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Porsica
ingens Walker
inopinata ssp. n.
Porsica ingens Walker, 1866, List Specimens lepid. Insects
Colln Brit. Mus. 35: 1823.
Porsica ingens Walker; Kiriakoff 1968: 26.
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Porsica
ingens
inopinata  (paratype)
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Specific diagnosis. In general appearance, especially in the costal and
dorsal dark brown marks on the forewing, the species resembles punctifascia,
benderi and albescens, but the forewing ground is a greenish fawn,
the central zone without dark markings, the reniform being an obliquely
transverse pale dash. The greyish marginal band at the tornus is distinctive
also.
Subspecific diagnosis. 25-26
mm. This subspecies differs from the typical race in lacking a central dark
lunule to the forewing reniform and in the reduction of the dark brown areas
along the forewing dorsum. In the male genitalia the uncus is tapering rather
than squarish; the juxta has a small central notch rather than a large, v-shaped
cleft; the harpe has the two projections equal in size rather than the ventral
one being smaller.
Holotype
BRUNEI:
Labi, 75 m,
Rempayoh primary forest, Feb. 1982 (Lt. Col. M.G. Allen) BM notodontid
slide 929.
Paratypes. 1 SARAWAK: Gunong Mulu Nat. Park,
R.G.S. Exped. 1977-8 (J.D. Holloway
et al.), BM 1978-206, Site 15, February, Camp 2.5, Mulu, 1000 m, 413461,
lower montane f.; 1, same general data but Site 13, February, Camp 2,
Mulu, 500
m, 401464, mixed dipterocarp forest.
Geographical range. N.E. Himalaya; Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia (Bukit
Kutu).
Habitat preference. The few records indicate that primary forest is
preferred, from the lowlands to at least the lower montane zone.
Biology. Gardner (1943) described the larva of the typical
race. The head is dull yellow with black markings. The body is smoky white or
pale brown above with irregular dark brown lines; it is more blackish laterally
and ventrally. The stematopods are dull yellow. The host-plant is Antidesma (Stylaginaceae).
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