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“Eilema” trimacula
sp. n.
11-12mm, possible
 11-13mm.
The forewing venation and shape is as in the previous species, with R2 part of
the radial sector branching system. The male colour and facies is also similar,
but with a slight suffusion of brown scales over the forewing that are
concentrated into spots within the cell and at the disc in a ‘reniform and
orbicular’ pattern and also in a diffuse subapical spot. The dorsal patch on
the underside is also more conspicuous, dark brown. The possible females have
similar forewing venation though, as with those of brevivalva, a more
typical Eilema shape. The wings have a pale straw yellow ground colour,
the forewing with all except the costa and distal margin dark grey. The male
genitalia have long narrow valves as in sandakana, though both saccular
and costal parts terminate in a distinctive ‘lobe and claw’ manner. The
saccus is narrow, slightly tapering, the juxta weak, and the uncus is set on
distinct shoulders. The aedeagus lacks an apical spur, and the vesica has basal
lobes that are scobinate and a longer diverticulum that terminates in a shallow
cornutus. The genitalia of the possible females are somewhat similar to those of
brevivalva but have a distinctly more sclerotised, narrow, tubular basal
part to the bursa and a pyriform, concentrically crinkled, scobinate distal part
within which are two nipple-like signa. There is a slight appendix at the base
of the tubular section. The ostium opens into another pouch-like zone of the
eighth segment. E. fumidisca Hampson, known from a single female from
Burma, has very similar genitalia but a more typical Eilema facies like
females of Brunia species, the forewings grey with a pale costal zone.
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, alluvial/ second. for., BM arctiid
slide 2638.
Paratypes: 2
as holotype; 1 as holotype but Site 7, January, 50m; 3 as holotype but Site
8, February, Camp 1, Mulu, 150m. 385470, mixed dipt. for.; 2 as holotype but
Sites 14, 15 (slide 5419), February, Camp 2.5, Mulu, 1000m.
413461, lower montane for.; 1 Baram distr., SARAWAK (Chas Hose); 1
BRUNEI: 3m, Seria, secondary and coastal veg., 20.11.79 (Lt. Col. M.G. Allen);
1 (slide 5417) MALAYSIA: Sabah, Danum Valley, 170m, 4º58’N,
177º 48’E (S.J. Willott), 1º understorey ER, East Ridge DVFC,
22.vii.94.
Possible : 7
(slide 4899) SARAWAK as above, Sites 7, 8, 16, 23; 1 Danum Valley as above but
1º
canopy Tree Pltfm DVFC, 26.ix.93.
Geographical
range. Borneo.
Habitat preference. The
species has been mostly taken in lowland dipterocarp forest, and was
particularly frequent in alluvial forest during the Mulu survey. A few specimens
have been taken in lower montane forest at 1000m. The females are all from lowland forest.
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