna pale 

gray, flagellum gray; male first flagellomere dilated, forming 

a notch between itself and flagellomeres 2–4. Proboscis pale 

grayish brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with scales grayish brown tipped with pale gray. Legs grayish brown with 

a pale gray band on apices of all segments and tarsomeres. 

Forewing (Figure 49) length 6.8 mm (n = 1), grayish brown 

intermixed with grayish brown scales tipped with pale gray, 

pale gray scales, and a few dark brown scales; median fascia complete, margin demarcated with pale gray scales; cell 

with three small dark brown spots, one spot near middle 

and two spots on distal end near crossvein. Undersurface 

grayish brown. Hindwing pale gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 15): Uncus narrow, parallel sided from a slightly widened base, subapically 
3 2 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

curved, apex rounded narrowly; gnathos narrow, dorsoposterior margin shallowly bidentate medially; vinculum wide; 

juxta bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part produced 

into a setose, digitate process; proximal flange elongate, 

gradually widened distally, apicoventral margin broadly 

rounded, overlaid by dense microtrichiate membrane, 

contiguous with digitate process; lower part of valva moderately wide basally, slightly widened distally, subventral 

area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin 

broadly angular, produced into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; process dilated, inner surface flattened; 

aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus abruptly curved near 

MAP 12. Distribution of Blastobasis elgonae.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 3 3

apical 1/3; anellus broadly rounded apically, bearing several 

conical setae. Female genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Mount Elgon, 2450 m, 

1°01.73'N, 34°45.28'E, 1 Feb. 2003, A & M Coll[ection] 

# 2446, R.S. Copeland; ICIPE/USAID, r.f. Vepris nobilis”; 

“Restrictions Apply, NMK/ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 5020” 

[yellow label]; “USNM ENT 00196891” [barcode label] 

[NMK].

Etymology. The species epithet, elgonae, is 

derived from Mount Elgon, the only known collecting site 

for Blastobasis elgonae.

Distribution. Blastobasis elgonae is known 

from one habitat on Mount Elgon in the western highlands.

Host. Fruits of Vepris nobilis (Delile) Mziray 

(Rutaceae).

Blastobasis indigesta Meyrick, 1931,

revised status

Figures 8, 43

Blastobasis indigesta Meyrick, 1931:177.

Neoblastobasis indigesta: Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis indigesta is most similar to B. elgonae but differs from the latter by having a 

wider uncus, a wider gnathos, a linear apicoventral margin of the lower part of the valva, and a shorter aedeagus.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales brownish gray tipped white. Outer surface of labial palpus brownish gray intermixed with a few brownish gray scales tipped 

with white and a few white scales on segment II apically, 

inner surface paler. Scape of antenna with brownish gray 

scales tipped with white, flagellum pale gray; male first flagellomere dilated, forming a notch between itself and flagellomeres 2–4. Proboscis with scales brownish gray tipped 

with white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with scales brownish gray tipped with white. Leg scales brownish gray tipped 

with white, with a pale gray band on apices of all segments 

and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 43) length 7.0–7.9 mm 

(n = 3), brownish gray tipped with white intermixed with 

white scales. Three discal spots dark brown, one near 

midcell, two on distal end near crossvein. Fringe pale 

brown tipped with white. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 8): Uncus wide, 

slightly narrowed near midlength; gnathos wide, dorsoposterior margin narrowly bidentate medially; vinculum 

wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part 

produced into a setose, digitate process; lower part of 

valva moderately wide, submarginal area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin slightly angular, 

produced into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; 

proximal flange subquadrate, apicoventral margin angular, overlaid by dense microtrichiate membrane, contiguous with digitate process; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus 

broadly curved; anellus bearing several conical setae. Female genitalia (poor dissection, not figured): Eighth tergum with a narrow, darkly pigmented median longitudinal 

streak; seventh sternum broad; ostium slightly posterior to 

seventh segment; ductus bursae thin, elongate, coiled and 

spinulate on anterior 1/16 length; corpus bursae slightly 

elongate, with hornlike signum on anterior end.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♂, “Bulawayo, 

[Zimbabwe] 15-23 Dec. 1919, A.J.T. Janse”; “328”; 

“Blastobasis indigesta M[eyrick], Type No. 808”; “♂

Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4735” [TMP]. A lectotype is being designated in order to maintain stability of 

usage of the name.

Paralectotypes (2 ♀). ♀, “Bulawayo, 

[Zimbabwe] 15-23, Dec. 1919, A.J.T. Janse”; “330”; 

“Blastobasis indigesta M[eyrick], Cotype No. 809”; “♀

Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4736” [TMP]; ♀, 

“Syntype” [round, blue-bordered label]; “Bulawayo, Rhodesia, AJT J[anse], 12[Dec] 19[19]”; “Blastobasis indigesta

Mey[rick], 1/1, E. Meyrick Det., in Meyrick Coll[ection]”; 

“Meyrick Coll[ection], B.M. 1938-290”; “indigesta 

Meyr[ick]”; “BM ♀ Genitalia Slide No. 19982” [BMNH]. 

The two female paralectotypes are in poor condition.

Remarks. Sinev (2004) erroneously transferred Blastobasis indigesta to Neoblastobasis and did not 

examine all available type specimens for this species.

Blastobasis eridryas Meyrick, 1932

Figures 18, 40

Blastobasis eridryas Meyrick, 1932:114.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis eridryas is most similar to B. elgonae and B. indigesta but differs from the latter two species by having a wider uncus, a wider digitate 

process of the upper part of the valve, a larger microtrichiate area of the valva, and a more conical anellus.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex pale grayish yellow, some scales 

tipped with white. Outer surface of labial palpus with segments I and II brown, except apical margin of segment II pale 

grayish yellow; segment III pale grayish yellow intermixed 
3 4 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

with brown scales; inner surface pale grayish yellow intermixed with a few brown scales. Scape of antenna pale grayish yellow, flagellum gray; cilia long; male first flagellomere 

dilated, forming a notch between itself and flagellomeres 

2–4. Proboscis pale gray.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum grayish brown. 

Legs grayish brown, with a pale grayish yellow band near 

middle of all segments and apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 40) length 8.0 mm (n = 1), pale 

brownish yellow intermixed with few brownish red scales 

tipped with pale grayish yellow on basal 2/3, distal 1/3 with 

brownish red scales tipped with pale grayish yellow intermixed with brown scales tipped with pale grayish yellow 

and a few pale grayish yellow scales; a small rectangular gray 

spot near midcell. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 18): Uncus wide 

throughout length, slightly constricted near midlength, apex 

broadly rounded; gnathos wide, dorsoposterior margin 

broadly protuberant, shallowly bidentate medially; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part 

produced into a setose, digitate process; proximal flange 

elongate, apicoventral margin broadly rounded, overlaid by 

dense microtrichiate membrane, contiguous with digitate 

process; lower part of valva moderately wide, subventral 

area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin 

angular, produced into an inwardly curved, apical process; 

process broad basally, inner surface flattened; aedeagus and 

sclerite of aedeagus abruptly curved near apical 1/3; anellus gradually narrowed from base, bearing several conical 

setae. Female genitalia: Unknown.

Lectotype. ♂, Designated herein, “Type” 

[round, red-bordered label]; “[Ethiopia] Abyssinia, 

M[oun]t Chillálo, [Jem-Jem] Forest, ca 8500 f[ee]t, 

24.IX.1926, H. Scott [Collector]”; “Brit[ish] Mus[eum], 

1927-127”; “Blastobasis eridryas Meyr[ick], Type ♂”; 

“Blastobasis eridryas n. sp”; “♂ BM Genitalia Slide No. 

30245” [BMNH]. A lectotype is being designated in order 

to maintain stability of usage of the name.

Remarks. A paralectotype ♂ with the same 

label data as lectotype, except “♂ BM Genitalia Slide No. 

28894” [BMNH].

Blastobasis mpala Adamski, new species

Figures 17, 37, 55, Map 13

Diagnosis. Blastobasis mpala is similar to 

B. egens in forewing pattern but differs genitally from 

the latter by having a smaller gnathos, a wider aedeagus, 

and female with a longer ductus bursae and corpus bursae 

with a signum present.

Description.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus pale yellowish 

brown; outer surface of labial palpus with segments I and 

II brown intermixed with pale yellowish brown scales to 

apical margin, segment III pale yellowish brown; inner surface pale yellowish brown; scape of antenna pale yellowish 

brown, flagellum pale brown; male first flagellomere dilated 

basally, forming a notchlike opening between the inner surface of the dilated part and flagellomeres 2–4. Proboscis 

pale yellowish brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum pale brown basally, pale yellowish brown apically. Legs pale brown with 

a pale yellowish brown band on apices of all segments 

and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 55) length 7.1–8.2 mm 

(n = 2), pale yellowish brown intermixed with pale brown 

scales and a few brown scales; cell with one small brown 

spot near middle and with one or two spots on distal 

end near crossvein. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale 

brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 17): Uncus 

gradually narrowed from a wide base, slightly curved 

ventrally, apex slightly rounded; gnathos wide, dorsoposterior margin bidentate medially; vinculum wide, juxta 

bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper part produced 

into a setose, digitate process; proximal flange subquadrate, apicoventral margin slightly rounded, overlaid by 

dense microtrichiate membrane, contiguous with 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 surface; aedeagus straight, 

slightly widened basally; sclerite of aedeagus abruptly 

curved near apical 1/3 and near base; anellus truncated 

apically, bearing several conical setae. Female genitalia

(Figure 37): Eighth tergum rectangular with an elongate 

darkly pigmented streak along the median longitudinal 

axis; ostium within membrane near posterior margin of 

seventh sternum; posterior margin of seventh sternum 

straight with narrowly rounded posterolateral margins; 

inception of ductus seminalis on ductus bursae slightly 

anterior to ostium; ductus bursae slightly shorter than ovipositor, with anterior 1/4 spinulate; corpus bursae with a 

hornlike signum.

Holotype. ♂, “Kenya: Laikipia Plateau, 

Mpala Research Centre, 0.293°N, 36.899°E, 23-25 May 

1998, 1650 m, S.E. Miller & T.M. Kuklenski”; “USNM 

ENT 00193006” [barcode label]; “Restrictions Apply, 

NMK-ICIPE, Agreement # 5” [purple label]; “♂ Genitalia 

Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4137” [yellow label]. Deposited 

in NMK.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 3 5

Paratype. ♀, Same label data as above, except “19-21 May 1999”; “S. E. Miller”; “USNM ENT 

00192030” [barcode label]; “♀ Slide 4138”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by DA, USNM 83408” [USNM].

Etymology. Blastobasis mpala is named in 

honor of the Mpala Research Centre.

Distribution. Blastobasis mpala is known 

from savanna habitat in the central highlands.

MAP 13. Distribution of Blastobasis mpala.
3 6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Blastobasis egens Meyrick, 1918

Figures 19, 24, 45

Blastobasis egens Meyrick, 1918:37.—Ghesquière, 1940: 

68.—Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis egens is similar to 

B. mpala in forewing pattern, but it differs from the latter 

by having a more elongate gnathos, a smaller aedeagus, 

and female with a shorter ductus bursae and corpus bursae with a signum absent.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales pale 

brown tipped with white. Outer surface of labial palpus 

white intermixed with brown scales, with white along apical margin of segment II; inner surface white. Scape of antenna with scales pale brown tipped with white, flagellum 

gray, first flagellomere of male basally dilated, forming a 

notch between itself and flagellomeres 2–4. Proboscis pale 

brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with scales brown 

tipped with white. Legs with scales brown tipped with 

white, with a white band on apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 45) length 4.5–4.9 mm (n = 3), 

white intermixed with brown scales along costa and distal 

1/2; three brown spots in cell, one near middle, two on distal end near crossvein. Undersurface brown. Fringe brown 

tipped with white. Hindwing pale brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 19): Uncus gradually narrowed from a wide base, subapically curved ventrally, apex rounded narrowly; gnathos wide and elongate, 

dorsoposterior margin protuberant, bidentate medially; vinculum wide; juxta bandlike; valva divided; costa of upper 

part produced into a setose, digitate process; proximal flange 

elongate, apicoventral margin broadly rounded, overlaid by 

dense microtrichiate membrane, contiguous with digitate 

process; lower part of valve moderately wide, subventral 

area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin 

rounded, produced into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus and sclerite of aedeagus slightly curved apically; anellus bearing several conical setae. Female genitalia

(Figure 24): Eighth tergum with a narrow, darkly pigmented 

streak along median longitudinal axis; ostium slightly posterior to seventh segment; ductus bursae short, not extending 

beyond seventh segment; ductus seminalis slightly posterior 

to ostium; corpus bursae small, signum absent.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♂, “Umkomaas, [South Africa] 25.1[January][19]14, A.J.T. Janse”; 

“25/30”; “Blastobasis egens M[eyrick], Cotype No. 800”; 

“♂ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4740” [TMP]. A 

lectotype is being designated in order to maintain stability 

of usage of the name.

Paralectotypes (3 ♂, 3 ♀). ♀, “Umkomaas, 1[January]14, A.J.T. Janse”; “26/58”; “B. egens

M[eyrick]”; “Blastobasis egens M[eyrick], Type No. 

796”; “♀ Slide 4743” [TMP]; ♂, “Nkwaleni, 10.1[January][19]16, A.J.T. Janse”; “25/37”; “Blastobasis egens 

M[eyrick], Cotype No. 801”; “♂ Slide 4742” [TMP]; ♂, 

“Eshowe, Zululand, A.J.T. J[anse], 4.1[January][19]16,

Blastobasis egens Meyr[ick], 7/3, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll[ection]”; “Meyrick Coll[ection], B.M. 1938-

290”; “BM ♂ Slide No. 30240” [BMNH]; ♀, “Nkwaleni, 

10.1[January][19]16, A.J.T. Janse”; “25/56”; “Blastobasis egens M[eyrick], Cotype No. 799”; “♀ Slide 4744” 

[TMP]; ♀, “Natal, New Hanover, A.J.T. Janse, 1[January]13[1916?]”; “Blastobasis egens Meyr[ick], 7/6, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll[ection]”; “Meyrick Coll[ection], 

B.M. 1938-290”; “BM ♀ Slide No. 30241” [BMNH]; 

♂, “New Hanover, Hardenb, 1[January]13[1916?], 

Coll[ector] Janse”; “25/04”; “Blastobasis egens M[eyrick], 

Cotype No. 811”; “♂ Slide 4741” [TMP].

Remarks. Blastobasis egens was described 

from a mixed series of 10 specimens, 3 of which are missing. Three female paralectotypes from New Hanover, Nkwaleni, and Umkomaas represent different species. The 

female from Umkomaas is believed to be conspecific with 

the male holotype, but the slide-mounted genitalia are in 

poor condition and are not illustrated. The paralectotype 

♂ from Verulam is not conspecific with the holotype. In 

addition, a female specimen in the Transvaal Museum 

bearing the following label data is not believed to be part 

of the original type series and is not dissected: “Maritzburg, 1.2.[19]16, A.J.T. Janse”; “39/93”; “Blastobasis 

egens M[eyrick], Cotype No. 797”.

Sinev (2004) and Ghesquière (1940) made erroneous 

host associations between reared moth samples and several plant species, including Borassus aethiopum Mart.

(Arecaceae), by not comparing dissected type material of 

Blastobasis egens with the reared specimens.

Blastobasis fatigata Meyrick, 1914

Figures 7, 61

Blastobasis fatigata Meyrick, 1914a:195.—Janse, 1917: 

192, check list.—Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis fatigata can be distinguished easily from other African Blastobasis by having a 

cluster of large setae on the base of the digitate process of 

the upper part of the valva.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 3 7

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales grayish brown tipped with white. Outer surface of labial palpus 

with scales grayish brown tipped with white intermixed 

with few brown scales tipped with white, inner surface 

paler. Scape of antenna with scales grayish brown tipped 

with white, flagellum pale gray; first flagellomere unmodified in male. Proboscis pale grayish brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum dark brown basally, pale grayish brown apically. Legs pale brown intermixed with grayish brown scales tipped with white and 

dark brown scales tipped with white, and a pale brown 

band near middle of all segments apices of all segments and 

tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 61) length 6.0 mm (n = 1), 

scales pale grayish brown tipped with white intermixed 

with few brown scales and brown scales tipped with white; 

base of costa brown; cell with two faint brown spots, one 

near middle and one near distal end; one faint brown spot 

outside cell posterior to spot near distal end; marginal spots 

faint. Fringe pale brownish gray, darkening to apex. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale brown, gradually darkening 

to apex.

Abdomen: Male genitalia (Figure 7): Uncus wide 

basally, subapically curved ventrally, gradually narrowed, 

apex narrowly rounded; gnathos elongate, dorsoposterior 

margin slightly protuberant, bidentate medially; dorsal strut 

present; vinculum narrow; juxta divided; valva divided; 

ventrodistal margin of proximal flange subquadrate, overlaid by dense microtrichiate membrane, contiguous distally 

with a setose, digitate process; middle area of upper part 

bearing a cluster of several large spinelike setae; lower part 

of valva moderately wide, subventral area reflexed to apicoventral margin; apicoventral margin rounded, produced 

into an inwardly curved, acuminate process; aedeagus and 

sclerite of aedeagus acutely curved near apical 1/3; anellus 

bearing several conical setae. Female genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, “Pretoria, [South Africa] 

25.2. [Feb][19]13, A.J.T. Janse”; “36/40”; “B. Fatigata”; 

“D. Adamski Genitalia slide no. 4378”; “Blastobasis fatigata M[eyrick], Type No. 804” [TMP].

Blastobasis taricheuta Meyrick, 1909

Figures 26, 50

Blastobasis taricheuta Meyrick, 1909:372.—Janse, 1917: 

192, check list.—Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis taricheuta is similar 

in wing pattern to B. trachilista but can be distinguished 

from the latter genitalically by having a wider ostium, 

antrum, and posterior part of ductus bursae, and an inner 

surface of the corpus bursae that is not spinulate.

Relationships between Blastobasis taricheuta and 

B. trachilista are uncertain because the males of both species are unknown.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus brown. Outer surface of labial palpus brown intermixed with pale brown 

scales on apical margin of segment II and basal area of segment III; inner surface brown intermixed with pale gray 

scales. Scape and flagellum of antenna brown. Proboscis 

brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum brown. Legs 

brown, with a pale brown band near middle of all segments 

and apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 50) length 9.6 mm (n = 1), brown intermixed with a 

few pale brown scales. Fringe brown. Undersurface brown.

Hindwing pale brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 26): Eighth sternum with a darkly pigmented streak along median longitudinal axis; ostium 

slightly posterior to seventh segment; membrane posterolateral to ostium microtrichiate; posterior margin of seventh 

sternum broadly emarginated medially; ductus seminalis 

slightly anterior of antrum; ductus bursae longer than ovipositor, with anterior 1/3 with rows of internal, imbricate 

platelets; corpus bursae elliptical, with a hornlike signum 

on posterior end.

Holotype. ♀, “Type” [red label]; “[South Africa], Cape T[own], Lightfoot”; “Blastobasis taricheuta 

Meyr[ick], Type”; “Meyrick Det.”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by 

D. Adamski, No. 4539” [yellow label] [SAMC].

Blastobasis trachilista Meyrick, 1921

Figures 25, 52

Blastobasis trachilista Meyrick, 1921:117.—Sinev, 2004: 

116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis trachilista is similar in 

wing pattern to B. taricheuta, but it can be distinguished 

genitalically from the latter by having a narrower ostium, 

antrum and posterior part of ductus bursae, and an inner 

surface of the corpus bursae that is densely spinulate. 

Relationships between Blastobasis trachilista and B. taricheuta are uncertain because the males for both species 

are unknown.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus pale yellow. Outer 

surface of labial palpus with segment I and basal 1/3 of 
3 8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

segment II brownish yellow, distal 2/3 of segment II and 

segment III pale brown; inner surface pale yellow. Scape of 

antenna pale reddish brown intermixed with pale yellowish 

brown, flagellum brown. Proboscis pale yellow.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum brown or brown 

with pale yellow scales basally. Legs brown, with a pale 

brown transverse band near middle of all segments and apices of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 52) 

length 6.0–6.2 mm (n = 2), pale reddish brown intermixed 

with reddish brown scales tipped with pale brown and pale 

brown scales. Three brown spots present in cell, one near 

midcell and two near distal end near crossvein. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale brownish gray.

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 25): Eighth tergum with a narrow, darkly 

pigmented streak along median longitudinal axis; ostium 

within membrane slightly posterior to seventh sternum; 

membrane r lateral and posterolateral to ostium microtrichiate; seventh sternum straight; antrum short; inception of 

ductus seminalis proximal to ostium; ductus bursae shorter 

than ovipositor, with rows of internal, imbricate platelets 

on anterior 1/3; corpus bursae densely spiculate; signum 

hornlike with a conical base.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♀, “Umtali, 

Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], A.J.T. J[anse], 13-1 [January]-

[19]18”; “Blastobasis trachilista Meyr[ick], 1/1, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll[ection]”; “Meyrick Coll[ection], 

BM 1938-290”; “trachilista Meyr[ick]”; “BM ♀ Genitalia 

slide No. 30236” [BMNH]. A lectotype is being designated in order to maintain stability of usage of the name.

Paralectotype. ♀, “Umtali, Rhodesia, 4-1 

[January]- [19]18, A.J.T. Janse”; “23/27”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4490” [yellow label]; “Blastobasis trachilista M[eyrick], Type No. 807” [TMP]. Specimen has a badly damaged abdomen, which has been 

dissected and slide mounted.

Blastobasis determinata Meyrick, 1921

Figures 30, 41

Blastobasis determinata Meyrick, 1921:116.—Sinev, 

2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis determinata is similar to B. byrsodepta in wing pattern, but it can be distinguished from the latter by having a narrower ostium and 

the absence of a cuplike antrum. Relationships of Blastobasis determinata and B. byrsodepta are uncertain because 

the males for both species are unknown.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales grayish 

brown, apically tipped with white. Outer surface of labial 

palpus grayish brown intermixed with a few grayish brown 

scales tipped with white, and white scales apically on segment I and basally on segment III; inner surface similar in 

pattern but paler. Scape of antenna with grayish brown 

scales tipped with white, flagellum gray. Proboscis with 

grayish brown scales tipped with white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with scales grayish brown tipped with white. Legs with scales grayish 

brown tipped with white, with a white band near middle 

of all segments and apices of all segments and tarsomeres. 

Forewing (Figure 41) length 5.9 mm (n = 1), grayish brown 

intermixed with a few grayish brown scales tipped with 

white and white scales; basal 1/3 paler than distal 2/3; median fascia grayish brown, complete, demarcated on inner 

margin with a narrow band of white scales; two grayish 

brown spots near end of cell. Fringe grayish brown tipped 

with white. Undersurface grayish brown. Hindwing pale 

grayish brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 30): Eighth tergum without a pigmented 

streak along medial longitudinal axis; ostium within membrane slightly posterior to seventh sternum; membrane 

slightly microtrichiate on posteriolateral margins of ostium; 

posterior margin of seventh tergum slightly emarginated 

medially, with two or three transverse rows of spinelike 

setae on posterior end; inception of ductus seminalis on 

ductus bursae near posterior end of seventh segment; ductus bursae shorter than ovipositor, with several rows of internal, imbricate platelets on posterior 2/3; corpus bursae 

slightly elongate, signum hornlike with a dilated base.

Holotype. ♀, “Moorddrift, [South Africa] 

Oct[ober] 1909, C.J. Swierstra”; “916”; “♀ Genitalia 

Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4488” [yellow label]; “Blastobasis determinata Meyr. Type No. 2552” [TMP].

Blastobasis byrsodepta Meyrick, 1913

Figures 34, 47

Blastobasis byrsodepta Meyrick, 1913:314.—Janse, 1917: 

192, check list.—Hargraves, 1930:98.—Ghesquière, 

1940:68, pl. II, figs. 11–12.—Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis byrsodepta is similar 

to B. determinata in wing pattern, but it can be distinguished genitalically from the latter by having a wider 

ostium and a cuplike antrum of the ductus bursae. 
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 3 9

Relationships of both species are uncertain because the 

males for both species are unknown.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with scales grayish brown tipped with white. Outer surface of labial palpus 

brown, inner surface paler. Scape of antenna with scales 

grayish brown tipped with white, flagellum gray. Proboscis 

with scales grayish brown tipped with white.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with scales grayish brown tipped with white, basally dark, gradually paler 

to apex. Legs with grayish brown scales tipped with white, 

with a white band near middle of all segments and apices of 

all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 47) length 

6.0–7.0 mm (n = 2), grayish brown scales tipped with white 

intermixed with pale grayish brown scales tipped with 

white and brown scales; median fascia complete, incomplete, or faint. Fringe grayish brown tipped with white. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale grayish brown, gradually 

darkening to apex.

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 34): Eighth sternum subquadrate; eighth 

tergum with a narrow and short, darkly pigmented area 

along median longitudinal axis; ostium slightly posterior 

to seventh segment; posterior margin of seventh sternum 

nearly straight; seventh tergum with several irregular rows 

of spinelike setae; inception of ductus seminalis near posterior margin of seventh segment; ductus bursae shorter than 

ovipositor, with rows of internal, imbricate platelets on anterior half; corpus bursae elliptical, with hornlike signum 

on posterior end.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♀, “Barberton, [South Africa] 31 Dec. 1910, A.J.T. Janse”; “31/07”; 

“Blastobasis byrsodepta”; “♀ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski No. 4630”; “Blastobasis byrsodepta”; “M[eyrick], 

Type No. 795” [TMP]. A lectotype is being designated in 

order to maintain stability of usage of the name.

Paralectotypes (2 ♀). 1 ♀, “Waterval Onder, 2 Nov. 1910”; “30/72”; “♀ Genitalia Slide 

by D. Adamski, No. 4631”; “Blastobasis byrsodepta 

M[eyrick], Cotype No. 810” [TMP]; 1 ♀, “Pinetown, 

Natal, L[eigh], [?]1[Jan][19]09”; “Blastobasis byrsodepta 

Meyrick 8/3, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll[ection]”; 

“Meyrick Coll[ection], B.M. 1938-290”; “BM ♀ Genitalia Slide No. 30239” [BMNH].

Remarks. Meyrick described Blastobasis byrsodepta from five specimens, four from Barberton and 

Waterval and one from Pinetown (Natal). Although the 

number of specimens from each of the Barberton and Waterval localities is not known, two specimens from this 

series are apparently missing. The female paralectotype 

from Pinetown is not conspecific with B. byrsodepta and 

represents another species of Blastobasini. A male from 

Eala (Democratic Republic of Congo), with Meyrick’s 

syntypic labels [BM ♂ Genitalia Slide No. 30238], is not 

part of the original series from which B. byrsodepta was 

described and represents Neoblastobasis perisella n. sp.

Larvae of Blastobasis byrsodepta are reported to 

feed on stored ginger, Arachis hypogaea L. (Fabaceae) 

(Hargreaves, 1930), but this information was based on 

a misidentification of the moth species. Sinev (2004) and 

Ghesquière (1940) have erroneously made host associations between reared moth samples and two plant species, 

Borassus aethiopum Mart. (Arecaceae) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), by not comparing dissected 

type material of Blastobasis byrsodepta with the reared 

specimens.

Blastobasis industria Meyrick, 1913

Figures 32, 39

Blastobasis industria Meyrick, 1913:314.—Janse, 1917: 

192, check list.—Le Pelley, 1930:396.—Nonveiller, 

1984:77.—Zhang, 1994:103.—Sinev, 2004:116.

Diagnosis. Blastobasis industria is similar in 

wing pattern to many other African Blastobasis, but it can 

be distinguished from its congeners by having a very wide 

ostium and large, cuplike antrum of the ductus bursae. 

The relationship of Blastobasis industria with other Blastobasis is uncertain because the male is not known and 

female characters tend to be conservative in nature.

Redescription.

Head: Vertex pale brown or scales pale grayish 

brown tipped with white. Outer surface of labial palpus 

brown with pale brown scales along apical margin of segment II; inner surface pale brown with a few brown scales. 

Scape of antenna pale brown, flagellum pale gray; first flagellomere of antenna in male dilated basally, forming a notch 

between itself and flagellomeres 2–4. Proboscis pale brown.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum pale brown or 

with scales grayish brown tipped with white. Legs brown 

intermixed with brown scales tipped with white with a 

white band near middle of all segments and apices of all 

segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Figure 39) length 7.9–

9.9 mm (n = 2), pale brown intermixed with brown scales 

tipped with white and brown scales (darker scales on distal 1/3); median fascia pale brown, incomplete; two brown 

spots within cell near crossvein, present or absent. Fringe 

pale brown. Undersurface brown. Hindwing pale brown.
4 0 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Abdomen: Male genitalia: Unknown. Female 

genitalia (Figure 32): Eighth tergum with an elongate, 

darkly pigmented streak along median longitudinal axis; 

ostium wide, slightly posterior seventh segment; antrum 

cuplike; membrane posterolateral to ostium slightly microtrichiate; posterior margin of seventh sternum straight; ductus bursae shorter than ovipositor, with imbricate platelets 

on anterior 1/3; corpus bursae slightly elongate, with hornlike signum on anterior end.

Lectotype. Designated herein, ♀, “Barberton, 

[South Africa] 28 Jan[uary] 1911, A.J.T. Janse”; “47/82”; 

“Blastobasis industria M[eyrick], Type No. 802”; “♀

Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4737” [TMP]. A lectotype is being designated in order to maintain stability of 

usage of the name.

Paralectotype. ♀, “Barberton, 1 Jan[uary] 

1911, A.J. T. Janse”; “47/73”; “B. Industria, 4782”; 

“Blastobasis industria M[eyrick], Cotype No. 803”; “♀

Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 4738” [TMP].

Remarks. Blastobasis industria was described 

from four specimens, two of which are missing. Larvae 

of B. industria are reported to feed on the beans of coffee, Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae) (LePelley, 1930; Rungs, 

1979; Zhang, 1994), but the specimens likely were misidentified because the genitalia of the type specimens had 

not been examined.

DISCUSSION

Host Plant Distribution of Reared Blastobasinae

The species of 11 blastobasines that were reared from 

fruits exhibited a wide range of hosts (Table 1). Among 

plant families, Sapotaceae was utilized most often, with 

Blastobasinae reared from 10 (50%) of the 20 species 

sampled. Other important host families were Rutaceae (5 

hosts, 31% of the species sampled), Salicaceae (3 hosts, 

23%), and Sapindaceae (4 hosts, 19%). Interestingly, 

fruits of Rubiaceae were of negligible importance, i.e., 

only one species, Oxyanthus goetzei ssp. keniensis, of the 

106 species of Rubiaceae sampled produced blastobasines. In contrast, nonblastobasine microlepidoptera were 

reared from 38 (36%) Rubiaceae species, and Tephritidae 

(true fruit flies) were reared from 41 (39%).

Four (36%) of the 11 reared blastobasine species, 

Blastobasis catappaella, B. elgonae, B. millicentae, and 

Neoblastobasis wangithiae, came from a single host plant 

species, each of these representing a different plant family. 

Considering that we made 3847 collections of fruits from 

927 plant taxa (most of these at the rank of species, with 

a few being subspecies or varieties) representing 117 families, these data provide strong evidence that monophagy 

is not uncommon in African blastobasines. Of the four 

monophagous species, only Neoblastobasis wangithiae

did not share its host fruit (Pleiocarpa pycnantha) with 

other blastobasines. Of the two genera of Blastobasinae 

we reared from fruit, Neoblastobasis had a particularly 

limited host range, with N. wangithiae monophagous and 

both N. perisella and N. ximeniaella with only two hosts 

each, one of which was shared between them (Table 1).

The remaining five species, Blastobasis acirfa, 

B. aynekiella, B. chuka, B. glauconotata, and B. kenya

were, to a greater or lesser extent, polyphagous, with 

B. kenya having the most hosts. This species was reared 

from fruits of 32 plant species, representing 22 families. 

Among frugivorous insects in Kenya, only the medfly, 

Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Tephritidae), and the 

false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) 

(Tortricidae), exploited more fruit hosts than B. kenya. 

Through the course of the fruit survey we reared the medfly from 65 plant species representing 27 plant families, 

and we reared T. leucotreta from 85 species in 32 families 

(Copeland et al., 2009).

Among the polyphages, although there was considerable overlap among fruit hosts (Table 1), each Blastobasis species was reared from at least two fruit species that 

yielded no other Blastobasinae. Host exclusivity was most 

pronounced in Blastobasis glauconotata. It was the only 

blastobasine reared from 11 of its 17 (69%) host fruit species. During fruit sampling, an effort was made to avoid 

the collection of obviously rotting fruit. However, because 

the condition of fruit samples and the location of fruits 

collected (on the ground or on the tree) were not consistently documented, no definitive statement can be made 

about whether the blastobasine moths reared in this study 

were feeding on live plant tissue or slightly decaying plant 

tissue.

Geographical Distribution of Reared Blastobasinae

In Kenya, there are two major barriers to east-west 

migration of plants and animals. The xeric floor of the 

Gregory Rift Valley separates western Kenya from the 

central highlands. The valley was formed by intermittent 

volcanic and rifting activity that began ~15–12 MYA and 

has continued to near present. In the eastern part of the 
n u m b e r 6 3 0

• 4 1

TABLE 1. Distribution of Blastobasinae on host plants. (An “X” indicates the Blastobasinae species was reared from the host plant.)Plant family Host plant speciesAchariaceae Rawsonia lucida Harv. & Sond. - - - X - X - - - - - X

Annonaceae Xylopia sp. - - - - - - X - - - - -

Apocynaceae Dictyophleba lucida (K. Schum.) Pierre - - - X - - - - - - - X

Landolphia buchananii (Hallier f.) Stapf - - - X - - - - - - - X

Landolphia sp. - - - - - - X - - - - X

Pleiocarpa pycnantha (K. Schum.) Stapf - - - - - - - - - X - -Saba comorensis (Bojer) Pichon - - - - - - X - - - - -

Araliaceae Cussonia spicata Thunb. - - - - - X - - - - - X

Balanitaceae Balanites maughamii Sprague subsp. acuta Sands - - - - - - - - - - - XCanellaceae Warburgia ugandensis Sprague - - - - - X - - - - - X

Celastraceae Elaeodendron buchananii (Loes.) Loes. - - - - - X - - - - - X

Salacia elegans Oliv. - - - - - - X - - - - -

Chrysobalanaceae Hirtella zanzibarica Oliv. subsp. zanzibarica - - - - - - X X - - - -Clusiaceae Calophyllum inophyllum L. - - - - - - X - - - X X

Garcinia volkensii Engl. - - - X - - - - - - - -

Combretaceae Terminalia catappa L. - - X - - - X - - - - X

Connaraceae Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston - - - - - - X - - - - -Dracaenaceae Dracaena mannii Baker - - - - - - X - - - - -Ebenaceae Diospyros kabuyeana F. White - - - - - - X - - - - -

Diospyros sp. - - - - - - X - - - - -

Euphorbiaceae Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. - - - X - X - - - - - X

Drypetes natalensis (Harv.) Hutch. var. leiogyna Brenan - - - - - - - - - - - XShirakiopsis elliptica (Hochst.) Esser - - - - - - - - - - - X

Linaceae Hugonia castaneifolia Engl. - - - - - - - - X - - -

Loganiaceae Strychnos mitis S. Moore - - - - - X - - - - - X

Strychnos madagascariensis Poir. form “e” of Leeuwenburg - - - - - - X - - - - -

Meliaceae Ekebergia capensis Sparrm. - - - - - X - - - - - -

Trichilia emetica Vahl - - - - - - X - - - - X

Menispermaceae Tiliacora funifera (Miers.) Oliv. X X - - - - - - - - - -

Moraceae Trilepisium madagascariense DC. - - - - - - X - - - - X

Olacaceae Ximenia caffra Sond. - - - - - - X - X - X -

Oleaceae Olea welwitschii (Knobl.) Gilg & Schellenb. X X - - - - - - - - - -

Olea woodiana Knobl. subsp. disjuncta P. S. Green X - - - - - X - - - - X

Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. - - - - - X - - - - - X

(continued)

Blastobasis acirfa

B. aynekiella

B. catappaella

B. chuka

B. elgonae

B. glauconotata

B. kenya

B. millicentae

Neoblastobasis perisella

N. wangithiae

N. ximeniaella

Unassociated females
4 2 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y TABLE 1. (continued) Plant family Host plant species Passifloraceae Adenia sp. - - - - - - X - - - - - Passiflora mollisima (Kunth) L. H.Bailey - - - X - - - - - - - X Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C. N. Page - - - - - X - - - - - X Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) Mirb. - - - X - - - - - - - X Rosaceae Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman

X

X - X - X - - - - - X

Rubiaceae Oxyanthus goetzei K. Schum. subsp. keniensis Bridson - - - - - - X - - - - -Rutaceae Diphasia sp. A of FTEA - - - X - - X - - - - -

Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. - - - - - X

X - - - - X

Vepris nobilis (Delile) Mziray - - - - X

X

X - - - - X

Vepris simplicifolia (Engl.) Mziray - - - X - X - - - - - X

Vepris trichocarpa (Engl.) Mziray - - - - - X - - - - - X

Salicaceae Dovyalis macrocalyx (Oliv.) Warb. - - - - - - X - - - - X

Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. - - - X - - X - - - - X

Ludia mauritiana J. F. Gmel. - - - - - - X - - - - -

Sapindaceae Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk. - - - X - - - - - - - X

Deinbollia borbonica Scheff. - - - - - - X - - - - X

Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius Baker subsp. scassellatii (Chiov.) Friis - - - - - - X - - - - -

Lepisanthes senegalensis (Poir.) Leenh. - - - - - - X - - - - X

Sapotaceae Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don - X - - - - - - - - - -

Chrysophyllum gorungosanum Engl. - - - X - - - - - - - X

Chrysophyllum viridifolium J. M. Wood & Franks - - - - - - X - - - - -Inhambanella henriquezii (Engl. & Warb.) Dubard - - - - - - X - - - - -Manilkara butugi Chiov.

X - - - - - - - - - - -

Manilkara sansibarensis (Engl.) Dubard - - - - - - X - - - - -Mimusops aedificatoria Mildbr. - - - - - - X - - - - X

Mimusops bagshawei S. Moore

X

X - - - - - - - - - -

Mimusops kummel A. DC. - - - - - X - - - - - X

Synsepalum cerasiferum (Welw.) T. D. Penn.

X - - - - - - - - - - X

Solanaceae Solanum anguivi Lam. - - - - - X - - - - - X

Sterculiaceae Cola minor Brenan - - - - - - X - - - - -Thymelaeaceae Synaptolepis alternifolia Oliv. - - - - - - - - - - - XUlmaceae Chaetacme aristata Planch. - - - - - X - - - - - X

Blastobasis acirfa

B. aynekiella

B. catappaella

B. chuka

B. elgonae

B. glauconotata

B. kenya

B. millicentae

Neoblastobasis perisella

N. wangithiae

N. ximeniaella

Unassociated females
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 4 3

country, a gently rising wide expanse of “dry scrub with 

trees” (Greenway, 1973) separates coastal habitats from 

the central highlands. Both barriers have very few plants 

with fleshy fruits, and these are represented primarily by 

species of Capparaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Tiliaceae. In 

our survey, none of these plant families provided a single 

host plant for Blastobasinae. In contrast, the western and 

central highlands of Kenya support numerous areas of evergreen forests, as does the coast, providing an extensive 

resource for frugivorous insects. These forests have been 

connected and separated alternately, depending on climactic changes associated with glacial and interglacial periods, with the most recent period of connection occurring 

~10 MYA (Lovett, 1993; Burgess et al., 1998). Since then, 

there has been a trend toward increasing dryness in East 

Africa, although coastal and western forests may have 

been united ~2.4 MYA (Burgess et al., 1998). Periodic 

forest connections and separations provide the conditions 

for allopatric speciation events, and the present richness 

of East African coastal forest endemics is thought to be 

due largely to them (Clarke, 2000). In all probability, they 

also affected the evolution and distribution of East African 

Blastobasinae.

In our survey, blastobasines were distributed throughout the sampling area (Table 2). Four species (Blastobasis 

millicentae, Neoblastobasis perisella, N. wangithiae, and 

N. ximeniaella) were restricted to coastal lowland habitats, 

and two (B. aynekiella and B. elgonae) were reared only 

from western Kenya, the former from several fruit species collected in Kakamega Forest, a Guineo-Congolean 

wet forest relict, and the latter from a single collection on 

Mount Elgon. Hosts of Blastobasis chuka and B. glauconotata were concentrated in the central highlands above 

1600 m, though each was reared from collections made in 

western Kenya, and B. chuka was also reared from coastal 

fruits. Blastobasis catappaella was reared from fruits collected on the coast and was collected with black light in 

a xeric central highland (1650 m). Blastobasis acirfa and 

B. kenya had disjunct distributions. Both were reared 

from coastal and western sites but not from the intervening central highlands (B. kenya also was collected once 

in midaltitude eastern Kenya). This pattern is also often 

seen in the distribution of many plant species (and genera) 

with coastal populations represented in relict forests that 

were connected during wetter periods to central African 

equatorial forest (Clarke, 2000). Blastobasis elgonae and 

TABLE 2. Geographical distribution of Blastobasinae in Kenya.

Number of Regional distribution a Altitudinal

Genus fruit samples (number of distribution

and species reared from fruit samples) (m)

Blastobasis

acirfa 11 CO (1), WH (10) 5–1650

aynekiella 8 WH (8) 1550–1630

catappaella 1 CH b, CO (1) 5–1650

chuka 15 CH (12), CO (2), WH (1) 5–2284

elgonae 1 WH (1) 2450

glauconotata 25 CM (1), CH (22), WH (2) 1230–2452

kenya 37 CO (33), EM (1) c, WH (3) 5–2452

millicentae 1 CO (1) 389

mpala 0 CH b 1650

Neoblastobasis

perisella 2 CO (2) 101–389

laikipiae 0 CH b 1650

wangithiae 1 CO (1) 30

ximeniaella 2 CO (2) 5–101

a Abbreviations defined: CO = coastal lowlands (1–460 m); CM = central midaltitude (700–1400 m); CH = central highlands 

(>1400 m); EM = eastern midaltitude (700–1400 m); WH = western highlands (>1400 m).

b Collected at light, Laikipia Plateau.

c Kibwezi Forest.
4 4 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

B. aynekiella were the only species restricted to western 

Kenya. It will be interesting to determine if this species 

also occurs in central African equatorial forest. Blastobasis 

kenya had the widest altitudinal distribution, between 5 

and 2452 m above sea level.

DNA Sequence Data

Sequence data show three “outliers” in the compressed tree phenogram (Figure 1). An outlier sequence 

for one specimen of Blastobasis chuka (♂: 00196357, 

DA5093) occurs in sequence data for B. kenya, and two 

specimens of Blastobasis glauconotata (♂: 00196387, 

DA5019 and ♂: 00196367, DA 5106) almost match 

B. elgonae. All outlier samples were sequenced twice to 

verify the data. We suspect contamination. Species identification of the specimens representing the abovementioned “outlier samples” is based solely on the features 

of the genitalia, although mislabeling of genitalia slides 

is a possibility.

In addition, the phenogram shows that Blastobasis 

millicentae (♂: 00196942, DA4910) is linked with a node 

uniting four species of Neoblastobasis, suggesting that 

Blastobasis and Neoblastobasis may be congeneric. Interestingly, males of species in both genera possess palmate 

sex scales on the inner surface of the antennal dilation of 

the first flagellomere. Only through a broader phylogenetic analysis will this problem be resolved.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 4 5

FIGURES 2–62

FIGURES 2–4. Male genitalia of Calosima and Neoblastobasis. 2, C. arguta, lectotype (DA slide 4628). 3, N. laikipiae, holotype (DA slide 

4144). 4, N. wangithiae, holotype (DA slide 5044).
4 6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 5–7. Male genitalia of Neoblastobasis and Blastobasis. 5, N. perisella, holotype (BM slide 30238). 6, N. ximeniaella, holotype (DA 

slide 5052). 7, B. fatigata, holotype (DA slide 4378).
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 4 7

FIGURES 8–10. Male genitalia of Blastobasis. 8, B. indigesta, lectotype (DA slide 4735). 9, B. millicentae, holotype (DA slide 4739). 10, B. 

kenya, holotype (DA slide 4218).
4 8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 11–13. Male genitalia of Blastobasis. 11, B. acirfa, holotype (DA slide 5048). 12, B. aynekiella, holotype (DA slide 5045). 13, B. 

catappaella, holotype (DA slide 5071).
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 4 9

FIGURES 14–16. Male genitalia of Blastobasis. 14, B. glauconotata, paratype (USNM 83420, DA slide 5017). 15, B. elgonae, holotype (DA 

slide 5020). 16, B. chuka, holotype (DA slide 5025).
5 0 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 17–19. Male genitalia of Blastobasis. 17, B. mpala, holotype (DA slide 4137). 18, B. eridryas, lectotype (BM slide 30245). 19, B. 

egens, lectotype (DA slide 4740).
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 5 1

FIGURES 20–23. Female genitalia of Calosima, Neoblastobasis, and Holcocera. 20, C. arguta, paralectotype (DA slide 4629). 21, N. perisella, 

paratype (DA slide 5103). 22, N. ximeniaella, paratype (USNM 83367, DA slide 5104). 23, H. extensa, lectotype (DA slide 4489).
5 2 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 24–27. Female genitalia of Blastobasis. 24, B. egens paralectotype (BM slide 30241). 25, B. trachilista, lectotype (BM slide 30236). 

26, B. taricheuta, holotype (DA slide 4539). 27, B. kenya, paratype (USNM 83387, DA slide 4358).
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 5 3

FIGURES 28–30. Female genitalia of Blastobasis. 28, B. acirfa, paratype (USNM 83402, DA slide 5110). 29, B. aynekiella, paratype (USNM 

83448, DA slide 4915). 30. B. determinata, holotype (DA slide 4488).
5 4 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 31–34. Female genitalia of Blastobasis and Holcocera. 31, B. glauconotata, paratype (USNM 83442, DA slide 5029). 32, B. industria, lectotype (DA slide 4737). 33, H. irroratella, holotype (BM slide 30237). 34, B. byrsodepta, lectotype (DA slide 4630).
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 5 5

FIGURES 35–37. Female genitalia of Blastobasis. 35, B. catappaella, paratype (USNM 83412, DA slide 5072). 36, B. chuka, paratype (USNM 

83431, DA slide 5094). 37, B. mpala, paratype (USNM 83408, DA slide 4138).
5 6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 38–49. (Opposite) Adults of Holcocera and Blastobasis. 38, B. millicentae, holotype. 39, B. industria, lectotype. 40, B. eridryas, 

lectotype. 41, B. determinata, holotype. 42, H. extensa, lectotype. 43, B. indigesta, lectotype. 44, B. chuka, holotype. 45, B. egens, lectotype. 46, 

B. glauconotata, holotype. 47, B. byrsodepta, lectotype. 48, H. irroratella, holotype. 49, B. elgonae, holotype.

5 8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

FIGURES 50–58. Adults of Blastobasis, Calosima, and Neoblastobasis. 50, B. taricheuta, holotype. 51, C. arguta, lectotype. 52, B. trachilista, 

lectotype. 53, N. ximeniaella, holotype. 54, N. wangithiae, holotype. 55, B. mpala, holotype. 56, B. aynekiella, holotype. 57, B. acirfa, holotype. 

58, N. laikipiae, holotype.
n u m b e r 6 3 0 • 5 9

FIGURES 59–62. Adults of Blastobasis and Neoblastobasis. 59, B. catappaella, holotype. 60, B. kenya, holotype. 61, B. fatigata, lectotype. 62, 

N. perisella, holotype.

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Index of Insect Names

Page numbers in bold italic font indicate the start of the taxonomic account.

Blastobasidae, 1

Blastobasinae, 1, 5, 9, 40

Blastobasini, 9

Blastobasis, 14, 36, 40, 43, 44

acirfa, 4, 5, 6, 17, 20, 21–23, 25, 40–42, 43, 48, 53, 58

aynekiella, 4, 5, 6, 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, 40–42, 43, 48, 53, 58

biceratala, 9

byrsodepta, 6, 38, 39, 54, 57

catappaella, 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 40–42, 43, 48, 55, 59

chuka, 3, 4, 5, 6, 23, 25, 29, 30, 31, 40–42, 43, 44, 49, 55, 57

determinata, 6, 38, 53, 57

egens, 5, 6, 34, 36, 50, 52, 57

elgonae, 3, 4, 5, 31, 32, 33, 40–42, 43, 44, 49, 57

eridryas, 5, 33, 50, 57

fatigata, 5, 36, 46, 59

glauconotata, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25, 28, 29, 40–42, 43, 44, 49, 54, 57

indigesta, 5, 31, 33, 40, 47, 57

industria, 6, 39, 54, 57

kenya, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 40–42, 43, 44, 47, 52, 59

millicentae, 4, 5, 15, 16, 40–42, 43, 44, 47, 57

mpala, 4, 5, 6, 34, 35, 36, 43, 50, 55, 58

taricheuta, 6, 37, 52, 58

trachilista, 6, 37, 52, 58

Calosima, 8

albafaciella, 8

arguta, 5, 6, 8, 9, 45, 51, 58

argyrosplendella, 8

Ceratitis, 40

 capitata, 40

Coleophoridae, 2, 5

Holcocera, 6

chalcofrontella, 6

extensa, 6, 7, 8, 51, 57
6 6 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Holcocera (continued)

irroratella, 5, 7, 54, 57

lignyodes, 6, 7

Holcocerini, 6

Neoblastobasis, 9, 14, 40, 43, 44

laikipiae, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 43, 45, 58

perisella, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 40–42, 

43, 46, 51, 59

wangithiae, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 40–42, 

43, 45, 58

ximeniaella, 4, 5, 6, 11, 14, 15, 

40–42, 43, 46, 51, 58

Oecophora (Scythris), 14

phycidella, 14

Syndroma, 6

Tecmerium, 7, 8

Tephritidae, 1, 40

Thaumatotibia, 40

leucotreta, 40

Tortricidae, 40

Zenodochium, 8, 9
Index of Plant Names

Acacia, 2

Achariaceae, 29, 31, 41

Adenia sp., 18, 20, 42

Afrocarpus falcatus, 27, 29, 42

Allophylus abyssinicus, 31, 42

Annonaceae, 20, 41

Apocynaceae, 11, 20, 31, 41

Arachis hypogaea, 39

Araliaceae, 29, 41

Arecaceae, 39

Balanitaceae, 41

Balanites, 2

Balanites maughamii acuta, 41

Borassus aethiopum, 39

Boscia, 2

Calophyllum inophyllum, 14, 18, 20, 41

Canellaceae, 29, 41

Celastraceae, 20, 29, 41

Chaetacme aristata, 27, 29, 42

Chrysobalanaceae, 20, 41

Chrysophyllum

albidum, 23, 24, 42

gorungosanum, 30, 31, 42

viridifolium, 18, 20, 42

Clusiaceae, 14, 20, 31, 41

Cola minor, 18, 20, 42

Combretaceae, 20, 25, 41

Connaraceae, 20, 41

Cussonia spicata, 29, 41

Deinbollia borbonica, 18, 20, 42

Dictyophleba lucida, 31, 41

Diospyros

kabuyeana, 18, 20, 41

sp., 20, 41

Diphasia sp., 18, 20, 31, 42
6 8 • smithsonian contributions to zoolog y

Dovyalis macrocalyx, 20, 42

Dracaena mannii, 18, 20, 41

Dracaenaceae, 20, 41

Drypetes

gerrardii, 27, 29, 31, 41

natalensis var. leiogyna, 41

Ebenaceae, 20, 41

Ekebergia capensis, 27, 29, 41

Elaeodendron buchananii, 27, 29, 41

Euphorbiaceae, 29, 31, 41

Fabaceae, 39

Flacourtia indica, 17, 20, 31, 42

Garcinia volkensii, 31, 41

Hirtella zanzibarica, 17, 18, 20, 22, 41

Hugonia castaneifolia, 14, 41

Inhambanella henriquezii, 18, 20, 42

Landolphia

buchananii, 31, 41

sp., 18, 20, 41

Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius scassellatii, 

20, 42

Lepisanthes senegalensis, 20, 42

Linaceae, 14, 41

Loganiaceae, 20, 29, 41

Ludia mauritiana, 18, 20, 42

Manilkara

butugi, 21, 23, 42

sansibarensis, 18, 20, 42

Meliaceae, 29, 41

Menispermaceae, 23, 25, 41

Mimusops

aedificatoria, 18, 20, 22, 42

bagshawei, 21, 23, 24, 42

kummel, 27, 29, 42

Moraceae, 20, 41

Olacaceae, 20, 21, 23, 25, 29, 41

Olea

welwitschii, 21, 23, 25, 41

woodiana disjuncta, 18, 20, 21, 23, 

41

Oxyanthus goetzei keniensis, 18, 20, 

40, 42

Passiflora mollissima, 2, 31, 42

Passifloraceae, 20, 31, 42

Pleiocarpa pycnantha, 11, 40, 41

Podocarpaceae, 29, 31, 42

Podocarpus latifolius, 31, 42

Prunus africana, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 

42

Rawsonia lucida, 29, 31, 41

Rosaceae, 23, 25, 31, 42

Rourea minor, 18, 20, 41

Rubiaceae, 20, 29, 40, 42

Rutaceae, 20, 29, 31, 33, 42

Saba comorensis, 20, 41

Salacia 

elegans, 20, 41

sp., 20

Salicaceae, 20, 31, 42

Sapindaceae, 20, 31, 42

Sapotaceae, 20, 23, 24, 29, 31, 42

Schrebera alata, 27, 29, 41

Shirakiopsis elliptica, 41

Solanaceae, 29, 42

Solanum anguivi, 29, 42

Sterculiaceae, 20, 42

Strychnos

madagascariensis form e, 20, 41

mitis, 28, 29, 41

sp., 20

Synaptolepis alternifolia, 42

Synsepalum cerasiferum, 21, 23, 42

Terminalia catappa, 18, 20, 25, 41

Thymelaeaceae, 42

Tiliacora funifera, 21, 23, 25, 41

Toddalia asiatica, 18, 20, 27, 29, 42

Trichilia emetica, 20, 41

Trilepisium madagascariense, 18, 20, 41

Ulmaceae, 29, 42

Vepris

nobilis, 18, 20, 29, 33, 42

simplicifolia, 27, 29, 30, 31, 42

trichocarpa, 27, 29, 42

Warburgia ugandensis, 27, 29, 41

Ximenia caffra, 14, 18, 20, 41

Xylopia

parviflora, 18

sp., 20, 41

Zingiber officinale, 39

Zingiberaceae, 39
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