Lophoptera nama Swinhoe

Gyrtona nama Swinhoe, 1900, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (7), 7: 492.

Diagnosis

Both this and the next species are relatively slender with an asymmetric pale yellow angular mark at the forewing apex; the forewing reniform is edged paler distally and, to a much lesser extent, proximally.

The distinction from brunnama is given in the description of that species.

Taxonomic Notes

The transfer of this species to Lophoptera, made by Sugi in Inoue et al (1982), is supported by the possession of the generic characters mentioned in the introductory section, though the appendix bursae is relatively small, set at one third on a very long ductus.

The taxon acrogramma Turner (N.E. Australia, New Guinea) is very similar in facies to nama except for a yellow triangle just posterior to the apical mark, and also has very similar male genitalia with a dorsal concavity at the apex of the valve; it may be best placed as a subspecies of nama. The concavity of the valve is also seen in specimens from Sulawesi which have somewhat deeper forewings, a less angled postmedial and a greater development of the secondary yellow triangle; these specimens (e.g. slide 11323) may also be best placed as a subspecies of nama.

Geographical range

N.E. Himalaya, Taiwan, Borneo, Sumatra, Bali, and possibly with races further east.

Habitat preference

Only three Bornean specimens have been taken recently, two from upper montane forest on G. Mulu, Sarawak, and Bukit Retak, Brunei, and the other from lowland rainforest at Labi, Brunei.

Genitalia: