Lyclene calamaria Moore comb. n.

Setina calamaria Moore, 1888, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1888: 392.

Setina ?punctata Elwes, 1890, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1890: 389.

Miltochrista celidopa Meyrick, 1894, Trans. ent. Soc. London, 1894: 3.

Asura calamaria mediopuncta Rothschild, 1913, Novit. Zool., 20: 211

Diagnosis

The ground colour is typical, if pale, for the genus, though some specimens have a greyish tone to the forewing. However, the only markings on the forewing are a black discal dot and a smaller basal one.

Taxonomic notes

It is possible that Lyclene calamaria is a junior synonym of Setina (now Neasura) apicalis Walker (1854, List Specimens lepid.* Insects Colln Br*.* Mus*., 2: 521; China). It is externally very similar to Setina bipunctata Walker (1859, J. Proc. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) 3: 185, Singapore, in OUMNH), currently placed as a synonym of apicalis. This potential synonymy needs further exploration by dissection, as does the suggestion by Cerný & Pinratana (2009: 84) that the syntypic series of calamaria may also include material of L. dosara Moore, including the female currently labelled as type.

Geographical Range

N.E. Himalaya to Sundaland.

Habitat Preference

The species is infrequent, possibly associated with disturbed forest, having been taken at Semongok in the lowlands of Sarawak near Kuching, in disturbed alluvial forest near G. Mulu, at Poring at 600m on the east of G. Kinabalu and at 1500m by a remnant of primary montane forest, near Kundasan golf course in the vicinity of the old Mesilau locality.

Biology

Unpublished FRIM records note the larva as a leaf defoliator of Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae), but defoliation of higher plants needs confirmation (see also Gardner, 1943).

Taxonomic Note

It is possible that Lyclene calamaria is a junior synonym of Setina (now Neasura) apicalis Walker (1854, List Specimens lepid.* Insects Colln Br*.* Mus*., 2: 521; China). It is externally very similar to Setina bipunctata Walker (1859, J. Proc. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) 3: 185, Singapore, in OUMNH), currently placed as a synonym of apicalis. This potential synonymy needs further exploration by dissection, as does the suggestion by Cerný & Pinratana (2009: 84) that the syntypic series of calamaria may also include material of L. dosara Moore, including the female currently labelled as type.

Genitalia: