Corma fragilis Walker
Chalcosia fragilis Walker, 1862, J. Proc. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 6: 98.
Corma obscurata Walker, [1865] 1864, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 31: 124.
Diagnosis
There is moderate sexual dimorphism and variability in this species, with males being smaller with more diffuse markings amid a more general greyish suffusion that tends to obscure the markings. The male illustrated resembles that depicted by Jordan (1907), but the holotype of obscurata (OUMNH: 217) is more strongly suffused except for the medial band of the forewing. The females have the darker grey markings clearly defined on a white ground, those of the forewing consisting of a distal border and two oblique bands postmedially and centrally, each partially divided into two components, a division more clearly seen in the medial band. The hindwing has a partial border that is more irregular in shape, though the actual margin is narrowly white distal to it with an expansion at the apex. There appear to be two forms of the female, the more heavily marked specimen illustrated resembling the holotype of fragilis (OUMNH: 213). The second form has the grey markings considerably reduced such that the white ground colour is more extensive. Both forms occur in Borneo, and the paler one is seen also in Sumatra. The latter has generally larger genitalia (Fig 64 compared with Fig 60).
Geographical range
Borneo, Sumatra, Java.
Habitat preference
No males have been seen from Borneo. Two individuals of the darker female have been noted: the holotype of fragilis from the lowlands of Sarawak; the illustrated specimen from upstream from Pontianak in Kalimantan. The paler female has been taken in montane forest at 1618m on Bukit Retak in Brunei and from about 500m at Moyog (Kipandi) near Kota Kinabalu; the latter specimen is in FRC, Sepilok.
Biology.
Jordan (1907) stated that the larva of fragilis is pearly grey, dotted with black dorsally. The head and the underside of the body are yellow, T1 and the anal segment are orange-yellow. This description was drawn from a more detailed one by Piepers & Snellen (1902 [1903]; as obscurata) that indicated that some of the black dots were developed into tubercles that bore black or white setae. The host plant was not identified. Tarmann (1992b) listed Baccaurea (Euphorbiaceae) for C. zelica Doubleday (N.E. Himalaya).
Genitalia:
