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The Euteliinae (Lepidoptera: Stictopterinae) of Papua Indonesia

by Rob de Vos

 

Stictoptera ferrifera (Walker, 1864)

melanistis Hampson, 1912
poliata Swinhoe, 1917
dispar Swinhoe, 1917
melancholica Prout, 1922
latimargo Prout, 1932

 

Stictoptera ferrifera is a robust species with relatively long forewings. The dominant colours in most forms are reddish-brown with a blue-grey band. The species is, however, very variable. The broken fringe line is a row of rather thick lunular stripes (in macromma these are often thick straight stripes), following the dentation of the termen of the forewing. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish it from macromma, especially in rufous coloured forms. However, the antemedial transverse line is in ferrifera oblique but not much angled, while in macromma (if visible) it is angled in the middle and meets the dorsum more basal than at the costa. The hindwing has a rather narrow dark margin.

 

 

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Distribution

 

 

 

 

STATUS: A common species and extremely variable. The dominant colours are reddish-brown and blue-grey. An important distinguishing character with macromma is the oblique antemedian transverse line which is not angled in the middle, while in macromma it is clearly angled. Widely distributed in Indo-Australia. It is found in lowland and mountainous areas.

PAPUA LOCALITIES: Waigeo Island: Camp Nok; Roon Island: Yende; New Guinea: Abmisibil, Ampas, Bidogai, Borme, Demaisi, Enarotali, Fakfak, Hollandia (Jayapura), Ifar, Keerom, Kouh, Mt. Kunupi, Langda, Mabilabol, Moanemani, Mokwam, Ninay Valley, Om, Pass Valley, Prafi, Sabron Camp (Cyclops), Senggo, Sentani, Sibil, Sorong, Timeepa, Utakwa River, Walmak, Yemang. Details in gazetteer.

EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION: Northeast Himalaya, Sundaland, Sulawesi, Seram, Papua New Guinea.

DATA SOURCES: BMNH, KSP, RMNH. Literature: Holloway (1985)