Taxonomy

The imaged specimen in Plate 6 #182 is from W. Malaysia, GTE; paralectotype. Unnamed var.; W. Malaysia, GTE. Syntype, ab. longistriata; Biagi, Mambara River, PNG. syntype, ab. nigriflexa, Solomon Is., N. Choiseul Is. unnamed var. Brunei, Labi, LP195. The holotype of Banisia dohertyi Warren, 1897:196 from Bali is in the NHM (Mi7346). Comb. n. to Novobelura (Shaffer & Nielsen, 1996). Syn. Rhodoneura stenosoma Hampson [Oct] 1897 is from Sri Lanka; Hampson (1897: 617). Syn. ab. Banisia nigriflexa Warren, 1905b:410 is from the Solomon Is (Choiseul Is.), stat. n., infra ssp. (Shaffer & Nielsen, 1996). Syn. ab. Banisia longistriata Warren, 1907: 101. TL PNG, stat. n., infra ssp. (Shaffer & Nielsen, 1996).

Description

22-55mm. Typical form: despite being exceptionally variable, this species is relatively easy to recognise from its morphology; being a delicate species with spindly legs and with the termen of the HW being scalloped. However within N. dohertyi there is an exceptionally large range of variation of wing pattern and wingspans (see Plate 6, 182, images a-e). The ground colour of the wings varies from pale yellowish brown to brown with a slight purple sheen. The wing bases may be dark and there are forms with a large HW spot (Plate 6, Fig. 182e). In some dark specimens there is a white patch on the FW apex (Plate 6, Fig. 182a).

Distribution & Habitat

Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Sumatra, W. Malaysia, Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, Bali, Sulawesi, Seram, New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Is., Philippines. Lowland to subalpine forest and disturbed areas; <2100m.

Life History & Pest Status

No information, surprisingly for such a widespread species.

Similar spp.

No similar spp. but see Plate 6 for the remarkable range of wing pattern & colour (Plate 6:182,182a - e). There are named aberrations as above, including ab. nigriflexa with broad dark median bands on the HW & FW (Plate 6, Fig. 182d) and ab. longistriata Warren, 1907 with a dark streak running the length of the FW (Plate 6, Fig. 182c.) Many of the variable specimens grouped in the series in the NHM have been closely examined by Shaffer but no significant genitalic differences were noted.