Histia libelluloides nivosa Herrich-Schäffer

Gynautocera libelluloides Herrich-Schäffer, [1853], Samml. neuer, oder wenig bekannt. aussereur. Schmett., 1: 7.

Histia selene Walker, 1854, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 2: 413.

Histia vacillans Walker, 1854, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 2: 413.

Histia nivosa Rothschild, 1896, Novit. zool., 3: 58.

Histia catobia Dohrn, 1899, Stettin. ent. Ztg., 60: 251.

Histia anobia Dohrn, 1899, Stettin. ent. Ztg, 60: 252.

Histia niasica Dohrn, 1899, Stettin. ent. Ztg, 60: 252.

Histia libelluloides lombokensis Rothschild, 1899, Novit. zool., 6: 442.

Histia libelluloides sumatrana Rothschild, 1899, Novit. zool., 6: 441.

Histia rhodope sumbawanensis Hering, 1922, Arch. Naturgesch., 88A (11): 38.

Histia rhodope angustimargo Hering, 1925, Dt. ent. Z. Iris, 39: 137.

Histia libelluloides baliensis Inoue, 1992, Tinea, 13 (15): 161.

Histia libelluloides mindorensis Inoue, 1992, Tinea, 13 (15): 162.

Histia nivosa Rothschild: Holloway, 1976: 91.

Diagnosis and taxonomic note

Throughout most of its range, discussed by Inoue (1992), this species has blackish forewings with slightly paler colour lining each side of the veins. Males have the hindwing margin produced acutely medially, with black over the distal third and iridescent blue over the basal two thirds. Females have the hindwing margin less produced, and there is a broad, transverse, whitish band postmedially. The Bornean subspecies nivosa has similar male genitalia to other races (Inoue, 1992), but the wings are mostly white with black borders as illustrated, the black extending broadly along the costa and finely along vein CuA in the cell of the forewing. The hindwing margin is only slightly produced.

Geographical range

Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines (Mindoro), Lesser Sundas to Timor.

Habitat preference

The species is known only from G. Kinabalu, where it can be encountered flying by the roadside and in open areas at around 1200m to 1500m.

Genitalia: