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This is
a rather loose assemblage of genera that share a number of uncommon
morphological features, though only one appears to be unique to the group
amongst the Catocalinae. This feature is the strong scobination of the anal tube
immediately within the ovipositor lobes.
The
ovipositor lobes themselves show extreme development of variation in their
setation that occurs more widely within the subfamily, particularly amongst the
mostly framed corematous sequence of genera from p. 246 onwards, but possibly
plesiomorphic within the whole of the Catocalinae as treated here. The setae of
the distal margin become finer, shorter and more densely packed, appearing
almost as a scobinate band in some cases. Those over the more anterior two
thirds are much sparser, particularly centrally where they are longer and set
within enlarged basal haloes or lacunae, these often appearing in a distinct
line across the centre.
In more
than half the genera the male genitalia have coremata on the valves, which are
otherwise usually simple, with few processes, sometimes rather short. In the
female, the ostium is usually between the seventh and eighth segments, perhaps
more closely associated with the latter through a slightly scobinate lamella
postvaginalis anterior to, and sometimes extending between, the narrowed ventral
end of the incomplete ring of the eighth segment. There is often a longitudinal
band of scobination (sometimes two) in the distal two-thirds of the corpus
bursae.
The male
antennae are usually fasciculate but occasionally bipectinate. The pattern of
the forewings is repeated on the hindwings in most of the genera, and the discal
marks are often pale and translucent. Not all of the genera have a male eighth
segment of the framed corematous type, as discussed individually below.
In the
three genera where host-plant data are available, the Rubiaceae are recorded,
though not exclusively.
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