Gadessa sp. 7

Taxonomy

Gadessa sp. 7. This is The specimen of 'G. nilusalis' illustrated by RTS (1994:192, pl. 31, fig. 16) from Borneo, Pulo Laut [Kalimantan Selatan] which is very different from the holotype from Sarawak. We originally considered that they had illustrated the syntype Botys lentalis but on comparison with Felders' holotype we consider that they illustrated an undescribed morphotype. However this morphotype is very similar to Botys attemptalis Snellen, 1890: 590-591 T.L. India (Sikkim), so we illustrate that holotype as a posible identity.

Description

It is a distinctive pale pink-grey. Under some lighting it can appear golden. The FW is crossed by two marrow darker lines widest at the costa. The costa is darker brown-grey. It has an almost straight ante-median line and post median line which curves to is most distal point in the middle and then retracts to the median position from where it runs straight to near the midpoint of the anterior margin. The FW has a large elongate spot in the discocellular area and also a tiny punctum at the proximal end of the cell.  The HW is a similar purple-brown colour with a single looping line starting post-medianally and a distinct darker spot on the subcosta at the antemedian position. Both the wings have a pair of narrow  grey-black termenal lines. The head, thorax and abdomen are a similar colour to the wings. The fore legs are white banded with grey brown the hid wing and its long spurs are silvery white. This male also has a very obvious dark band near the abdomen tip. We illustrate the same specimen as RTS (1994) because of the uncertain identification, its range outside of Borneo is unknown

References

• Felder, C., Felder, R. & Rogenhofer A. F. (1864-1875) [Full printing by Oct 1874] Atlas von Lepidoptera 140 pls 2,500 figs, Kaiserlich-Königlichen Hof-und Staatsdruckerei, Wien.
• Snellen, P. C. T. (1890) XVIII A catalogue of the Pyralidina of Sikkim collected by Henry J. Elwes and the late Otto Möller. Trans ent. Soc Lond. 1890: 557-647, 2 pl. (XIX & XX).
• [RTS] Robinson, G. S., Tuck, K. R. & Shaffer, M. (1994) A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of South-East Asia, Malaysian Nature Society Kuala Lumpur & Natural History Museum, London, 311 pp. 51 text figs, 32 pls.
• Robinson, G,S., Tuck, K.R. & Shaffer, M. (1994): 192, pl. 31, fig.16.
• Walker, F. (1859d [May 10]) XVIII Pyralites, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 18: 509-798.