Poecilasthena character Prout stat. rev.

Poecilasthena character Prout, 1932 c: 57

Diagnosis

This and Poecilasthena nubivaga Prout were placed in synonymy by Holloway (1976), a decision that, on evidence of further dissection, was probably erroneous.

P. character has a more strongly contrasted facies with green fasciation on a white ground, whereas P. nubivaga Prout is a more uniform green. The discal spots of the latter are larger, that of the hindwing with a slight pale surround: most specimens of character lack a hindwing discal spot. Specimens from lower elevations on other mountains tend to be much smaller (one from 1200m on G. Api is illustrated). In the male abdomen there are also distinct differences between the two species: character has the coremata on the valves very much larger and more heavily invested with darker hair scales: the apodemes of the eighth sternite are twice as long as in nubivaga, presumably to support stronger muscles to articulate these coremata. In the female genitalia the disc of the signum is smaller in nubivaga, but the spines radiating from it are as long or longer, though both these features are somewhat variable in character.

Geographical Range

Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra.

Habitat Preference

The species occurs at lower elevations than its congener, ranging from 1630m to 2600m on G. Kinabalu, from 1790m to the summit on G. Mulu, and also recorded at 1200m on the limestone G. Api and at 1680m on Bukit Pagon.

Taxonomic Note

Xue & Scoble (2002) attempted to distinguish the tribe Asthenini from the Eupitheciini, but, as suggested in Part 10 of this series, harboured some doubts that the tribes were distinct. They suggested that asthenines are best distinguished by the presence of a distinctive signum consisting of spines or denticles arising from a central line or ridge formed by their bases. Also, in the male genitalia, the uncus tends to be reduced or lost, and the labides are narrow and seldom united. Bornean genera definitely included in this new concept of Asthenini are Poecilasthena Warren, Parasthena Warren and Polynesia Swinhoe. Xue & Scoble (2002) excluded Eois Hübner and Pseudopolynesia Holloway from their Asthenini, but did not comment on whether they might fall within a broader Eupitheciini + Asthenini grouping. This broader grouping is retained in the checklist, but the three Asthenini genera and the two of uncertain placement are listed at the end. Strutzenberger et al. (2010) confirmed the monophyly of Eois, and their molecular analysis assigned Old World and New World taxa sampled to sister-clades. They found no confirmation of a relationship of Eois with the Eupitheciini, but did demonstrate a strong host plant association of Eois with Piperaceae. Five Bornean species of Eois were included in their analysis and fell into a well supported clade with structure as follows; ((plumbacea, unidentified African species) (phaneroscia (memorata (pallidula, obliviosa)))). Strutzenberger & Fiedler (2011) have also attempted to date the initiation and diversification of the New World clade, and established the former at around 31 Mya in the middle of the Oligocene. This date would also apply to the Old World clade if the sister relationship of the two clades continues to be supported.

Genitalia: