|
Episparis
monochroma Hampson
Episparis
monochroma Hampson, 1926, Descr. Gen. Spec. Noctuinae,
p. 520.
|
Episparis
monochroma 
(holotype)
|
|
Diagnosis.
The forewing apex is more produced than in other species, with the marginal and
apical angles rather rounded. The ground colour of the wings is a medium to deep
violet-grey, with a broad, somewhat darker medial zone that is acutely angled,
bounded by an antemedial angled in this way and a postmedial where the angle is
more rounded. Females have the rest of the wings uniform except for an angled
medial fascia on the hindwing. Males have delicate, angled pale mauve fasciation
distal to the medial bands.
Taxonomic
note. Pelletier (1982) considered that monochroma
was
very probably merely a synonym of tortuosalis Moore
(Indian Subregion through S.E. Asia to Peninsular Malaysia (Barlow, 1982) and
Sumatra (HS / ZSM); Fig 554), showing no obvious differences of facies and
female genitalia, an opinion supported here. Males from Borneo would enable this
to be confirmed and formalised.
Geographical
range. Borneo.
Habitat
preference. The only Bornean specimen is the holotype of monochroma,
a female from Bau Residency in Sarawak.
Biology.
The larva of tortuosalis
has
been described by Gardner (1941, 1947). The head is granulate, with the more
dorsal setae arising from black spots. The body setae are long, bristle-like,
most on strong black conical chalazae, but the skin is otherwise smooth. The
colour of the larva is unknown, as the description was from preserved material.
The host
plant recorded was Chukrasia (Meliaceae). Mathur (1942) and Robinson et
al. (2001)
also record Michelia (Magnoliaceae).
<<Back
>>Forward <<Return to Content Page
|
