Cultripalpa partita Guenée

Cultripalpa partita Guenée, 1852, Hist. Nat. Insectes, Spec. gén. Lépid. 7: 332.

Cultripalpa indistincta Moore, 1882, Descr. New Indian lepid Insects Colln Atkinson

Diagnosis

Both this and the next species show sexual dimorphism, the females being paler, browner and more uniform than the males. In partita males the hindwing medial is more regular and clearly linear, and the white submarginal marks of lunulifera Hampson are absent. The hindwing in lunuliferais generally more variegated. Females of lunulifera are also more variegated, particularly in the discal area of the forewing; in partita this area usually only has two rather diffuse blackish spots associated with the loop of the postmedial. This fascia and the medial of the hindwing are more regular and apparent in partita.

Geographical range

India, Borneo, Philippines, Australia (according to Nielsen et al., 1996, but see the next species).

Habitat preference

The species is rare in Borneo. Older material consists of a female from Kuching and a male labelled just ‘N. Borneo’. In recent surveys a further female was collected from coastal and secondary forest at Seria in Brunei.

Genitalia: