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Susica
obscura Holloway
Susica obscura Holloway, 1982a: 186.
Susica
obscura  |
Susica
obscura (Peninsular
Malaysia) |
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Diagnosis. The male is very dark brown with the markings typical of the genus
rather obscure apart from the subbasal white streak on the anal vein. The male
abdomen shows modification of both eighth tergite and sternite, and the aedeagus
has a lateral spine and scobination of the vesica. The female is paler, larger
as illustrated, the forewing rather mottled.
Geographical range. Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo.
Habitat preference. The only Bornean specimen known is a male taken at
150m in wet heath forest (kerangas) on a river terrace near the Melinau Gorge,
G. Mulu National Park.
Biology. The moth has been reared by Avril Fox (pers. comm.) in Peninsular
Malaysia. It is bright green. The four longer posterior dorsolaterals are fawn
in later instars. The stinging bristles often prove fatal to the ants which
share the host-plant, Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae), as these were found
impaled on the bristles of early instars. The larvae feed on both seedlings and
mature trees. Pupation was in soil and litter in a typical ovate cocoon. The
period from pre-pupation to emergence was seven weeks.
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