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Eurytaphria Warren
Type species: undilineata Warren.
Synonym: Microxena Warren (type species invalida Warren = xanthoperata
Hampson, Indian Subregion and Bali); Psilotaphria Warren (type
species bisinuata Hampson, N.E. Himalaya).
The principal diagnostic feature of this otherwise morphologically
rather diverse genus is in the forewing venation. In many of the Baptini,
including Lomographa but not unique to the tribe, Rs arises before the
anterior angle of the cell, marked by the root of M1, with R1 arising
independently basal to it. In Eurytaphria Rs arises well before the angle
of the cell, and R1 arises from it to anastomose briefly with Sc before
converging again on Rs, linking with it via a short cross vein to near the point
of posterior branching off of R5. This forms an elongate accessory cell that is
not adjacent to or based on the true cell.
The male antennae are bipectinate in the type species but fasciculate in
some other taxa. The facies has some common pattern, particularly the rather
sinuous forewing postmedial that is associated with more extensive shading
towards the dorsum.
The male genitalia are diverse in structure, but the setation of the
valves is baptine in character, and the costal marginal ornamentation of E.
bisinuata is typical of the main group of genera, though in other species
this is not the case. There are weak coremata associated with the valve bases.
The type species has the valve costa produced apically as an out-curved spine,
and the juxta gives rise to a pair of very long, antler-like structures. In E.
bisinuata there is a sclerotised bar arising from the centre of the valve
and directed ventrally towards the base.
The female genitalia are diverse also, the type species have a rugose,
broadly bifid sclerotised plate at the ostium, a distinct appendix bursa
consisting of a slender duct leading to a spherical bulb, and a strongly dentate
signum of the mushroom type in the bursa proper. This type of signum is common
to all species examined. E. chlorochroa Meyrick has no appendix bursa.
The ductus is elongate, sclerotised but there are no complex structures at the
ostium. The seventh segment is more strongly sclerotised, and the distal margin
of the sixth is unusually darkened and with a rather cellular patterning.
The biology of the
type species has been studied by Bell (MS). The larva is cylindrical, the head
round, bilobed. It is black with four conspicuous white spots anteriorly on T1
and two more posteriorly. There is a dorsolateral white spot anteriorly on A2, a
subdorsal one on A6 and subspiracular ones on A6-8.
The pupa and the
habits of the larva were stated by Bell to resemble those of its congener E.
punctilineata Hampson (Sri Lanka, S. India), pupation being in a cocoon on
or near the ground. The other species has a tumidity at A1 extending to T3 and
is smoky olive green with three broken longitudinal white lines along the
flanks.
The host-plant of undilineata
was Casearia (Flacourtiaceae). Bell indicated confusion over a
vernacular name for the host of punctilineata, which could have been Casearia
or Aporosa (Euphorbiaceae).
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