Chalcosia zehma Herrich-Schäffer

“Chalcosia” zehma Herrich-Schäffer, 1853, Samml. neuer, oder wenig bekannt. ausserreur. Schmett., 1: f 3.

Chalcosia viridisuffusa Swinhoe, 1904, Trans. ent. Soc. London, 1904: 155.

Diagnosis

The species shows sexual dimorphism. Males have the blackish forewing and bright blue hindwing seen in many Cyclosia. The rather obscure, arcuate pale fascia from the tornus to just beyond the centre of the costa is distinctive. Females are larger and more robust, the forewing blackish with a more transverse white band, and the hindwings with a much broader medial white band that broadens to the tornus between a blue basal zone and a black marginal zone that is also strongly irrorated with blue and is much broader at the apex.

Taxonomic note

Yen et al. (2005) placed this species in a relationship with “Pidorus” splendens (related to “P. hilaris”), and then to two Chinese genera, in their Clade 16. They illustrated (figs 36E, 38C) the male genitalia of zehma. The aedeagus is slender, very long, tapering and sinuous.

Geographical range

Sundaland.

Habitat preference

The species has not been taken in recent surveys. Older material seen is from the vicinity of Kudat in Sabah and Matang in Sarawak. At least the former is a lowland locality.

Genitalia: