Sarbena lignifera Walker

Sarbena lignifera Walker, 1862, J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 6: 137.

Roeselia signifera Snellen, 1904, Tijdschr. Ent., 47: 140. (Misspelling)

Diagnosis

See the generic description and Proneca.

Taxonomic Note

László et al. (2004) have revised Sarbena Walker, describing four new species. They have refined the distribution of lignifera as in the checklist. They did not record any other species from Borneo, but two of their new species, S. sumatrana László, Ronkay & Witt (Sumatra, Java) and S. hollowayi László, Ronkay & Witt (Indian Subregion east to Solomons) may prove to occur there. The species are externally all very similar, but differ in genital features, particularly the uncus (bifid in sumatrana, entire in lignifera and hollowayi), the processes of the tegumen (acute, tapering in sumatrana, similar but larger in lignifera, but anvil-shaped in hollowayi) and those of the valve (relatively large in lignifera, delicate in sumatrana, and with the most dorsal process angled sharply downwards in hollowayi). The female genitalia of hollowayi from Seram are illustrated in Part 18 (fig 27). S. inouei László, Ronkay & Witt (Philippines) has similar male genitalia to hollowayi and is the sister-species within the hollowayi group of László et al. S. ketipati László, Ronkay & Witt (Bali) has a similar bifid uncus and tegumen to sumatrana and to S. ustipennis Hampson (Indian Subregion, Thailand, Taiwan, Ryukyu Is.); this is the ustipennis group of László et al. László et al. did not investigate the taxon lignaria Rothschild (New Guinea) mentioned in Part 18. It could prove to be conspecific with hollowayi.

Geographical Range

Borneo, Sumatra: noted for N.E. Himalaya, Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra by the Budapest group.

Habitat Preference

Te species is uncommon in lowland forest, including disturbed ares, up to 600m.

Genitalia: