Gadessa sp. 5

Taxonomy

Gadessa sp. 5. specimens in the BMNH and Schulze Colls.

Generic placement uncertain but here we treat it as Gadessa but it resembles several morphotypes originally treated as Pleuroptya sensu priori, sometimes identified as Botys sabinusalis (Walker, 1859d: 708), currently treated in Patania (Kirti & Gill 2007: 273).

Description

A nacreous pale purple-brown morphospecies. The wings are crossed by partly obsolete darker lines in the ante-median post median positions. The PML of the FW loops proximally to the median position and there is an elongate darker spot in the disco-cellular area of the FW. The FW costa is narrowly slightly fulvous. The termenae of the wings have a narrow pale marginal band and the cillia are short. Dorsally the head, thorax and abdomen are pale purplish buff with a narrow black is band at the tip of the male abdomen. This morphotype is very similar to some Gadessa spp. but they are less shiny are more ochreous or brown with more rounded (less elongate), less pointed FW.  Many morphotypes labelled as Pleuroptya sensu priori sabinusalis Walker, 1859d: 708 are very similar.

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.
• Kirti, J. S. & Gill. N. S. (2007) Revival of genus Patania Moore and reporting of a new species menoni (Pyraustinae: Pyralidae: Lepidoptera). J. Ent. Res. New Delhi, 31 (3): 265-275.
• Walker, F. (1859d [May 10]) XVIII Pyralites, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 18: 509-798.