Belciana biformis (Walker, 1858)

Behounek, G., Han, H. L. & Kononenko, V. S., 2015, A revision of the genus Belciana Walker, 1862 with description of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Pantheinae) from East and South East Asia. Revision of Pantheinae, contribution XII, Zootaxa 4027 (3), pp. 341-365 : 344-345

Belciana biformis (Walker, 1858)

( Figs 1–3 , 32 , 43 )

Dandaca biformis Walker, 1858 , List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum 15: 1671. Holotype: male, Borneo, Sarawak (NHM).

References. Hampson 1894: 471, partim ( Polydesma ); Holloway 1976: 32 ( Belciana ); Holloway 1982: 108, Pl. 37: 4 ( Belciana ); 2009: 18, Pl. 1, gen. 21 female, 23 male ( Belciana ); Kobes 1992: 85 ( Belciana ).

Material examined. MALAYSIA: 1 male, Cameron Highland, Cameron Hills, 800-1800 m, 03°30′N, 102°03′E, Spona P. leg., 1-14.iii.1999, slide GB7690 male, coll. GB/ ZSM; 1 female, Cameron Highland, Pahang, Brichang, 1400-1700 m, 03°30′ N, 102°03′ E, collector unknown, xi.1981, coll. GB/ ZSM; 2 females, Malacca peninsula, Prov. Negeri-Perak, Taiping 60 km NNE, 100 m, 05°00′ N, 101°00′ E, Thomas W. leg., 1988, coll. GB/ ZSM; BORNEO: 1 female, Sunda Isl., Prov. Sabah, Mount Kinabalu, 1600 m, Provera leg., 3.iv.1983, slide GB12051 female, coll. AZ; 1 female, Prov. Sabah, Ranau, Umg., Poring Hot Spring, Poring Lodge, 116°42′ E, 06°02′ N, Chen M. Y. & Buchsbaum U. leg., 6.i.2005, slide GB7359 female, coll. GB/ ZSM; INDONESIA, SUMATRA: 1 female, Reg. Aceh, Banda Aceh, 20 km S., 05°26′N, 95°18′E, Kager leg., 15.xii.1976, slide GB/ ZSM N4158 female, coll. ZSM; 1 male, Reg. Sumatera Utara, Prapat, Holzweg 2, Prov. Simalungen, 28 km W Siantar, 1050 m, 02°768′ N, 99°976′ E, Diehl E.W. leg., 12.ix.1985, slide GB/ ZSM N4182 male, coll. Kobes, ZSM; 2 females, Reg. Sumatera Barat, Bukit Subang, 1200 m, 27 km E Padang, (primary wood), 0°40′ N. 100°32′ E, Diehl E.W. & Schintlmeister A. leg., i.1981, slide GB7361 female, coll. GB/ ZSM; 2 males Reg. Sumatera Utara, Prov. Deli, Dolok Merangir, 150-180 m, 02°40′ N, 99°30′ E, Diehl E.W. leg., 3.ii.1970, slide GB/ ZSM N4159, GB/ ZSM N4160 males ZSM; 1 male, same place i.1971, slide GB/ ZSM N4160 male, ZSM; Reg. Sumatera Utara, Prapat, Prov. Simalungen, Hozweg 2, 1050 m, 28 km W Siantar, 2°768′ N, 99°976′ E, Dehl E. W. leg., 14.iv.1985, slide GB/ ZSM N4183 female, coll. Kobes, ZSM; PHILIPPINES, LUZON: 1 female, Prov. Banaue, Banaue, 20 km N Laguna, 1000-1500 m, (secondary forest/ rice fields), 16°54′ N, 121°06′ E, Vermolen T. & F. leg. x.1988, i.1989, slide GB7360 female, coll. GB/ ZSM.

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs 1–3 ). Wingspan 37-43 mm. Head, thorax and forewing bluish-green, patagia bordered with blackish-brown. Wing pattern formed by blackish-brown subbasal patch, occupying subbasal field to vein Cu, blackish marks on costal area in base of submedial, medial and submedial lines (among them medial patch is larges), slightly marked blackish medial line and brown-blackish patches in subapical and subterminal areas; submedial and subterminal lines marked as thin lines, sometimes with blackish dots; they are more distinct in females, diffused or indistinct in males; medial line blackish, more distinct and less interrupted in male; the reniform hardly traceable, without black central streak. The hindwing are dull medium greyish-brown, paler yellowish-grey towards base and along anal margin; in some specimens medial fascia traceable.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Uncus slender, curved, apically abrupt, with hook-like spur on the top; tegumen broad, without peniculus; juxta shield-like. Valva broad, rounded, mostly weakly sclerotised, except its costal and central parts; the base of valva membranous, bearing a broad hairy coremata with gland; sacculus small; harpe short, triangular-elongated. Aedeagus with vesica globular basally, bearing 10–12 moderate cornuti; carina as two bands, extended apically, bearing patch of small spines.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 43 ). Ovipositor quadrangular; apophyses anteriores and posteriors ones moderate and equal in length, rather strong; antrum rounded, elongated, with split antevaginal plate; ductus bursae short, membranous; corpus bursae sack-like, with sclerotised ribbed patches in junction with ductus bursae, about one fourth of the length of the bursae and slightly sclerotised ribs in caudal part of the bursae.

Distribution and bionomics. Malaysia ( Cameron Highland, Negeri-Perak), Sri Lanka, Philippines (Isl. Luzon); Borneo ( Sarawak, Sabah), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java). The species occurs in primary and secondary lowland and montane forest at elevation 1000–1500 m in January, February, May, June, August, September, October, November, December. The known foodplans are Shorea maximi (Dipterocarpaceae) , Heritiera (Sterculiaceae) ( Holloway 2009).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Belciana spp., adults. 1. B. biformis, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4159 (ZSM); 2. B. biformis, male, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4160 (ZSM); 3. B. biformis, female, Sumatra, slide GB 7359 (GB); 4. B. biformis, female, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4198 (ZSM); 5. B. hemodoides, male, Philippines, Palawan, slide GB 7389 (GB); 6. B. hemodoides, female, Philippines, Palawan, slide GB / ZSM N 4286 (ZSM); 7. B. sp., female, Irian Jaya, slide GB 7363 (GB); 8. B. sulawesiana sp. n., male, holotype, Sulawesi, slide GB 7381 (GB).

FIGURES 32 – 34. Belciana spp., male genitalia. 32. B. biformis, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4159 (ZSM); 33. B. hemodoides, Philippines, Mindoro, slide GB 7380 (GB); 34. B. sulawesiana sp. n., holotype, Sulawesi GB 7381 (GB). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.

FIGURES 41 – 45. Belciana and Diphteroides spp., male (41) and female (42 – 45) genitalia. 41. B. scorpio, Thailand, slide GB / ZSM N 4215 (ZSM); 42. D. kendricki, Irian Jaya, slide GB 7372 (GB); 43. B. biformis, Sumatra, slide GB / ZSM N 4158 (ZSM); 44. B. hemodoides, Borneo, slide GB 7389 (GB); 45. B. sp., Irian Jaya, slide GB 7363 (GB). Most distinctive characters are marked by lines.