TRIBE GEOMETRINI
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Herochroma flavibasalis Warren comb. n.  
   
Actenochroma flavibasalis Warren 1894, Novit. zool., 1: 381.
   
Neobalbis bipunctata Thierry-Mieg, 1915, Miscnea. ent., 22: 47.
   
Neobalbis flavibasalis Warren; Holloway, 1976: 59.


Herochroma flavibasalis


Diagnosis.
This and the next species have more rounded hindwings and a greyer green, more speckled facies than the species already discussed. The discal spots above are dashes rather than dots. On the underside the bases of the wings are yellow, the distal black bands broad and the discal spot is strong on the forewing, vestigial on the hindwing, rather than present on both wings. The two species are distinguished from each other in the diagnosis of the next species.

Taxonomic notes. Male genitalia differences between taxa in the flavibasalis group are very slight, even where sympatry occurs as in Java and Borneo. The Bornean differences are presented below. In Java the taxon H. hemiticheres Prout comb. n. & stat. n. must be treated as a full species distinct from flavibasalis (type locality also Java), having a shorter, upturned apex and costal process to the valve, the basal process being broader with much less basal curvature. The quadrate apex of the gnathus is much shallower, more broadly based. For this reason the mainland Asian subspecies described for flavibasalis are probably also best treated as distinct: H. thaiensis Inoue comb. n. & stat. n. (Thailand); H. mansfieldi Prout comb. n. & stat. n. (Yunnan). The relationship of mansfieldi to thaiensis needs to be investigated.

Geographical range. Sundaland.

Habitat preference. During the Mulu survey the species was rare in lowland forest, showing some preference for kerangas (heath) forest. It was more frequent in lower montane forest. A single specimen was taken at 1200m on G. Kinabalu.

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