Aetholix flavibasalis Guenée, [1854]; PED 11

• 1

  Taxonomy

  
  

  The holotype of Aediodes flavibasalis Guenée, 1854: 193 from Irian Jaya is in the MfNH (Berlin)
  
  Syn. Aetholix cingalesa Hampson, 1893: 173, pl. 174, fig 18.
  
  TL India (Travancore). Syn. n. (Nielsen et al., 1996). It is the TS of Aetholix Lederer, 1863: 437.
  
  The species appears variable and there are several very similar unnamed morphotypes in which the white banding and its margins are different. These may be vars or sspp. of A. flavibasalis Guenée.

• 2

  Description

  
  

  Wing length : 10mm. An attractive and fairly common species. The basal areas of both wings are white with bright orange patches. There are a few more orange patches on the purple antemedian fascia. The rest of the wings are purple grey often with an orange suffusion at the margins especially on the FW costa and apex. The FW has a broad white post median band which pinches out beyond the cell continuing to the rear margin as a sinuous white line. The HW has a broad white median band across its whole width. Note the dark spot on the submedian margin of that band and that margin is almost straight.
  
  This morphotype is similar to the DNA barcoded specimens in RMNH Leiden, (BOLD; RMNH.INS.19479 & RMNH.INS.19481) from Kalimantan Timur, (Pasir, Gunung Lumut Protection Forest).
  
  See Aetholix spp. 1, 2,3 & 4. Aetholix sp. 1 has a distinct spot on a slightly curved HW submedian line. Aetholix sp. 2 also has a spot on the submedian line but that margin is distinctly curved. There is a further complication in that there is sexual dimorphism with the abdomen of the males being very much longer.
  
  Agrotera spp. are superficially similar but do not have the white median band.

• 3

  Distribution & Habitat

  
  

  Sri Lanka, India (Maharashtra, Kerala, Andaman Is.), Thailand, W. Malaysia, Singapore, Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak, Kalimantan Timur, Bali, Sulawesi, Irian Jaya, Philippines, PNG, Australia (Q). China (Yunnan, Hong Kong), Taiwan, Japan. Lowland. Sandy heath, primary & secondary forest, disturbed ground, cultivated areas; <630m.

• 4

  Life History & Pest Status

  
  

  A leaf roller and minor pest on Eugenia spp. (Myrtaceae) (RTS, 1994: 180) and mangosteen Garcinia mangostana (Clusiaceae)

• 5

  Similar spp.

  
  

  See Aetholix spp. 1, 2,3 & 4.

• 6

  Unrelated Look-alike

  
  

  Agrotera spp. are superficially similar but do not have the white median band.

• 7

  References

  
  

  Guenée, A. (1854) Deltoïdes et pyralites. In Boisduval, J.A. & Guenée, A., Hist. nat. des Insectes (Spec. gén. Lépid.) Vol. 8, 448pp. + 10 pls., Librarie Encyclopédique de Roret: Paris.
  
  Hampson, G. F., (1893) Illustrations of typical specimens of Lepid. Heteroc. coll. B.M. 9. The Macrolepidoptera Heterocera of Ceylon. 182 pp., pl. 157-176. London.
  
  RTS (1994): 180, pl. 30, fig.16.

• 8

  Genitalia

  
  

  no content available.

• 9

  DNA Barcode

  
  

  This morphotype is similar to the DNA barcoded specimens in RMNH Leiden, (BOLD; RMNH.INS.19479 & RMNH.INS.19481) from Kalimantan Timur, (Pasir, Gunung Lumut Protection Forest).
  
  

• 10

  3D Imaging

  
  

  no content available.

• 11

  Spare

  
  

  no content available.

KEY TO TABS
(1) Taxonomy, (2) Description, (3) Distribution & Habitat, (4) Life History & Pest Status, (5) Similar spp., (6) Unrelated Look-alikes, (7) References, (8) Genitalia, (9) DNA Barcode, (10) 3D Imaging, (11) Spare