Blastobasis fatigata Meyrick 1914

Blastobasis fatigata Meyrick, 1914

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.

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 fatigata is a moth in the family Blastobasidae. It is found in South Africa.

The length of the forewings is 6 mm. The forewings have pale greyish brown scales, tipped with white and intermixed with a few brown scales and brown scales tipped with white. The hindwings are pale brown, gradually darkening towards the apex.