Eumelea obesata Felder & Rogenhofer

Eumelea obesata Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875, Reise öst. Fregatte Novara 2: pl. 127.

Eumelea obesata form corpulenta Thierry-Mieg, 1899, Ann. Soc. ent. Belg. 43: 21.

Eumelea obesata griseabasalis Holloway; 1976: 58.

Diagnosis

The bright yellow wings, marked irregularly with dark striae, that are totally confluent in an irregular, broad ‘U’ on the forewing dorsum and over the basal two thirds of the hindwing, distinguish this species.

Taxonomic Notes

Dissection of the holotype male yielded bizarre, elongate genitalia that are totally different from those of other Eumelea species.

There is a possibility that an alien abdomen has been glued to this specimen.

The grey suffusion is more extensive in Bornean material, especially at the base of the hindwing.

Geographical range

Philippines; Borneo (ssp. griseabasalis).

Habitat preference

All Bornean material is from G. Kinabalu, taken between 1620m and 1760m. In addition to the type series, two further females have been seen in the U.S. National Museum.

Genitalia: