Corgatha nigripalpis Walker stat. rev.

Thermesia nigripalpis Walker, 1864, J. Proc. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 7: 187.

Corgatha castanea Hampson, 1896, Fauna Br. India, Moths, 4: 519, syn. n.

Diagnosis

This species is similar to semipardata but smaller, with a duller, rusty red-orange ground colour. The black markings are generally less well developed, and the fasciation on the underside is weak to absent. In the male genitalia the central process of the valve is curved upwards towards the costal process, and has an oblique, serrate face on the dorsal side of its apex. The costal process is short, straight or slightly curved, not extending much beyond the centre of the part of the valve distal to it.

Taxonomic note

The taxon castanea was placed as a synonym of semipardata by Poole (1989) though not actually listed as such under the entry for the latter. It is identical to the holotype of nigripalpis (OUMNH: 1813) in male genitalia. An externally similar species occurs in Seram, but the male genitalia (slide 20479) tend more towards those of semipardata in characteristics of the valve processes.

Geographical range

Sri Lanka, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi (slide 20457).

Habitat preference

The species is less common than semipardata, three specimens having been taken in: an area of disturbed lowland forest at Semongok near Kuching in Sarawak; plantations of Acacia mangium and Gmelina arborea near Brumas in the lowlands of Sabah. The last two are vouchers for records of 20 (Chey, 1994) from various softwood plantations in the same area. The type material was taken by A.R. Wallace in Sarawak, probably also in the lowlands.

Genitalia: