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Nygmia
peperites Collenette
comb. n.
Euproctis peperites Collenette,
1932, Novit. zool., 38: 72.
Euproctis peperites Collenette;
Holloway, 1976: 49.
Euproctis peperites luteata Holloway,
1976: 49.
Nygmia
peperites 
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Nygmia
peperites  |
Nygmia
peperites
(holotype of luteata) |
Diagnosis. The forewings are pale greyish yellow or a stronger yellow (form luteata,
only known from one female), with darker speckling and a diagnostic diffuse
oblique fascia, this last distinguishing it from the otherwise very similar exitela
Collenette and funeralis
Swinhoe . All three are
distinguished most reliably by their male genitalia. The valve arms in peperites
are both very narrow, the ventral one slightly larger. In both other species
the more dorsal one is significantly larger, broader.
Taxonomic note. The female form luteata has a yellower tone to the forewing than
does typical peperites, but the genitalia are identical. Its status is
unclear, given that the typical form also occurs in Borneo. The male genitalia
indicate a relationship to xanthomela, particularly in the large, entire
juxta and the presence of ‘socii’ that may be dorsal extensions of the
valves. N. pelopicta Collenette comb. n. (Peninsular Malaysia) is
also related.
Geographical range. Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo.
Habitat preference. Four typical specimens have been taken in forest at
altitudes below 300m. The holotype female of form luteata was taken at
1930m on G. Kinabalu.
Biology. Yunus & Ho (1980) recorded the species as feeding on Ficus
(Moraceae).
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