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Thalassodes sundissepta
sp. n.
16-18mm,
 17-18mm. Like depulsata, this species is
best distinguished on characters of the male genitalia. It is related to T.
dissepta Walker (India (holotype slide 3375) and the Maldive Is. (slide
4112)) in sharing a rather weakly ornamented valve with the distal spur on the
oblique structure absent. The transtillae fuse centrally. In dissepta these
have two small scobinate lobes associated with the one basally (see Fig 284). In
sundissepta the scobination extends in a sinuous band obliquely down
along the edge of the juxta. A closely related species occurs in the Philippines
(slide 4095) and Sulawesi (slide 4132) with this structure more strongly sinuous
and lobed: there is a small spur on the oblique structure. Also related are T.
minor Warren (New Guinea, Seram, Sulawesi) and T. halioscia Warren (Solomons).
Holotype SARAWAK: Gunung Mulu Nat. Park, R.G.S
Exped. 1977-8 (J.D.
Holloway et al.) Site 17, March, ar. Long Melinau, 50m. 313441, low
secondary forest, BM geometrid slide 10695.
Paratypes: 2 as holotype (slide 10696); 9 (slide 10715)
SARAWAK: general data as holotype but Sites 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 23, 28; 1 (slide
10700) BRUNEI: 15m. Telisai, Secondary heath forest and Gymnostoma, 3.2.1979
(Lt. Col. M.G. Allen); 1 (slide 4165) S.E. BORNEO:
Samarinda, x.1938 (M.E.
Walsh). Putative females associated with this species are identified by
slide numbers  4165,
10713, 10718.
Geographical range. Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia (slide 8681),
Sumatra (slide 8680).
Habitat
preference. The species is frequent in a
range of lowland forest types including heath forest. One specimen has been
taken at 1000m in lower montane forest.
Biology. Bell (MS) described a larva attributed to dissepta in S.
India. It is slender, slightly broader at the thorax, with conical head
processes. The colour is pale yellowish leaf green, with dorsal blotches of deep
red-brown, the largest over segments A7-9.
The larva lives amongst
the flower panicles of the host-plant and pupates in a silken cell incorporating
leaves and flower heads.
The host-plant recorded
was Rourea (Connaraceae).
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