Gyrtothripa erastioides Walker comb. n.
Etanna erastioides Walker, 1862, J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 6: 119.
Diagnosis
This is a smaller species than the next and usually has the medial dark brown patch based on the costa more triangular than square, with the paler zone between it and the marginal grey area consequently wider and more prominent.
In the male genitalia the uncus apex is rounded, bearing a tuft of hair-like setae, the tegumen is very elongate, and the valves are semicircular with a straight ventral margin; the row of peg-like setae is less than half the length of the valve and set obliquely across its centre. *Taxonomic note.
G. verecunda* Pagenstecher comb. n. & stat. rev. (Bismarcks, New Guinea) proves on dissection to be a distinct species rather than a synonym of erastioides as in Poole (1989); indeed it is more closely related to variegata, having similar narrowly triangular valves, with short dark setae along its much straighter costa, and a basal brown zone to the hair-pencil in the tegumen.
Two further, as yet undescribed species occur in Sulawesi (slide 17152), and the Philippines and Sulawesi (slides 17153 and 17157).
Geographical range
Borneo.
Habitat preference
The species is uncommon, but several specimens have been taken in both lowland and lower montane forest.
One was taken in a coastal locality with mangrove and one at 1365m on Bukit Retak in Brunei.
Genitalia:
