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Subgenus Darna Walker
There is little sexual dimorphism, the three species being at least partly pale
dull orange or pinkish orange.
The definitive features are in the male genitalia: the gnathus is very
slender, fused over almost its entire length; the uncus processes are delicate,
balloon-shaped, and thickly invested with rows of scales. The process from the
valve costa is a single flexed spine in nararia Moore but broader, of
even width throughout and with an apical patch of setae in the other two
species.
In the female genitalia (metaleuca) the ductus bursae is very
short, the bursa somewhat pyriform, the signum a single subapical spine. The
ostium is set in a V-shaped groove in the lamella postvaginalis, which is
invested broadly with fine, short setae.
The larva of metaleuca is described in the specific account. That
of nararia has been described by Horsfield & Moore (1850), Austin
(1931-2), Sevastopulo (1939, as suffusa) and Bell (MS). Only Bell
described early instars which are somewhat different from the mature larva. The
mature larva is green with the dorsum maroon, fluctuating in width with a broad
portion on the thoracic segments, narrowing on A4; there is an hour-glass shaped
maroon band over A6-8. There is a thin white dorsal line and similar
dorsolateral ones. Horsfield & Moore's description of N. Indian material
omits mention of this maroon band, but the adults show great variability and no
doubt the larvae do also. The dorsolaterals are reduced to hemispherical
buttons, though those of T3 and A8 are slightly larger, those on T2 the same
size as the laterals and those of A9 somewhat longer. The laterals of T3 and all
four processes of T2 are flesh pink to red; the rest of the laterals green; the
laterals on T2 are longer than the rest and directed sideways.
The egg stage lasts six days, the larval stage five weeks and the pupal
stage 14 days (Bell). The host-plants noted in the four accounts were Careya
(Barringtoniaceae), Crescentia (Bignoniaceae), Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae),
Terminalia (Combretaceae), Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae), Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)
Gliricidia, Tephrosia, Erythrina, Crotalaria (Leguminosae), Citrus (Rutaceae),
Ficus (Moraceae), Cedrela (Meliaceae).
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