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Eumelea
rosalia Stoll
Phalaena rosalia Stoll, 1781, Uitl. Kapellen 4:152.
Phalaena vulpenaria Stoll,
1782, Ibid. 4: 245.
Phalaena gravidata Fabricius,
1794, Ent. Syst. 3(2): 175.
Ametris punicearia Hübner,
1825, Verz. bekannter Schmett. p.303.
Eumelea flavata Moore, 1887, Lepid. Ceylon 3: 440.
Eumelea olivacea Hampson, 1891, Illustr. typ. Specimens Lep.
Heterocera Colln Br. Mus. 8:3.
Eumelea degener Warren, 1894, Novit. zool. 1: 375.
Eumelea sanguinata Warren,
1895, Ibid. 2: 84.
Eumelea sangirensis Warren,
1896, Ibid. 3: 357.
Eumelea sanguinata australiensis Warren,
1897, Ibid. 4: 29.
Eumelea aurigenaria Warren,
1899, Ibid. 6:15.
Eumelea rosalia attenuata Prout,
1921, Gross-Schmett. Erde 12: 33.
Eumelea rosalia ditona Prout,
1927, Novit. zool. 33: 179.
Eumelea rosalia cacuminis Prout,
1931, Ibid. 37: 3.
Eumelea
rosalia 
Eumelea
rosalia 
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Diagnosis. This species resembles the next very closely in general appearance.
Sommerer (1995) states that the two pairs of spurs on the hind tibia are of
approximately equal length in rosalia but are unequal, the distal pair
being distinctly shorter in feliciata. This tibia is fringed with hair in
rosalia males, but not in those of feliciata. Both species are
rather variable and colours fade in older specimens. In Bornean material the
forewing postmedial is more sharply curved anteriorly in rosalia, and the
submarginals are stronger, particularly in the much more orange female: in
female feliciata from Borneo, the wings are a clear, only slightly
speckled yellow, with the postmedials strongly evident and the submarginals
absent. In the male genitalia of rosalia the part of the uncus above the
cross is short, distinctively cleaver-shaped (laterally flattened); the arms of
the cross are long, relatively slender, expanding gently to the apex; below the
cross there is a short stalk to the uncus before its basal lacuna and the point
of separation of the distal part of the socii; the socii do not reach the arms
of the cross. In feliciata the distal part of the uncus is twice as long,
similarly narrow ventrally, but there is no stalk below the cross, the arms of
which are slightly more strongly expanded distally and downcurved; the socii are
set further apart and overlap the arms of the cross extensively. In the aedeagus
vesica the lyre-shaped scobinations are relatively fine, uniform and slight,
each array broadening distally in rosalia. In feliciata they are
more robust, set in a more linear configuration, with one or two significantly
larger spines at the distal end of each row.
Taxonomic notes. The type of rosalia has not been located. This treatment follows
Sommerer (1995) on the identity of the taxon. The synonyms listed are of taxa
that conform in male genitalic features to this concept. These features are
listed in the diagnosis. Indian males often have a strong greenish tinge (e.g. olivacea);
typical Moluccan and New Guinean material is strongly suffused with deep,
purplish pink. Bornean material is perhaps best referred to ssp. aurigenaria Warren
(t. loc. Java).
Geographical range. Indo-Australian tropics east to N. Australia and New
Caledonia.
Habitat preference. No recent material has been seen. Older material
suggests this is a rare lowland species.
Biology. A female specimen in The Natural History Museum was reared from Mallotus
(Euphorbiaceae) in India. Sommerer (1995) refers to a further
possible record for this host, also from India.
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