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Hypospila
bolinoides Guenée
Hypospila
bolinoides Guenée, 1852, Hist. Nat. Insectes, Spec. gén. Lépid.
7:
358.
Thermesia
signipalpis Walker,
1858, List
Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 15: 1572.
Hypospila
thermesina Guenée, 1863, in Maillard, Notes
sur l’Ile de la Réunion, Lep: 53.
Moepa
concisa Walker,
1865, List
Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 33: 982.
Thermesia
orientalis Leech, 1900, Trans. ent. Soc. London,
1900: 570.
Hypospila
andamana Swinhoe, 1919, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (9),
4: 124.
Hypospila
bolinoides Guenée; Holloway, 1976: 38.
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Hypospila
bolinoides  |
Hypospila
bolinoides |
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Diagnosis.
The facies is very similar to that of Tochara species, discussed next, but males of
that genus have bipectinate antennae, and the labial palps of both sexes are
almost twice as long with a conspicuous, slender terminal segment. The Tochara
species
are a paler, greener brown, have more variegation and spotting below, and have a
diffuse but conspicuous black spot submarginally between M1 and M2 on the
hindwing above.
Taxonomic
note. Zilli (1999) suggested that there might be eastern and western
species involved within the concept of bolinoides,
varying in the extent of hyaline areas anteriorly on the male hindwing. These
always include a zone within the cell with a slightly carinate section in the
posterior half. However, material from mainland Asia (excluding Peninsular
Malaysia), the Andamans and type material from Java has this extending almost to
the margin beyond the cell between veins Rs and M1. However, the male genitalia,
particularly the shape of the process on the valve, do not show significant
differences from the west (Vietnam, Borneo, Java) to the east (New Guinea).
Geographical
range. Indo-Australian tropics north to Japan and east to New Guinea,
Queensland and the Carolines.
Habitat
preference. Records have been infrequent from the lowlands up to 1930m.
Biology.
The larva was described by Bell (MS). It is elongate with the prolegs on A4
reduced almost to half, and those on A3 even more so. The anal prolegs are
splayed out behind. The head is black, marked with white and pink. The body is
white below with a black central band. Above, it is a dull chocolate-brown,
banded longitudinally dorsally and subdorsally with whitish lines that
incorporate pink and purplish elements and blotched black on A4 and A5, with
further lines and marbling below this. The setae arise from pale tubercles
within black dots. Another larva was more dull greenish white, dorsally browner,
suffused with grey.
The
small larvae feed on very young leaves, dropping or jumping off when alarmed.
Pupation is in a cell within a cut portion of leaf folded over, hinged at the
midrib and sealed firmly at the edge. The interior is lined with silk. The pupa
has a sparse powdery bloom that gives it a bluish tint.
The host
plant is Derris (Leguminosae).
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