“Meganola” cuneifera Walker

Melia cuneifera Walker, 1862, J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 6: 127.

Selca ruficostata Hampson, 1896, Fauna Br. India, Moths, 4: 507.

Diagnosis

The wings are darker grey than in Meganola calligrapha Laszlo, Ronkay & Witt, the darkness produced in the forewings by a general black irroration on a paler ground, within which submarginal black squigglescan be detected.

There is variably developed oblique blak streaking from the centre of the costa through the discal area directed at the centre of the distal margin.

Taxonomic Notes

The male and female genitalia are of a similar type to those of the previous four species, except the signa are more separated and obliquely placed in the bursa.
László et al. (2005) have reassessed the synonymy established by Hampson of ruficostata Hampson with “M.” cuneifera* Walker. Collection of further material from the Himalayan region and N. Thailand has established that the two taxa are distinct, with ruficostata having a triangular, rather than more linear, black mark extending medially from the forewing costa, and more robust male genitalia, with the valve distinctly broader and more heavily sclerotised over its basal third (though fig 28 in László et al. (2005), attributed to cuneifera, appears to be very similar to fig 35, attributed to ruficostata). Records of ruficostata are from the Himalayan region and N. Thailand.

Geographical range

Borneo, N.E. Himalaya; also recorded from Nepal and Vietnam by the Budapest group.

Habitat preference

Four males have been taken in recent surveys, two from lowland dipterocarp forest at 150m at the foot of G. Mulu, and one with a similar altitude and habitat at the Danum Valley Field Centre in Sabah.

The fourth (in ZM, Univ.

Amsterdam) was taken in riverine forest at 300m at Tawau Hill.