Coptobasis microsema Hampson

Taxonomy

The holotype of Sylepta [sic] microsema Hampson, 1912a: 1268, from Singapore is in the B.M.N.H.. As Syllepte in the LepIndex.

In Globiz as Phrynganodes which is unlikely to be correct but here we provisionally treat it in Coptobasis Lederer 1863 as it is similar to many Pramadea and Coptobasis group spp.

It is very close to Sylepta [sic] microspilalis Hampson, 1912g: 4, but until the two types are compared closely we retain them as good spp.

Botys [Patania] ultimalis Walker, 1959d: 659-660. TL Sri Lanka, may also be syn. but needs further inspection.

Description

A coppery brown sp. with a distinctly purple sheen. The abdomen is pale brown with pale fawn anal hair pencils in the male. Pectoral collar, ventral abdomen and legs and are whitish. The FW and HW have faint darker post-median and sub-median lines. The indistinct postmedian line is serrate. There is a small lunate FW stigm at the end of the cell and also a very small pale spot submedianally in the subcostal area. Both these marks are outlined in darker brown. See the very similar C. microspilalis Hampson: which has a slightly larger lunate FW stigma and also has more distinct serrate FW postmedian and HW median lines. In both these spp. the antennae has a large basal scale tuft and the pedicel has modifications. In this sp. a small pointed peg projection, slightly longer in microspilalis. The scape is filiform and lightly pilose. The female Coptobasis sp. 14 (if correctly associated) also has a white pectus. It is slightly smaller (wing length 12mm) and its abdomen is shorter and stouter. Note the pale band on the abdomen base. Schulze (2000) taxon #443 a male series determined as near microsema by Spiedel in 1998. Coptobasis sp. 14 may be the same species.

References

• Schulze, C.H. (2000) Auswirkungen anthropogener Störungen auf die Diversität von Herbivoren. (Analys von Nachtfalterzönosen entlang von Habitatgradienten in Ost-Malaysia). Unpubl. PhD Thesis, University of Bayreuth, Germany: 350 pp.
• Walker, F. (1859d [May 10]) Pyralides, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 18: 509-798.
• Lederer, J. (1863d [Dec]) Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Pyralidinen. Wien. entomol. Monat. 7 (12): 278, key: 429, 427-502, pl. 2-18.
• Hampson, G.F. (1912a) The moths of India- Supplementary papers to the Volume in the Fauna of British India. Ser.IV, Pt. III-V. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 21: 411-446; 711; 878; 1222-1272.
• Hampson, G.F. (1912g) (I) Descriptions of new species of Pyralidae of the subfamily Pyraustinae, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 8, 10, (55): 1-20.