Parasinga lichenina Butler

Somera lichenina Butler, 1880, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (5) 7: 67; Kiriakoff 1968: 128.

Desmeocraera triangulum Gaede, 1930: 629, syn. n. ; Kiriakoff, 1968: 121.

Stauropus (?) grisescens Roepke, 1951, Mitt. Schweiz. ent. Ges. 24: 378, a homonym replaced by

roepkei Nakamura, 1960, *

Trans. Lep. Soc. Japan* 11: 37, syn. n.; Kiriakoff, 1968: 122.

Parasinga bicolor Kiriakoff, 1977: 34; the illustration of the ♂ genitalia suggests conspecificity with lichenina.

Diagnosis

This is the largest species in its genus, varying from an almost uniform greyish blue-green male forewing to one that is broadly banded with brown (illustrated). The females vary along similar lines but are usually also more finely fasciated. In the male genitalia the dense pubescence on the interior margin of the rather broad valves is diagnostic.

Taxonomic Notes

The holotypes of the first two synonyms and a colour slide of that of the third were examined, but examination of bicolor was not possible, except in the original description. The variability of the species is probably the cause of its frequent description; the allotype of Quadricalcarifera eusebia Kiriakoff (1974: 389) is probably a female of lichenina.

Geographical range

Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Bali, Sulawesi.

Habitat preference

The insect is never more than infrequent but has been taken in a range of habitats from the lowlands to 1700 m.

Genitalia: