|
Sasunaga
tenebrosa Moore
Hadena
tenebrosa Moore, 1867, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1867: 59.
Stictoptera
albonotata Wileman & West, 1928, Ann. Mag. nat Hist. (10), 2: 533, syn.
n.
Sasunaga
tenebrosa Moore; Holloway, 1976: 9,
Sasunaga
tenebrosa 
Sasunaga
tenebrosa  |
 |
|
Diagnosis.
This is a
blacker insect than longiplaga, with stronger transverse fasciation
posterior to the reniform stigma of the forewing. The male hindwing is less
triangular than in longiplaga. Some specimens have a central white streak
just basal to the position of the orbicular. S. longiplaga has a pucker
on the left valve of the male genitalia corresponding to the flange on the right
valve; this pucker is absent in tenebrosa. The valve in longiplaga is
longer, more tapering, with a longer row of coronal setae.
Taxonomic
notes. There
is a large complex of very similar species that has been referred to S. tenebrosa
Moore (e.g. Holloway, 1976, 1979; Robinson, 1975). The type of tenebrosa,
a male from Bengal in the A.E. Russell collection, appears to be lost so a
specimen from Kangra in N. India (slide 11695) is taken as reference for tenebrosa.
The species-group is defined by: lack of trifine hair-pencils; a deep apex
to the uncus of the male genitalia; a transverse flange on the right valve just
distal to the harpe. The last is lacking in New Caledonian material, but
examination of the Australasian representatives of the group has not been
undertaken. Sundanian and Wallacean material of tenebrosa has the valve
more tapering over the distal half.
Geographical
range. Indian
Subregion to Sundaland, Philippines and Sulawesi; Papuan Subregion taxa need
investigation.
Habitat
preference. The
altitude range is as for the next species but abundance is more even from the
lowlands upwards.
Biology.
The larva
was described by Gardner (1946). It is green, smooth, with black spots, the
spots being basal to many of the primary setae. The spiracles are black, that of
A8 in a triangular red spot. Bell (MS) referred to a thin white dorsal line and
a yellow subspiracular band. It is possible that either this or the next
species, or both, were available to these authors.
The
larva lives on the underside of young leaves of the host-plant and eats these.
Pupation is in the soil in a silken cocoon.
The
host-plant is Ventilago (Rhamnaceae).
<<Back
>>Forward <<Return
to Contents page
|
