Corgatha albicinctalis Walker

Zitna albicinctalis Walker, [1866] 1865, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 34: 1277.

Diagnosis

This is a small, delicate species with black wings that are delineated and beaded with white and golden greenish rufous brown around the margins, the lineations mostly along the forewing costa. There are two oblique white lines associated with the forewing costa, the more distal one rather sinuous, curving posteriorly at its distal end just short of a submarginal white bar. The margins of all wings are lined finely black, with a border zone basal to this consisting of small white ovals or spots in the spaces, embedded in yellowish green distad, but edged with fine black arcs basad.

Taxonomic note

There is a second species with this facies type in Borneo (see below) and a series of a similar species from New Guinea and the Bismarck Is. The forewing facies in this series is similar to that of albicinctalis, but the fine fasciae posterior to the costal band are transverse, fading away centrally. The female genitalia (slide 21065) have obtusely angled pockets associated with the apodemes of the eighth segment, not present in albicinctalis. The ductus bursae is longer, broader, and the base of the corpus bursae is more extensively coiled. The male genitalia (slide 21358) have valves similar to those of albicinctalis but the saccus apex is slightly truncate rather than round. The uncus is swollen centrally and slightly sigmoid in profile. This species (or one closely related) also occurs in Australia (Queensland); the transverse fasciae are entire, and the pouches each side of the ostium are more rounded (slide 21360). The male genitalia (slide 21359) have a squarish saccus apex, and the uncus is not swollen. The valve processes are equal to each other and opposite. Zborowski & Edwards (2007) illustrated this Australian species and suggested it was related to C. flavicosta Hampson from the Solomons. This is plausible, but the unique type of flavicosta is in poor condition.

Geographical range

Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia (Barlow colln).

Habitat preference

The holotype is from Sandakan on the coast of Sabah. In recent surveys, several specimens have been recorded in lowland, mainly forested habitats: in coastal swamp forest near Seria in Brunei; in disturbed dipterocarp forest at Lamunin and Labi in Brunei.

Genitalia: