Laspeyria ruficeps Walker comb. n.

Thermesia ruficeps Walker, 1864, J. Proc. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 7: 186.

Diagnosis

The general facies is as in the generic description, and the ground colour is a pale pinkish brown-grey, darkening marginally. The forewings are only weakly falcate apically, with the angle at the centre of the distal margin obtuse. The next species is slightly paler over the basal parts of the wings, with straighter fasciae and with a much more prominent discal mark on the forewing, the margin of which is somewhat more definitely bifalcate. Both species have the head and patagia a darker reddish brown. Separation is best confirmed by examination of the male genitalia, where ruficeps has the apex of the valve tongue-like, rather than acute, and has a distinct angle to the costal margin centrally. The coremata of the next species are more bulbous ventrally.

Taxonomic note

The Sri Lankan *L. * castaneiceps Hampson, stat. rev., comb. n., has been treated elsewhere as a synonym of ruficeps (e.g. Poole, 1989). It is very similar externally but the male genitalia are distinct. The valves in castaneiceps are apically incurved, without a strongly sinuous ventral margin distally. An externally similar species occurs in Sulawesi (slide 20714), but the valves are shorter, with a more acute apex.

Geographical range

Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia (Barlow colln).

Habitat preference

The type material of ruficeps was taken by A.R. Wallace in Sarawak, probably in the lowlands. All material of ruficeps in recent surveys was taken in Brunei: three specimens in dry heath forest at 10-15m at Telisai; one in secondary vegetation at 15m near the Labi road; one in disturbed coastal forest at Seria.

Genitalia: