TRIBE NYGMIINI n.
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Somena Walker Gen. rev.

Type species: scintillans Walker, India.

Possible synonym: Trichia Nietner (type species exigua Nietner, Sri Lanka), as discussed under similis Moore.

The facies of some species resembles that of some in Orvasca Walker and Nygmia Hübner, but the characters of the male genitalia differ. The wing venation is generally similar, except vein M2 is lost in the hindwing. Loss of M2 is also seen in the next genus and Sphrageidus Maes.

The male genitalia lack the diagnostic characters of Orvasca, but are distinguished by a broad, weakly bifid uncus and valves that are divided over the distal half, the two arms running parallel to each other or only slightly divergent. The aedeagus apex sometimes has a short spur, but the vesica is unadorned.

The female genitalia have the ductus short, cylindrical, sclerotised, with a constriction before expansion into a long, sausage-like bursa with a bicornute signum at the distal end. The ostium is set at the distal end of a shallow but large, pocket-like structure.

The biology of the type species and of similis may be confused in the literature, as the species are very similar. However, a larva attributed to scintillans was described by Sevastopulo (1938) as having dorsal swellings on A1 and A2.

The limits of the genus are unclear. Only the species referred to here have been recognised as Somena so far.

The host-records combined for the complex are numerous (Sevastopulo, 1938, 1940; Pholboon, 1965; Browne, 1968; Hutacherern & Tubtim, 1995; unpublished IIE records) and include: Anacardium, Mangifera (Anacardiaceae); Berberis (Berberidaceae); Terminalia (Combretaceae); Gynurus (Compositae); Coriaria (Coriariaceae); Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae); Aleurites, Hevea (Euphorbiaceae); Castanea, Quercus (Fagaceae); Acacia, Cassia, Dalbergia, Pithecellobium, Sesbania, Tamarindus (Leguminosae); Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae); Gossypium (Malvaceae); Ficus (Moraceae); Eugenia (Myrtaceae, boring in fruits); Rosa (Rosaceae); Citrus (Rutaceae); Salix (Salicaceae); Tamarix (Tamaricaceae); Gynurus (Compositae). Some of these may also represent misidentifications of other species, such as in the next genus.

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