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Gymnoscelis
prouti sp. n.
Gymnoscelis fasciata Hampson
sensu Prout, 1932c: 69.
 
8-9 mm. In colouration this species resembles G. fasciata but
is larger, less strongly fasciated, the antemedials obscure and the postmedials
less angular, more rounded and irregular in course. Both fasciata and prouti
have the octavals expanded, irregular at their apex, but in prouti they
are shorter, more expanded apically, the apex with two long, curved spines. In
both species the saccus is short without a longitudinal thickening, but the
valves in prouti are distinguished by a strong saccular angle. The
aedeagus in both has numerous cornuti in a row in the vesica, but the more basal
(apical when uneverted) ones are strongly curved in fasciata, straight in
prouti (one only), and the more distal ones smaller and more numerous in prouti.
The female of prouti lacks the ostial comb of fasciata but has
plates laterally to it, edged with smaller spines more as in exangulata. The
bursa is immaculate but finely crinkled as in fasciata, but has a small,
irregular patch of sclerotisation centrally amid a generally more globular form.
A female from the N.E. Himalaya (slide 19049) has more extensive, longer spining
round the lamellae vaginales and probably represents a distinct race of prouti.
Holotype . Mt. Poi, SARAWAK, [4300-]
5300ft (Dr E. Mjöberg) BM geometrid slide 19046.
Paratypes: 1 SABAH: Mt Kinabalu, Park HQ., 1620m vii-ix.1965, Cambridge Expedition
to Mt Kinabalu 1965 (H.J. Banks, H.S. Barlow & J.D. Holloway) BM
geometrid slide 18968; 1 as
previous but Power Station, 1930m; 1 SABAH: Mt Kinabalu, 5500ft. 23-24.1.1976
(E. W. Classey), BM geometrid slide 18969; 2 Mt Kinabalu, Marei Parei,
5000ft. 29 & 30.4.1929 (H.M. Pendlebury); 1 SARAWAK: Gunung Mulu Nat.
Park, R.G.S. Exped. 1977-8 (J.D. Holloway et al.) Site 3, January, Camp
4, Mulu, 1780m 453463, [upper montane forest].
Geographical range. Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia; N.E. Himalaya.
Habitat preference. The species has been taken from 1600m to 1930m on
G. Kinabalu and at 1780m on G. Mulu, all in the upper montane zone.
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