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Psimada
quadripennis Walker
Psimada
quadripennis Walker,
1858, List
Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 15: 1828.
Sanys?
javana Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874, Reise öst. Fregatte Novara,
Lep. Het.: pl. 119, f. 28, syn. n.
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Diagnosis.
The male antennae are distinctly swollen (see above), but the facies is
otherwise very similar to that of the next genus. However, the moth is more
robust, and the forewing is more axehead-shaped. The lens-shaped paler grey
brown area at the margin of the hindwing is also diagnostic. There is some
sexual dimorphism, with the female having a better defined triangular mark
subapically on the forewing costa; the forewing basal to this is also more
uniformly pale.
Geographical
range. Indian Subregion, S. China, Taiwan, Burma, Thailand (VK),
Sundaland, Sulawesi, Seram.
Habitat
preference. This is an uncommon lowland species, with no records from above
100m in recent surveys: two specimens from alluvial forest at 70m near G. Mulu,
two from dry heath forest on sand at 15m near Telisai and two taken on a boat in
mangrove in Brunei.
Biology.
The larva was reared by Bell (MS) in India. The prolegs of A3 and A4 are
slightly smaller than the others. The head is a very pale, dull, greenish white.
The body is a rather translucent, darkish grass green, slightly paler at the
extremities. The spiracles are orange with white rims. There is a slightly
darker green dorsal line but otherwise the body is unmarked.
The
larvae live beneath young leaves. Pupation is on the ground in a flimsy cell of
silk and detritus. The pupa lacks a bloom.
The host
plant was Ficus (Moraceae).
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