Rapala damona, Swinhoe, 1890

13. R. damona Swinhoe, 1890 View in CoL Fig. 15 View FIGURE 15

Rapala damona Swinhoe, 1890: 450 View in CoL

Type Locality: South Andamans

Common Name: Malay Red Flash

Material Examined: INDONESIA. Sumatra. West Sumatra Province. Mentawai Island, Padang Paria , Sipora , Sioban , vi.1993, leg. Widagdo, MGCL 1201846 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-97 ( MGCL 1♂) ( Fig. 15a View FIGURE 15 ); Java. Kangean, viii.1992, MGCL 1201845 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-112 ( MGCL, 1♀) ( Fig. 15b View FIGURE 15 ) .

Wingspan: 33–35 mm ( Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Diagnosis ( Figs 15a, 15b View FIGURE 15 ): Rapala damona can be distinguished from similar congeners in Nepal with red dorsal wings by the red coloration which is usually confined below and beside the cell on the dorsal fore- and hindwing. The male differs from the similar-looking R. dieneces primarily by its red coloration extending into space 7 on the dorsal hindwing. Ventrally, it can be distinguished from R. dieneces usually by the tornal patch of blue speckles in hindwing space 1c which is very close to the band, orange crown above the black tornal spot in space 2 obscure or smeared, and forewing postdiscal band, which is mostly curved or bent at the apical quarter. Male is red above while female is brown; ventrally, male is yellowish-brown while female is pale yellowish.

Male Genitalia ( Figs 15c–15e View FIGURE 15 ): Aedeagus vesica with two recurved hook-shaped tips, one barely visible except on lateral view; valvae elongated and sinuate with narrowed apices; cleft between the valvae more than half the length of the valval plate.

Female Genitalia ( Fig. 15f View FIGURE 15 ): Anterior apophysis short; ductus bursae gradually widened distally without a distinct head; corpus bursae with a thick center, and a short signum on either side near the apex with a single large hook-shaped spine inside.

Biology: Not known.

Natural History: Adults are found in forests and on flowers ( Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Variation: The veins on the dorsal hindwing in males may occasionally be dark, as in R. dieneces .

Phenology in Nepal: November ( Smith 1994).

Distribution on the Indian Subcontinent: Andamans, northeastern India, and westward to the eastern Terai of Nepal ( Van Gasse 2018).

Distribution in Nepal: Jhapa District ( Smith 1994).

Elevation: 240–340 m ( Smith 1994).

Remarks: In Nepal, R. damona has been recorded only once, in November 1979, from Jhapa District, where three specimens were collected over two days ( Smith 1994; Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022). Smith’s private Excel database lists the locality as Ilam, leading Van der Poel & Smetacek (2022) to attribute this occurrence to Ilam District.