|
Spilosoma
strigatula Walker
Spilosoma strigatula Walker,
1855, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 3: 613.
Diagnosis. The ground colour is dull brownish red as in griseabrunnea, but strigatula
is smaller with the forewings more heavily suffused with brown and flecked
with black. The submarginal band of the hindwing is more complete. The male
genitalia of the two species differ as illustrated.
Taxonomic notes. This and the next species belong to a small group of dark reddish
Sundanian taxa. A common feature of the male genitalia is the presence of a
single spine centred on a rather umbonate sclerotisation at the apex of the
aedeagus. Bornean material of strigatula has the lateral processes of the
valves more at the same level than in typical Javan material.
Geographical range. Sundaland, Thailand.
Habitat preference. The species is rarer than the next, recorded only
from Bidi in Sarawak and the Sandakan district of Sabah, both lowland
localities.
Biology. The larva and cocoon were illustrated by Horsfield & Moore (1858-9).
The larva has a dark brown skin with pale orange-brown tufts of short setae amid
longer setae on the verrucae. It was suggested to be polyphagous, Dioscorea
(Dioscoreaceae) being the only named host-plant.
Pholboon (1965) recorded the following host-plants in Thailand: Alternanthera
(Amaranthaceae); Commelina (Commelinaceae); Gerbera (Compositae);
Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae); Musa (Musaceae); Paspalum (Gramineae);
Sesbania (Leguminosae); Vanda (Orchidaceae).
<<Back
>>Forward <<Return
to Contents page
|
