TRIBE GEOMETRINI
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Herochroma xuthopletes Prout comb. n. & stat. n.  
   
Archaeobablis cristata xuthopletes Prout, 1932, Gross-Schmett. Erde 12:138.


Herochroma xuthopletes


Diagnosis.
See H. subtepens . The male genitalia are also diagnostic as illustrated and discussed below.

Taxonomic notes. Holloway (1982: 241) made some preliminary observations on the H. cristata Warren group. A photograph of the male genitalia of the holotype of xuthopletes (Sumatra, in Senckenberg Mus., Frankfurt) sent to the author by M.D. Sommerer enable the status of the taxon to be resolved. Typical cristata is found from India to Peninsular Malaysia (slide 11033) and is characterised in the male genitalia by a strong, curved spine arising at two thirds from the ventral portion of the valve, and an even width to the dorsal portion. In xuthopletes the spine is absent and the dorsal portion is tapered: the valve costa is obtusely angled at one third in Bornean xuthopletes but not in the Sumatran holotype. H. nigrescentipalpis Prout comb. n. & stat. n. (Sulawesi) has a much more strongly curved spine, a shorter, rounder ventral arm to the valve and a dorsal one that is shorter, apically slightly bilobed, the costa strongly bowed over its basal half.

Geographical range. Sumatra, Borneo.

Habitat preference. The single Bornean male is from lowland alluvial forest just west of the Melinau Gorge, Mulu National Park.

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