Alcis maculata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, subfamily Ennominae, tribe Boarmiini. It was first described by the British entomologist Frederic Moore in 1868 under the name Arichanna maculata; the species has since undergone taxonomic revision and is now classified within the genus Alcis.
Taxonomy and synonyms
The species has accumulated several synonyms over time, including:
- Arichanna maculata Moore, [1868]
- Arichanna plagiogramma Hampson, 1902
- Icterodes taiwanica Bastelberger, 1909
- Arichanna maculata negans Prout, 1932
- Arichanna prodictyota Wehrli, 1934
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized:
- Alcis maculata maculata — India, Thailand, Nepal, Tibet
- Alcis maculata negans (Prout, 1932) — Borneo
- Alcis maculata prodictyota (Wehrli, 1934) — China
- Alcis maculata taiwanica (Bastelberger, 1909) — Taiwan
Distribution
The species is recorded across a broad geographic range in Asia, from Tibet and the Himalaya eastward to Taiwan, and southward to Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Borneo. In India, it has been documented in Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. It is associated with montane forest habitats.
Morphology and identification
Alcis maculata is distinguished by reticulate dark brown markings on a creamish-white background. It is closely similar to the related species Alcis micromaculata (Sato, 2005). Compared to A. micromaculata, A. maculata is larger, less tinged with yellow, has narrower transverse lines on the hind wing, and its discal spot is positioned farther from the medial line.
References
- Wikipedia: "Alcis maculata"
- GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) taxon records
- Moths of India (mothsofindia.org)
- The Moths of Borneo (mothsofborneo.com)
- Sato, R., 2005: Notes on Alcis pammicra (Prout), A. maculata (Moore) (Geometridae: Ennominae) and their allies from Southeast Asia, with descriptions of three new species.
