Chlumetia malaysiana sp. n.
10-11mm. The forewings are medium to dark brown, more uniform than in
other species; the fasciation is typical of the genus but the submarginal,
though entire, is dentate, irregular in width, at places reduced to a fine line.
In the male abdomen the 8th tergite terminates in two narrow, triangular, setose
processes. In the male genitalia the aedeagus bears a prominent dorsal process
centrally; the genitalia are massive relative to those of congeners except for
taxa in Sulawesi (probably C. corticea Snellen) and the Philippines, both
lacking the aedeagus process; the valves are squarish with the dorsal margin
folded over, and costal and apical projections as illustrated. The Sulawesi
species has broader triangular processes from the male eighth tergite; the
aedeagus is bulbous centrally; the valve is similarly folded, massive, but more
triangular and broadly bibbed apically (Figs. 90, 93). The Philippines species
is described below.
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In the female genitalia the eighth segment is diagnostically sclerotised
in a laterally compressed area posterior to the ostium and connected to it by a
band of sclerotisation; the ductus is broad, lightly sclerotised, the narrow
bursa broadly based on it and containing two small signa; the appendix bursae is
weak, arising from the base of the bursa on a duct much longer than the
genitalia overall. In the Sulawesi species the eighth segment is more heavily
sclerotised and the base of the ductus is modified into a scrolled invagination
(Fig. 96); the duct to the appendix bursae is much shorter. A new species from
Melanesia, represented by females only. is described below.
Holotype . Goping, PERAK [Malaysia],
188 (Kunstler), noctuid slide 11172.
Paratype . Data as holotype, BM
noctuid slide 1103.
Taxonomic notes. Two further species belong to this group with massive male genitalia and
complexities of the ninth segment of the female. They are described as follows:
Chlumetia montalbana sp. n. (Fig. 91). 10mm. The facies is as in malaysiana
except the area basa1 to the antemedial is much darker brown. Differences
are in the male genitalia and abdomen: the eighth tergite lacks a distal pair of
processes; the aedeagus lacks bulges or processes; the valve is more or less
rectangular but with a diagnostic pair of processes on the ventral margin. Holotype
Montalban, Rizal, LUZON, 26
March 1914 (A.E. Wileman), BM noctuid slide 1173.
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Chlumetia melanesiana sp. n. (Fig. 95). 11mm. The forewing markings are
generally as in other species of the group but the post- and antemedials are
diffusely double, darker than the ground, with a paler band distad, giving a
more striped appearance to the forewing. The female genitalia share the
enlargement and lateral compression of the ninth segment but the ductus bursae,
though with a subbasal dorsal lobe, is less elaborate, more slender; the duct to
the appendix arises very much more basally on the ductus. Holotype SOLOMON
IS., Guadalcanal, Honiara, 18-29 Sept. 1953 (J.D. Bradley) BM 1954-222,
BM noctuid slide 11008. Paratypes: 2 as holotype. There is also a female
from Milne Bay, S.E. New Guinea (slide 11004).
Geographical range. C. malaysiana is at present only known from Peninsular
Malaysia. However, the geography of the species group as a whole suggests that
it, or a related species, is likely to be discovered in Borneo.
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