Tinea 15 (1): 74-77, October, 1996 First record of the family Dudgeoneidae (Lepidoptera, Ditrysia) for Borneo Clrristian H. SCHULZE and Konrad FIEDLER Tierokologie I, Univ. Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany Abstract The first record of Dudgeonea leucosticta Hampson from Borneo is described, significantly extending the known range of the family Dudgeoneidae. One male specimen was collected at light in the canopy of a hill dipterocarp forest in the Mt Kinabalu National Park (Sabah). The specimen and its genitalia are figured. Information on the systematic position of the family is also provided. The paleotropical moth family Dudgeoneidae is monobasic with the single genus Dudgeonea Hampson (e. g. Common, 1990; Holloway, 1986; Schoorl, 1990). However, Schoorl (1990) suggested that the "coss id " genus Acritocera should also be included in this family. Adults of Dudgeonea are robust medium-sized moths with a wingspan of 28-72 mm, reddish brown in colour with the fore wing omamented with large, circular, silvery white spots. The wing venation is very similar to that of the more primitive species of Cossinae (C mmon, 1990). The larva is said to tunnel in trees of the genus CanLhium (Rubiaceae) (Common, 1970, 1990), and the pupa protrudes from the larval tunnel before ecJosion (Turner, 1902). Dodd, who reared numerous Cossidae in Queensland, p inted out that thi s behaviour is very similar to that of many species of Xyleutes (Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) (Common, 1990). More detailed infOlmation about the early stages is not available. In particular, the morphology of the eggs, larvae and pupae remains unknown. Most of the adults of th e seven Dudgeonea spp. are taken atlight at night (Common, 1990). The known distribution include Africa, Madagascar, India, West Malaysia, New Guinea and northern Australia (Common, 1990; Holloway, 1986; Nielsen et aL., 1996). The taxonomic affinities of Dudgeonea, as well as the validity of the Dudgeoneidae as a distinct family, are still under discussion. Turner (1918), on the grounds of wing venation characters, included Dudgeonea as one of the most primitive genera in the Cossidae. Berger (J 957) excluded Du.dgeonea from the Cossidae and proposed a new family, Dudgeoneidae whereas Common (1970) reviv ed the placement of Dudgeonea in the subfamily Cossinae. Most later authors accepted the separate family status (e. g. Brook, 1971; Fletcher & Nye, 1982; Minet, 1982; Common, 1990), but disagreed about its systematic placement. Brock (1971) and Fletcher & Nye (1982) included the Dudgeoneidae in the superfamily Sesioidea, Munroe (1988) placed it in the Py ra loidea, and Nielsen (1989), Common (1990) and Minet (1991) retained or re-instated the Dudgeoneidae within the Cossoidea. Dudgeoneidae differ from other members of the superfamily Cossoidea in baving a pair of well-developed tympanic organs at the base of the abdomen (Brock, 1971; see fig. 47 in Holloway, 1986). According to Brock (1971) the tympanic organs of Dudgeonea are of the same type as in some Pyralidae (for morphology of pyralid tympanic organs see also Minet 1983). This is probably why Munroe (1988) included the family in the Pyraloidea (Schoorl, 1990). In addition, Dudgeonea (as well as the "cossid" genus Acritocera) differs from typical Cossidae in lacking two characters: a pale band of the mesepimeron, and a deep fold between basisternum IT and parepistemum (see fig. 122 in Schoorl, 1990). In combination with the presence of tympanic organs, this appears to contradict the inclusion of the family within the Cossoidea (Schood, 1990; but see Nielsen, 1989). However, Minet (1991) reassigned the Dudgeoneidae to the Cossoidea on the grounds of two putative synapomorphies wjtlL the Cossidae: (1) the proboscis is absent or strongly reduced, arid (2) the lower part of the frontoclypeus bears a pair of asymmetrical pits.