Thysanoplusia aureopicta Ronkay & Behounek

Taxonomic Note

Thysanoplusia aureopicta Ronkay & Behounek is the species that had been identified as intermixta Warren in Sundaland in the past, and a Sumatran specimen was illustrated as such in Part 14. This whole complex of species was revised by Ronkay & Behounek (1995), who added T. jonesi Ronkay & Behounek to the complex. This species was collected at high altitude in Seram by the author and colleagues in 1987, and named for David Jones who carried a Honda E650 generator up to 2800m on G. Binaya as a power supply for the light‐trap!

The original description of aureopicta states that the forewing is broader than in intermixta, with bluish violaceous irroration and a more extensive golden area which is finely reticulated with brown. The male genitalia have the broadest saccus in the genus, with the distal margin slightly excavated. The aedeagus vesica is longer and is more dilated at its distal end where it is reflexed. Ronkay & Behounek (1996) included Borneo in the distribution but only gave precise data for type material.

Geographical range

Sundaland, Philippines, S. Moluccas, New Guinea.