Siphanta lucindae Kirkaldy
Caution
Many of the insects depicted on these pages are outwardly similar and you should not use photographs as the sole means of identification. These pages form part of a scientific key which will assist a trained entomologist to identify the species accurately.
(Flatidae: Flatinae: Siphantini)
This species can only be differentiated from Siphanta angustata and Siphanta granulata by examination of the male genitalia. Further, the colour variation displayed by Siphanta roseicincta means that it it may also be confused with this species.
S. lucindae is a delicate species similar in external morphology to S. granulata. Both species have narrow tegmina, prominent eyes and the first marginal cell beyond the apex of the clavus usually completely red or red-brown. These two species can be reliably differentiated only by reference to the male genitalia.
Medler (2000) appears to have synonymised this species with S. acuta (Walker) since it is listed within the synonymy list for that species. However, the synonymy is not mentioned in the abstract with the list of new synonymies proposed in the paper. Nor is there any indication of a new synonymy against the species name. Previous Medler papers (Medler 1987, 1989) listed with the name in this paper treat the species as a distinct species. It is therefore concluded that the apparent synonymy is an editorial error and S. lucindae should be listed as a separate species. [update: 26.iv.2001]
