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Lophoptera lineigera sp. n.
 
14-15mm. The wing pattern is similar to that of squammigera but
the anterior boundary to the paler central streak of the forewing is delineated
centrally by a distinct narrow white line with a regular anterior edge, and the
zone of grey grading away posteriorly is reduced, faint.
The male genitalia are more similar to those of vittigera Walker
(as illustrated by Holloway (1979) erroneously as squammigera) than to
those of squammigera, but the dorsal process of the valve is not erect,
and is very slender over the apical two thirds and broadening basally rather
than being of uniform width; the saccus is twice as long, apically rounded
rather than acute. In the female genitalia the setose lobes flanking the ostium
are ovoid; in vittigera they are roundedly rectangular and in squammigera
they taper away distally.
Holotype . SARAWAK: Gunong Mulu Nat.
Park, R.G.S. Exped. 1977-8 (J.D. Holloway et al.) Site 16, March, Long
Pala (Base), 70m, 324450, alluv./secondary forest, MV on batu - canopy, BM
noctuid slide 10627.
Paratypes. 5 examples, same general data as holotype, 3 as holotype, 1 from 1500m
on G. Api, 1 from upper montane forest on G. Mulu; BM noctuid slide 11266.
Taxonomic notes. This species and the next belong to a widespread complex that may be
sister-group to squammigera, sharing a distinctive forewing pattern with
that species but having rather different male genitalia. The other species are
as follows:
Lophoptera vittigera Walker (Holloway 1979; as squammigera) was
described from Australia but occurs disjunctly in Sri Lanka, S. India, Sulawesi,
?Philippines, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Both this and the two further species
described below differ from squammigera and the two other Bornean species
in having a distinct, striking hyaline zone at the base of the hindwing that is
invested with a purplish iridescence.
Lophoptera melanesigera sp. n. has facies much as in vittigera but
male genitalia with the saccus relatively much longer and a valve as in Fig. 256
with a saccular spur directed ventrally at one third and a triangular plate
directed dorsally opposite; the costal process is slender, smaller than in vittigera
and lineigera, and arising at almost two thirds, only slightly
curved, to run alongside the apical part of the valve. Holotype : AMBOYNA,
Feb 1892 (W. Doherty), BM noctuid slide 11296. The species is found in
Sulawesi, the S. Moluccas, New Guinea and, in a slightly different form (broader
white bar on the forewing, longer, more slender saccular spur on the valve of
the male genitalia), in the Solomons.
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Lophoptera bismigera sp. n. has a broad central white streak to the
forewing and little other pale marking except for distally. The valve of the
male genitalia (Fig. 255) is as in vittigera but the central basal
process is short angular, and the costal process is slender, somewhat smaller,
and more shallowly curved. Holotype NEW IRELAND, November 1923 (Eichhorn) BM noctuid slide
11298. The species is found throughout the eastern Bismarck Is. and on Nissan I.
Geographical range (lineigera). Borneo, Bali ( only, larger than in Borneo).
Habitat preference. As well as the type series, further specimens have
been taken 1200m on G. Kinabalu and at 1620m on Bukit Retak in Brunei. The
species probably occurs over a wide range of altitude as does squammigera.
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