Taxonomy

Plate 2, Fig.54; Sabah, DVCA, Bukit Atur; 25mm. The holotype of Pyralis argentalis Walker, [1866] 1865:1522 from Java is in the NHM (Mi7351). Ms. comb.n. to Calindoea (Shaffer, 1992 LepIndex). Syn. Siculodes tuberosalis Warren, 1896a: 212. The syntype is from Khasis. Ms. syn. n. and stat. n. as a var. of C.argentalis Walker [1866] 1865 (Shaffer, 1992 LepIndex). The holotype from Java and the syntype from India (Khasis) are in the NHM. The broad blotched forms are referable to C. argentalis var. tuberosalis Warren, 1896a:212 which is common in Borneo.

Description

25mm. In C. puralis Walker, [1866] 1865, which is very similar, the patch may be much smaller and in Calindoea sp. 5 it is almost absent. There are several other minor distinct morphotypes nr. C. argentalis which may not be conspecific. An unnamed series in the NHM (Mi7351) from East Timor (also in the SLS Coll. from Sabah) has two spots on the FW apex and one at the tornus. The Un FW costa is highlighted in gold. The FW blotch remains very constant in general shape in typical morphotypes but varies in overall breadth. For other related morphotypes (e.g. Pl.2 figs. 54a-c, see below). Not all of these forms may be conspecific.

Distribution & Habitat

Sri Lanka, Meghalaya, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Sumatra, W. Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah, Java, Bali, Siberut Is., Sulawesi, Sumbawa, Timor. Lowland to lower montane; <1500m.

Life History & Pest Status

Larvae feed on Syzygium jambos (Myrtaceae) in Hong Kong (RTS:131-132).

Similar spp.

The following are currently regarded as vars. of argentalis: Plate 2, Fig. 54a; var. tuberosalis;Sabah, DVCA, West Trail; 28mm. Plate 2, Fig. 54b; var. tuberosalis;W. Malaysia, GTE; 23mm. Plate 2, Fig. 54c; var. nr. tuberosalis; Sabah, Serinsim, Ser 2; 22mm.