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The Tigermoths (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) of Papua Indonesia
by Rob de Vos
Nicetosoma papuana (Rothschild, 1910)
Diacrisia niceta papuana (lectotype: North PNG, in BMNH)
Diacrisia niceta intermedia Rothschild, 1910 (lectotype: Milne Bay, PNG, in BMNH)
Diacrisia niceta mysolica Rothschild, 1915 (holotype: Misool, in BMNH)
Diacrisia niceta pallida Rothschild, 1916 (holotype: Manus, Admiralty Isl., in BMNH)
Variation
The species shows some variation in the number of black dots on the forewing. In males the row of dots is usually present and sometimes very extended. In the much larger females the dots are less numerous, sometimes even totally lacking. Furthermore there is variation in the colour of the forewings, which might be unicoloured buff (f. intermedia) or brownish with pale veins (f. papuana). This variation was reason for Rothschild to recognize several subspecies, but with having seen many specimens in different collections and with so many sympatric variation these can not hold.
Distribution
STATUS: Very common. It seems to prefer lower altitudes, although some records are known from mountainous areas.
PAPUA LOCALITIES: Batanta Island; Biak Island: Wari; Misool: Fakal, Solol; Salawati; Waigeo: Camp Nok; New Guinea: Ajamuru, Akimuga, Ampas (Waris district), Andai, Aramsolki, Bion River (Pass Valley), Borme, Brazza River, Cape Baru (Sorong), Dabra (Furu Camp, Foja Mts), Ditschi (Arfak), Dohunsehik (Arfak), Eilandenbivak, Etna Bay, Fakfak, Foja Mts., Genyem, Getentiri (Merauke District), Gn. Meja Reserve (Manokwari), Jayapura, Keerom, Kloofbivak, Kobrey, Kouh (Merauke District), Kwerba (nr Sarmi), Landikma, Lelambo, Mabilabol (Oksibil), Mamberamo River, Manokwari, Mimika River, Mokwam, Ninay Valley (Arfak), Pionierbivak, Prafi (nr Andai), Prauwenbivak, Pusppenssat (nr Nabire), Ransiki, Rasiei (Wandammen), Sabron Camp (Cyclops), Senopi, Sentani, Setekwa River, Mt. Siwi (Arfak), Sorong, Tandia (Wandammen), Taritatu River, Teminabuan, Timeepa, Timika, Tuan Wowi (nr Andai), Ubrub, Uskwar (Arso district), Walmak (Nipsan), Wangaar River, Warkapi. Wasior (Wandammen), waterfall (Cyclops), Wembi (Arso district), Wendane, Windesi, Yemang Yongsu, Yuwanaim (Keerom), Yuwong (Keerom). Details in gazetteer.
EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION: Papua New Guinea, Admiralty Islands.
DATA SOURCES: BMNH, CMWM, KSP, RMNH, ZSMC, Peter Jan de Vries, Gilbert Zakine. Literature (see below).
Literature
Eecke, R. van, 1924. List of the Lepidoptera collected by Mr. W.C. van Heurn during an exploration-expedition in Dutch North New Guinea. Nova Guinea 15: 33-56.
Hampson, G.F., 1901. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum 3. Catalogue of the Arctiadae (Arctianae) and Agaristidae in the collection of the British Museum: 690 pp. British Museum, London.
Hampson, G.F., 1920. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae. Supplement, volume 2. Catalogue of the Lithosiadae (Arctianae) and Phalaenoididae in the collection of the British Museum: 619 pp. British Museum, London.
Röber, J., 1925. Neue Falter. Stettiner entomologische Zeitung 85: 184-190.
Rothschild, L.W., 1910. Catalogue of the Arctianae in the Tring Museum, with notes and descriptions of new species II. Novitates Zoologicae 17(2): 113-171.
Rothschild, L.W., 1914. In: Seitz, A.: Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 10: Spinner und Schwarmer des Indo-Australischen Gebiets, Arctiidae: 236-263. A. Kernen, Stuttgart.
Rothschild, L.W., 1915. On Lepidoptera from the Islands of Ceram (Seran), Buru, Bali, and Misol. Novitates Zoologicae 22: 209-227.
Strand, E., 1919. Lepidopterorum Catalogus 22: Arctiidae: Subfam. Arctiinae: 1-416. W. Junk, Berlin.
Vos, R. de, 2011. Nicetosoma gen. nov., a new genus for the “Spilosoma” niceta group of species East of the Weber Line (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini). Suara Serangga Papua 5(4): 109-144.
Zamesov, A.N. & O.G. Gorbunov, 2014. To the knowledge of Macroheterocera of Southeast Asia and New Guinea. III. Tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae: Arctiinae) of Papua Province, Indonesia. Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea 2: 437-448.
