Aholcocerus verbeeki Roepke

Cossus verbeeki Roepke, 1957: 9.

Diagnosis

The forewing striations are coarser than in chloratus and javanus, with a stronger antemedial fascia as well as a postmedial one, and a further sinuous line in the posterior part of the medial zone. Distally, and basally from this medial block are paler bands, and the basal zone is tinged slightly yellowish. A putative female (illustrated) has the medial zone blotched with dark brown, unlike the Javan example illustrated by Roepke which resembles the male. In the male genitalia the uncus is somewhat circular, the valve has an acute apex and a subcostal wrinkled and scobinate flange centrally that is contiguous with the margin distally.

Geographical Range

Java, Bali, Borneo.

Habitat Preference

The single Bornean male bears no more precise data than ‘Sarawak’. The putative female is from lowland swamp forest in Brunei.

Biology

Roepke (1957) gave the host tree in Java as Acacia tomentosa (Leguminosae).

Taxonomic Note

Aholcocerus Yakovlev (type species ronkayorum Yakovlev, Pakistan). Yakovlev & Witt (2009) transferred verbeeki to Aholcocerus. The male antennae are prismatic as in Holcocerus. The forewings have the basal zone tinged a creamy yellow. In the male genitalia, the uncus tends to be rounded, the valves have their apex relatively acute, and there is a large, rather corrugated triangular process extending over the centre of the valve costa. Yakovlev & Witt (2009) described A. ihleorum Yakovlev & Witt from Thailand and noted occurrence of the genus on the Nicobar Is.