Dysaethria
oriocharis West comb. n.
Epiplema oriocharis West,
1932, Novit. zool., 37: 218.
?Erosia conflictaria var.
Walker, 1861, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 23:
851,
abdomen missing.
Diagnosis. The facies is a greyer version of that of rhagavolita, particularly
on the hindwing, though on both wings the expanded dark markings on the
postmedials at or towards the dorsum are stronger. Identity should be confirmed
by dissection, where the genitalia are of the conflictaria type, with a
central process to the uncus, a distally, unequally bifid valve with the
interior of the bifurcations forming a complex process centrally with its
opposite number. In oriocharis the uncus is diagnostically flanked by
broad, rugose, paddle-like processes.
Taxonomic notes. The species may be related to rhagavata and rhagavolita, but
has closer relatives to the east, such as D. signifera Warren comb. n.
(Seram
to Solomons). An undescribed species from the Bismarck Is. (slide 357) has an
uncal structure as in oriocharis but more elongate valves with a more
elaborate bridging structure between them.
Geographical range. Philippines, Borneo, ?Peninsular Malaysia (Barlow,
1982, p1:47: 10).
Habitat preference. The only Bornean specimen seen is from Sandakan on
the east coast of Sabah.
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