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The Tigermoths (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) of Papua Indonesia
by Rob de Vos
Euchromia irius (Boisduval, 1832)
[Glaucopis irius Boisduval, 1832] (type (TL: "Nouvelle Guinee") in BMNH)
iria sensu Rothschild, 1916
Glaucopis boisduvalii Montrouzier, 1856 [type (TL: Trobriand Island) not located]
Hira aruica Walker, 1864 [type (TL: Aru) not located]
aemulina Butler, 1877 [holotype (TL: "New Guinea" = PNG) in BMNH)
Variation
The colour bandation seems to vary in the broadness of the bands. However, more research is needed to prove if this indeed is just variation of one species or specific characters of different sibling species. Three examples of this "variation" are depicted below.
Euchromia irius is somewhat similar to E. creusa but irius has a maximum of four red bands (at least three bands) and creusa has five red bands. The white band in irius is broad and conspicuous while in creusa it is narrow and in many cases even lacking.
Distribution
STATUS: Probably the most common Euchromia species from New Guinea. It is found from sea level up to high altitudes in all kinds of habitat.
PAPUA LOCALITIES: Waigeo; Misool; Numfoor; Biak: Biak city; Yapen: Ansus; Pulau Mansinam; Roon; Pulau Liki; New Guinea: Ampas, Andai, Arguni Bay, Bivak Island, Borme, Canoe Camp (Wollaston exp.), Depapre, Dojo, Fakfak, Gaya Baru, Gere (Jayapura district), Ifar, Jayapura, Keerom River, Kloofbivak, Kobakma, Kota Nica, Lereh, Mabilabol, Manokwari, Mapia (Kobowre Mts), Marina Valen, Meja Reserve, Merauke, Nabire, Ngat Biep (Arfak), Prafi, Pusppenssat, Ransiki, Rasiei (Wandammen), Sabron Camp (Cyclops), Samabusa, Senopi, Sentani, Sorong, Timika, Uskwar, Utakwa River, Walmak (Nipsan), Wembi, Wendesi, Yongsu. Details in gazetteer.
EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION: Aru, New Guinea, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Islands, Queensland (Australia).
DATA SOURCES: BMNH, CMWM, KSP, RMNH, ZMAN. Literature (see below).
Literature concerning Papua records
Rothschild, L.W., 1915. Lepidoptera of the British Ornithologists' Union and Wollaston Expeditions in the Snow Mountains, Southern Dutch New Guinea, Macrolepidoptera: 1-148. Zoological Museum, Tring.
Seitz A., 1913. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 10: Spinner und Schwarmer des Indo-Australischen Gebiets: 69-120. A. Kernen, Stuttgart.
Swinhoe, C., 1892. Catalogue of Eastern and Australian Lepidoptera Heterocera in the collection of The Oxford Museum, part I, Sphinges and Bombyces: 324 pp. At The Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Zerny, H., 1912. Lepidopterorum Catalogus, 7: Syntomidae: 1-179. W. Junk, Berlin.
