Platycerota vitticostoides Holloway sp. n.
♂♂ 16-17mm, ♀♀ 17-19mm. This species resembles P. vitticostata Walker (N.E. Himalaya, China) comb. n. closely in the pale yellow ground colour of the wings, speckled with reddish. This is obscured with grey over much of the wings: costally, marginally and dorsally on the forewing, and in a medial band and apically on the hindwing. There are significant differences in the male genitalia: the valve costa has two separate acute processes more or less centrally, rather than a large semicircular lobe subapically that includes the apical spur; the aedeagus vesica is long with a large terminal spine rather than short with a central, reflexed spine. Placement of both these species in Platycerotais not entirely satisfactory (vitticostata was misplaced in *Parasynegia)*as the male antennae are bipectinate. Wing shape and markings are consistent with the placement, as is the form of the uncus and the apical spur to the valve costa.
Holotype ♂
SARAWAK: Gunung Mulu Nat. Park, R.G.S Exped. 1977-8 (J.D. Holloway et al.) Site 23, April, West Melinau Gorge 250m, 430558, FEG 4, limestone forest, BM geometrid slide 12987.
Paratypes
- 1 ♀ as holotype but Site 24
- 1 ♂ general data as holotype but Site 25, April, G. Api 900m, 427550, lower montane forest
- 1 ♀ general data as holotype but Site 14, February, Camp 2.5, Mulu, 1000m, 413461, [lower montane forest]
- 1 ♀ BRUNEI: 30-60m, Labi, lowland forest and secondary veg., 28.8.79 (Lt. Col.M.G. Allen), BM geometrid slide 15547.
Geographical range
Borneo.
Habitat preference
Two specimens are from low altitude forest on limestone, and two from lower montane forests, one on limestone, one on shale. The fifth is also from lowland forest.
Biology
P. vitticostata* has been reared by M.J. Bascombe (pers. comm.) in Hong Kong. The green larva with a rather swollen thoracic zone bearing a pair of dorsolateral white patches is illustrated in below.
The host-plant was Casearia glomerata (Flacourtiaceae).
Genitalia:
