Dichocrocis pandamalis Walker

Taxonomy

The holotype of Botys pandamalis Walker, 1859e: 999. The specimen collected by A.R. Wallace in Sarawak, is in the UM Oxford. [Type #1052]. It was erroneously treated as a syn. of Dichocrocis frenatalis Lederer, 1863b: 449, Pl.17, fig. 15. TL Niccobar Is., (the TS of Dichocrocis).

We consider both good sp. In this work we illustrate both Walker’s holotype in the Oxford UMNH and a picture of Lederer's holotype.

D. pandamalis is almost certainly a complex of very similar undescribed spp. which needs more serious investigation.

In this work they are aggregated into the Dichocrocis pandamalis Group and treated as undescribed morphotypes. (e.g. Dichocrocis sp. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 etc.)

Meroctena dichochrosialis Hampson 1898 is undoubtedly closely related to these spp. and may be a member of the D. pandamalis group.

Description

This is a black spotted yellow species. The black markings are located ante-medially and post-medianally and near the costal base of the FW. There is also an elongated median mark in the discocellular area. On the HW there are also post-median & median marks. The head, thorax and abdomen are bright yellow and the tegulae are long. The tip of the abdomen in the male is black. In comparison D. frenatalis is one of the few Dichocrocis spp. with straight and parallel HW antemedian and postmedian lines and as such is not similar to D. pandamalis. The D. pandamalis holotype has discontinuous bands. The D. frenetalis group often has a small punctal spot proximal and close to the discal spot of the FW which is missing in the D.pandamalis group.

References

• Hampson, G. F. (1898) A revision of the moths of the subfamily Pyraustinae and the family Pyralidae. Part 1, Proc. zool. soc. Lond.: 590-760.
• Lederer, J. (1863b [Oct]) Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Pyralidinen. Wien. entomol. Monat. 7 (10): 331-378, pl. 2-18.
• Walker, F. (1859e) Pyralides, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 19: 799-1036.