Trichosea mjobergi Prout

Diphthera mjobergi Prout, 1926, Sarawak Mus. J. 3: 231.

Trichosea mjobergi Prout; Holloway, 1976: 32.

Diagnosis

The striking black and white pattern of the forewings is unmistakable.

Taxonomic Notes

The species is related to T. nigricatena Prout (Ceram, Sulawesi), sharing several features such as an exceptionally large corema on the male 8th abdominal sternite, a distinct lateral expansion at the base of the uncus, a more irregular, less sagittate black pattern to the forewing, with the reniform solid black instead of white-centred.

Other taxa examined were champa Moore (Himalaya, China, Taiwan, Japan), androdes Prout (Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia), tamsi Prout (Sumatra) and leucotaenia Prout (Buru), a list that includes all Malaysian and Indonesian taxa.

Kononenko & Pinratana (2005: 611‐612) noted a specimen of Trichosea mjobergi labelled as coming from Sansai in N. Thailand. The data are exactly the same as those indicated as possibly suspect for species of Lasiocampidae, Notodontidae and Arctiinae. It is recommended that such records be disregarded unless supported by further material where the provenance can be confidently assured.

Geographical range

Borneo.

Habitat preference

The species is often frequent in upper montane forest above 1600m and has been taken at 2300m. It has been taken on G. Kinabalu, G. Mulu, G. Murud, Bukit Pagon and Bukit Retak.

Genitalia: