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Artena
dotata Fabricius
Noctua
dotata Fabricius, 1794, Ent. Syst. III,
2: 55.
Artena
dotata Fabricius; Holloway, 1976: 29.
Diagnosis.
This and the next three species all have strong fasciation in the form of
oblique postmedial and antemedial lines. In dotata these are predominantly pale
and diverge significantly towards the costa; the
postmedial is irregular (straight in the next three species). The blue band in
the centre of the hindwing is more strongly curved than in the other species
where it occurs.
Geographical
range. Indian Subregion to Taiwan, Japan, Sumatra and Borneo.
Habitat
preference. Most records in recent surveys have been from areas of lowland
forest, including those with much secondary vegetation after logging. One
specimen was taken at 1930m on G. Kinabalu.
Biology.
Bell (MS) described the life history. The hatchling larvae are spidery with the
true legs comb-like on a thick thorax, but with the abdomen long and thin with
only the prolegs on A5 and A6 developed. The primary setae are long. In the
third instar, the larvae are light brown with a series of white lines running
longitudinally, with slightly broader pale fawn lines in between them as well,
such that ground colour, being darkest, is also reduced to fine lines. The setae
arise from small black dots; the dorsolateral tubercles on A8 are more
prominent, and there is a black patch subdorsally on A1. The mature larva and
penultimate instar are similar in longitudinal lineation, and have a circular
spot of variegated black within the dorsal band of A5 as seen also in Thyas
(p.
45); there are indications of smaller dorsal spots on A4 and A6, and the black
patch on A1 persists (seen also in Ophiusa); the ventral surface, with dark patches
between the prolegs is also similar to that in Thyas.
The general colour of the longitudinal lineations is variable but is usually
yellow-brown of different shades, with whitish lines and purplish lineation and
dotting.
The
blue-green egg is spherical, vertically ridged (26-28 ridges), with fine
cross-ridges in between. The pupa is typically ophiusine, and Bell noted a
slight, white, powdery bloom on it.
The eggs
are laid singly on a stem or leaf. The young larva lives on the edge or
underside of a young leaf and has a rapid, semi-looping gait. Later instars rest
fully stretched on stems or twigs, pressed to them. Feeding is mostly at night.
Pupation is in a cell of leaves bound together with silk.
Recorded
host plants (Bell; Robinson et al., 2001) are all in the Combretaceae; Combretum,
Getonia,
Quisqualis
and
Terminalia.
The
adult is known to pierce fruit in Thailand (Bänziger, 1982; Kuroko &
Lewvanich, 1993).
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