Moth Taxon Search
Observation_225966
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Proposed ID: Nacoleia charesalis (Walker, 1859)
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/120189#page/739/mode/1up (original description by Walker in the Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the BM, vol.18; type locality Sarawak)
The synonymies for this species in many of the earlier texts are all messed up, apparently because it was wrongly identified in the British Museum, as reported by Swinhoe in the link below; the synonymies in Swinhoe's link are not accurate, either)
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/23358137#page/498/mode/1up
The holotype turned out to be in the Oxford Museum instead, and has been digitised.
https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/oum-catalogue-3268 (holotype)
The features and fasciation of this specimen are consistent with the specimen in the holotype, except for the enhanced fuscous suffusion in the whole wing, especially towards FW apex and outer margin, which seems to be a variable feature in this species (season?).
Also, the third dot falling midway below the orbicular and the discal mark (which doesn't figure prominently in the descriptions) is visible in both wings of the holotype and this observation.
A very widespread species, apparently now spreading as far as North America after introduction from Asia.
https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/mobile/abstract/20163375463
SS: Agree with ID. Reasonable match to the OD, other than the additional black spot on FW between reniform and orbicular. The dark suffusion on the FW below apex, is, I am assuming just a photography issue, as this is not visible in the image below (same individual, I assume?). The black spot is present in other online images, though. See below:
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=5178.5
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Nacoleia-charesalis
https://www.afromoths.net/species/show/14389
http://v3.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=273225
FBI, Hampson, Vol. 4, pg. 319, # 4934.
Robinson et al, Smaller Moths of SE Asia, Pl. 30/19.
GI: Agree with ID - Nacoleia charesalis (Walker, 1859)
Po-po-pro: Thanks for reviewing this.
Both photos are the same individual, but the dark suffusion below FW apex is somewhat attenuated by the flash of the camera, and is visible more clearly in no-flash images. But it seems to be a genuine feature that varies in intensity from specimen to specimen (sometimes totally absent), and also figures in Hampson's description in his vol.4.
image ct053 on the Nacoleia spp. page on the MoI website is also this species.
JD : agree with ID, but need to compare the several other Nacoleia spp.. I have a similar observation but there are some differences
SS: I notice there are 11 Nacoleia spp. from Sri Lanka/S. India, all listed in the Nacoleia spp. page. It does make sense to peruse these to be certain of this ID.
Po-po-pro: I agree that many Nacoleia species have more or less similar general features and that it is not usually easy to ID a Nacoleia observation from a description. It is a good idea to check all the other descriptions to eliminate the possibilities, but ultimately I feel the comparison with the photo of Walker's holotype linked above will be our best available evidence for this species.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/120189#page/739/mode/1up (original description by Walker in the Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the BM, vol.18; type locality Sarawak)
The synonymies for this species in many of the earlier texts are all messed up, apparently because it was wrongly identified in the British Museum, as reported by Swinhoe in the link below; the synonymies in Swinhoe's link are not accurate, either)
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/23358137#page/498/mode/1up
The holotype turned out to be in the Oxford Museum instead, and has been digitised.
https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/oum-catalogue-3268 (holotype)
The features and fasciation of this specimen are consistent with the specimen in the holotype, except for the enhanced fuscous suffusion in the whole wing, especially towards FW apex and outer margin, which seems to be a variable feature in this species (season?).
Also, the third dot falling midway below the orbicular and the discal mark (which doesn't figure prominently in the descriptions) is visible in both wings of the holotype and this observation.
A very widespread species, apparently now spreading as far as North America after introduction from Asia.
https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/mobile/abstract/20163375463
SS: Agree with ID. Reasonable match to the OD, other than the additional black spot on FW between reniform and orbicular. The dark suffusion on the FW below apex, is, I am assuming just a photography issue, as this is not visible in the image below (same individual, I assume?). The black spot is present in other online images, though. See below:
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=5178.5
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Nacoleia-charesalis
https://www.afromoths.net/species/show/14389
http://v3.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=273225
FBI, Hampson, Vol. 4, pg. 319, # 4934.
Robinson et al, Smaller Moths of SE Asia, Pl. 30/19.
GI: Agree with ID - Nacoleia charesalis (Walker, 1859)
Po-po-pro: Thanks for reviewing this.
Both photos are the same individual, but the dark suffusion below FW apex is somewhat attenuated by the flash of the camera, and is visible more clearly in no-flash images. But it seems to be a genuine feature that varies in intensity from specimen to specimen (sometimes totally absent), and also figures in Hampson's description in his vol.4.
image ct053 on the Nacoleia spp. page on the MoI website is also this species.
JD : agree with ID, but need to compare the several other Nacoleia spp.. I have a similar observation but there are some differences
SS: I notice there are 11 Nacoleia spp. from Sri Lanka/S. India, all listed in the Nacoleia spp. page. It does make sense to peruse these to be certain of this ID.
Po-po-pro: I agree that many Nacoleia species have more or less similar general features and that it is not usually easy to ID a Nacoleia observation from a description. It is a good idea to check all the other descriptions to eliminate the possibilities, but ultimately I feel the comparison with the photo of Walker's holotype linked above will be our best available evidence for this species.
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