Pitama hermesalis Walker
- Family: Crambidae
- Subfamily: Odontiinae
- Genus: Pitama
- Distribution: Thailand, W.
- Habitat: Malaysia, Sumatra, Brunei, Sabah , Sarawak, Kalimantan, Philippines, Sulawesi; Lowland & lower montane forest; <1000m.
- Wing Length: 17mm
Taxonomy
The female holotype of Tobata hermesalis Walker, 1859d: 516 was collected by A.R. Wallace in Sarawak. It is type #1115, in the U.M.N.H. Oxford.
Description
A large sp. The wings are off-white, becoming yellowish to the FW bases. It has broad dark brown margin with a purplish sheen and a brown sub-costal stripe with three small spots to its dorsal margin. The head is yellow. It has a brown patagium, cream tegulae, a cream thorax with a brown dorsal stripe and a cream abdomen. Pitama lativitta Moore, 1888: 217, pl. 7 fig. 21 [the T.S. of Pitama Moore, 1888: 217] has broader blackish marginal markings (RTS 1994: 177) RTS refer to an unnamed sp. in the BMNH from the Philippines and Sabah which is slightly smaller than P. hermesalis and has a much darker yellow ground colour. The abdomen tip of the female is purplish brown.
References
- RTS (1994); 177, pl. 26, fig. 21.
- [RTS] Robinson, G.S., Tuck, K.R. & Shaffer, M. (1994) A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of South-East Asia, Malaysian Nature Society Kuala Lumpur & Natural History Museum, London, 311 pp. 51 text figs, 32 pls.
- Walker, F. (1859d [May 10]) Pyralides, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Fourth Series 18: 509-799.