Iridoplecta ferrifera Moore

Trygodes ferrifera Moore, 1888, Descr. new Indian lepid. Insects CollnAtkinson, p. 255.

Iridoplecta ferrifera Moore; Holloway, 1976: 75.

Diagnosis

See generic description. The facies is not easily confused with that of any other species.

Taxonomic Notes

Minor differences in the relative sizes of the aedeagus cornuti have been noted, but material available from each locality is too limited to indicate whether these have a geographical basis.

Scoble & Krüger (2002) excluded Iridoplecta Warren from Macariini, considering that it could just as well be placed in the Eutoeini, as the only feature it shares with Macariini is the divided valve of the male genitalia, which is also seen in Eutoeini, However, the uncus and gnathus are atypical of Eutoeini, resembling those of Oxymacaria Warren, as does the structure of the dorsal arm of the valve, with a central pleat. The lobe in the cleft of the valves is more as in Chiasmia than as in the eutoeines. Therefore it will be retained for the time being at the end of the macariine list, but the reader should be mindful of the caveat of Scoble & Krüger.

Geographical Range

N.E. Himalaya, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Bali.

Habitat Preference

Bornean material is all from G. Kinabalu. The two specimens with altitude data are from 1050m and 1930m (latter in USNM). Material from other parts of Sundaland is also from montane localities.

Genitalia: