Miscellaneous Genera V.
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Mecodina diastriga Hampson
Mecodina diastriga Hampson, 1926, Descr. Gen. Spec. Noctuinae, p. 491.

 

 
Mecodina diastriga


Diagnosis
. This is the smallest of the Bornean species, purplish grey, having a rather irregular and variably sized subapical dark mark on the forewing costa and usually a corresponding dark bar submarginally at the hindwing dorsum. See also the taxonomic note following; the other two species may occur in Borneo also.

Taxonomic note. This species is one of three that have very similar facies. M. metagrapta Hampson (Bali, Java, Singapore, India, Sulawesi (slide 19239)) is smaller, slightly browner, with a shorter forewing reniform lunule that is highlighted paler. The male of metagrapta from India (Belgaum) listed by Hampson in his original description (mislabelled as a type in BMNH) has genitalia (slide 19174) as in diastriga. A male from E. Java, possibly diastriga (the type is female), has genitalia similar to those from Borneo, except the shorter diverticulum to the aedeagus vesica is more heavily spined. M. analis Swinhoe (Burma) is a similar size and purplish grey colour to diastriga, but has a more strongly fasciated underside to the hindwing. The male genitalia are much larger, the valves narrow with a prominent rectangular protrusion ventrally in the region of the sacculus. The aedeagus vesica is larger, longer, more convolute and scobinate.

Geographical range. Java, Sumatra, Borneo, India.

Habitat preference. Five specimens were taken during the Mulu survey from lowland alluvial forest and one from lower montane forest at 1000m.

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