Micrerethista mochlacma Meyrick 1938

Micrerethista mochlacma Meyrick

Micrerethista mochlacma Meyrick, 1938:527.—Diakonoff, 1955:132.—Robinson and Nielsen, 1993:236.

Syncopacma capnozona Meyrick, 1938:527 [new synonymy].—Robinson and Nielsen, 1993:237.

MALE (Figures 140–142).—Forewing 6–14 mm.

Head: Mostly white, lightly irrorated with subapically dark brown banded scales; scales slender, predominantly 2 or 3 dentate. Antenna 58–66-segmented, 0.4–0.5 the length of forewing; color and structure as described for M. fasciola.

Thorax: Dorsum as described for M. fasciola. Forewing variably marked, white with varying amounts of brown to fuscous irroration, often in small concentrations to impart general barred pattern; a large fuscous spot sometimes present along basal of hind margin; irregular transverse bands of brown less commonly present at distal pattern on apical of forewing either continuous and similar to basal portion or sometimes forming an ocellate pattern as follows: a conspicuous, transverse, usually concave, fuscous subapical bar near termination of discal cell; immediately distal to latter, another more continuous, concave, fuscous fascia tends to largely outline a small to large, white apical spot (Figure 141); fringe with two tiers (rows) of white to light brown scales tipped with dark brown to fuscous. Hindwing uniformly cream to brown with a slight golden iridescence.

Abdomen: Light golden brown to medium brown dorsally, white irrorated with light brown ventrally; coremata present.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

MALE GENITALIA (Figures 224–234).—Anterior margin of vinculum moderately variable, slightly concave to V-shaped, with short, slender to slightly tapered saccus, the latter ~0.13–0.15 the length of valva. Valva variable (Figures 226, 230–234); dorsal lobe moderately broad to slender, greatest width 0.3–0.37 the length of lobe, apex subacute to moderately rounded; ventral lobe 0.2–0.57 the length of dorsal lobe. Aedoeagus simple, without subapical spines; apex round to subacute, with sclerotized rim of phallotreme deeply divided ventrally approximately length of aedoeagus; base cylindrical, not flared laterally as in M. fasciola, without ventral keel; ejaculatory duct relatively short, not coiled.

HOLOTYPE.—; PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Mafulu, 4000 ft [1220 m], (BMNH), (M capnozona).

LECTOTYPE.— PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Mt. Tafa, 8500 ft [2590 m], (BMNH), (M mochlacma).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Adults apparently fly throughout the year.

DISTRIBUTION (Map 2).—This species may range widely through the Indonesian archipelago from western Sumatra to New Britain. Most records are from New Guinea where M mochlacma occurs from near sea level to over 2600 meters. Until further collecting substantiates the sole record from Sumatra, the latter will remain questionable.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—INDONESIA: Irian Jaya: Cyclops Mts, Sabron, Camp 1, 1200 ft [370 m]: l, 15 May 1936, L. Cheesman, slide BMNH 27603, (BMNH). Kuala Kencana, near sewage plant, PTFI plot 6, 100 m: l, 13 Mar 1997, S. Miller et al., mercury vapor light, lowland rainforest, (BPBM). Mist Camp [21 km SW Bernhard Camp], 1800 m: 2, 12–15 Jan 1935, L. Toxopeus, (RMNH). Mt. Goliath, 4°40′S, 139°52′E, 5000–7000 ft [1520–2130 m]: l, Meek, slide BMNH 19339, (BMNH). Seram: Kanikeh base camp, 850 m: l, Aug-Sep 1987, J. Holloway and D. Jones, bamboo and secondary forest, slide BMNH 27892, (BMNH). [?] Sumatra: Lebong Tandai (western Sumatra), 2°59′S, 104°23′E: l, 1920–1923, B. Brooks, slide BMNH 2223, (BMNH). PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Central District: Mt. Tafa, 8°30′S, 147°11′E, 8500 ft [2590 m]: (lectotype), Mar 1934, L. Cheesman, slide BMNH 2504, (BMNH). East New Britain District: Mt. Sinewit, 4°39′S, 151°59′E, 3500 ft [1070 m]: 4, 27 Jun-17 Sep 1963, W. Brandt, slides DRD 3793, 3794, 3852, 3867, (ANIC). Madang District: Madang, Brahman Mission, 200 m: 5, 11–15 Oct 1992, V. Becker, slides USNM 31445, 31448, (USNM). Kau Wildlife Area, Baitabag Village, 11 km NW of Madang, 40 m: 2, 3 May 1994, J. Somp, slide DRD 3998, (BPBM). Milne Bay District: Normanby Island: Wakaiuna, Sewa Bay: , 23 Oct 1956–11 Jan 1957, W. Brandt, slide DRD 3854, (ANIC). Sudest Island [= Tagula Island], 11°30′S, 153°30′E, Mt. Riu, 2000 ft [610 m]: l, Apr 1916, Eichhorn Bros., slide BMNH 2223, (BMNH). Morobe District: Buso, coast: l, 20 Sep 1979, J. Martin, slides BMNH 26260, 27604, (BMNH). Morobe, Biaro Road, 2000 m: 1, 25 Sep 1992, slide USNM 31446, (USNM). New Ireland District: New Ireland, Lelet Plateau, Schleinitz Mts., 3000 ft [910 m]: 3, 2 Oct-15 Dec 1959, W. Brandt, slides DRD 3797, 3858, 3866, (ANIC). Northern District: Hydrographer Mts., 8°55′S, 148°20′E, 2500 ft [760 m]: , Jan-May, 1918, Eichhorn Bros., slide DRD 3855, (CU). Kumusi River, 8°28′S, 148°15′E: 1, A. Meek, slide BMNH 27602, (BMNH). Mufulu [? Mafuia], 9°4′S, 149°6′E, 4000 ft [1220 m]: (holotype, M. capnozona), Dec 1933, L. Cheesman, (BMNH). Western District: Rouku, Morehead River: 1, 19 Mar-23 May 1962, W. Brandt, slide DRD 3853, (ANIC). Western Highlands District: Kandep, 8000–8500 ft [2440–2590 m]: 1, 23 Dec 1961–14 Feb 1962, W. Brandt, slide USNM 30826, (USNM). Mt. Hagen Range, Murmur Pass, 8700 ft [2650 m], 5°52′S, 144°13′E: 2, 27 0ct-20 Dec 1961, W. Brandt, (ANIC). Western New Britain District: Talesea [sic, probably Talasea], 5°27′S, 149°40′E: 4, 25 Feb 1925, AFE, slides BMNH 2208, 2660, 2664, (BMNH).