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The Ghost Moths (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) of Papua Indonesia

by Rob de Vos

 

Oxycanus novaeguineensis (Viette, 1950)

[Paraoxycanus novaeguineensis Viette, 1950] (TL: Paniai; type: RMNH)

endemic species

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Variation

 

Oxycanus novaeguineensis shows a wide range of variation and makes it therefore very difficult to distinguish it from other related species. This variation resembles that of the other common species Oxycanus diakonoffi but novaeguineensis is larger and the forewing pattern is less marbled, more uniformely coloured. The male genitalia (left figure) form the best characters for 100 % certainty.

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Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

STATUS: A common species. It seems to prefer moderate mountainous areas.

PAPUA LOCALITIES: Misool Island; New Guinea: Ampas, Bilogai, Hollandia (Jayapura), Paniai, Pass Valley, Waris. Details in gazetteer.

EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION: none.

DATA SOURCES: RMNH. Literature (see below).

 

 

 

 

 

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Literatuur

Nielsen, E.S., G.S. Robinson & D.L. Wagner, 2000. Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera). Journal of Natural History 34: 823–878.
Viette, P.L., 1950. Contribution a l'etude des Hepialidae (22eme note), Hepialidae du Musee de Leiden. Zoologische Mededeelingen, Leiden 31(7): 67-77.