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Scopelodes Westwood
Type species: unicolor
Westwood
Species of this genus are large, robust, with the elongation of the third palp
segment at its most extreme, as is also the development of the brush of scales
on it. The legs are also terminally brush-like.
The abdomen and at least the dorsum of the hindwings are yellow, the
former often with transverse black bands dorsally. The forewings are uniform, an
impression of pattern being given by variation in the orientation and therefore
reflectiveness of the scales in certain areas.
The male genitalia are in most species typical of the limacodid ground
plan, but in one group the gnathus is slightly or deeply bifid and the juxta is
dorsally spined, or broadly bifid, the two sectors splayed out just over 90
degrees and apically spined. The situation is most extreme in pallivittata Snellen
where the valve shape is also modified.
In the female the bursa is bisignate, the signa well separated, but the
ductus is unspiralled, relatively short. The dorsal posterior margin of the
eighth segment is broad, scobinate, overlapping the ovipositor lobes (most
extremely in pallivittata).
The larvae of most species are very deep (higher than broad) with
complete, even sized rows of tubercles, the laterals laterally directed, the
dorsolaterals directed vertically or somewhat backwards (Horsfield & Moore
1859; Moore 1882-4; Piepers & Snellen 1900).
Bell (MS) described the larva of S. venosa Walker as semiovoid,
flat dorsally, yellowish green with complete rows of tubercles,
dark-green-edged, diamond-shaped markings on the dorsum at each segment margin,
and black lines on most lateral connecting ridges that run across each segment
connecting the tubercles, that on A6 being invested with vermilion and yellow.
The tip of lateral tubercle A8 is jet black, the rest green.
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