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Ariola
coelisigna
Walker
Ariola coelisigna Walker, 1857 [1858], List Specimens lepid. Insects
Colln Br. Mus., 12: 769.
Ariola coelisigna
(possible syntype) |
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Diagnosis. This is the first of a sequence of four species where the
division of the forewings into a green costal zone and a white to greyish green
dorsal zone is gently curved rather than angled. It can only be distinguished
reliably from all except the fourth by dissection of the genitalia, though the
curvation of the forewing division in the third is stronger distally. The valves
are curved rather than angled, and the costal zone of pegs is broad. The
aedeagus vesica is small, globular, with a long, curved, slender, reflexed
cornutus. The lateral grooves at the base of the abdomen extend to overlap the
fifth segment from the fourth rather than stopping short of it. In the female
the ductus is relatively broad, swollen centrally, and the base of the bursa has
a distinctive sclerotisation.
Taxonomic note. The original syntypic series consisted of two specimens from
Sri Lanka and one from Sarawak. These are not conspecific, the taxon in Sri
Lanka having a narrower aedeagus without a conutus, shorter lateral grooves to
the abdomen and, in the female, a very narrow ductus leading to a flimsy,
unsclerotised bursa. The name
ransonneti
Felder & Rogenhofer, placed as a synonym of coelisigna in Poole (1989) is
available for this Sri Lankan taxon stat. rev., therefore the name
coelisigna is hereby fixed for the more easterly species by designating the
A.R. Wallace Sarawak syntype (slide 17501) as LECTOTYPE. Both these species and
the next share a characteristically squared uncus.
Geographical range. Himalaya, S. China, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo, and east to Queensland and the Solomons.
Habitat preference.
The only specimens are two females collected by
A.R. Wallace in Sarawak, including the lectotype. They are probably from the
lowlands.
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