Moth Taxon Search
Observation_225703
Notes (optional)
Proposed name - Cyclosiella nr. dulcicula
References
1. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14679322#page/219/mode/1up (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1890; original description by Swinhoe, type locality Rangoon)
2. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33079390#page/574/mode/1up (redescription by Hampson in Cat. Lep. Phalaenae B.M. vol.2, with accompanying illustration)
3. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/120195#page/129/mode/1up (brief description by Hampson in his Fauna of British India and Ceylon vol.2).
Taken together, all the descriptions provide a general picture of the species. But the various observations scattered on the internet show striking differences between geographical regions. The specimens from southern India (like in this observation) have a clear yellow patch on the inner margin just below the base. There is also a dark stroke above the termen. The specimens from NE India have a sharp, darkly delineated grey region, with the ground colour inside being pale and diffuse, due to which an orbicular-like mark on the FW is readily visible. There's also a patch on the inner margin in these specimens, but the colour and position of the patch are different (almost halfway from the base). The specimens from Sri Lanka have a homogenous dull grey region without any patches.
Whether these differences result from differences in species identity, or from sexual dimorphism, or both, is unclear. But it looks like they have certainly been overlooked so far and no attempt seems to have been made to separate or highlight them. Till this happens, it might be suitable to place them as Cyclosiella nr. dulcicula.
References
1. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14679322#page/219/mode/1up (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1890; original description by Swinhoe, type locality Rangoon)
2. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33079390#page/574/mode/1up (redescription by Hampson in Cat. Lep. Phalaenae B.M. vol.2, with accompanying illustration)
3. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/120195#page/129/mode/1up (brief description by Hampson in his Fauna of British India and Ceylon vol.2).
Taken together, all the descriptions provide a general picture of the species. But the various observations scattered on the internet show striking differences between geographical regions. The specimens from southern India (like in this observation) have a clear yellow patch on the inner margin just below the base. There is also a dark stroke above the termen. The specimens from NE India have a sharp, darkly delineated grey region, with the ground colour inside being pale and diffuse, due to which an orbicular-like mark on the FW is readily visible. There's also a patch on the inner margin in these specimens, but the colour and position of the patch are different (almost halfway from the base). The specimens from Sri Lanka have a homogenous dull grey region without any patches.
Whether these differences result from differences in species identity, or from sexual dimorphism, or both, is unclear. But it looks like they have certainly been overlooked so far and no attempt seems to have been made to separate or highlight them. Till this happens, it might be suitable to place them as Cyclosiella nr. dulcicula.
Observation Reference