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Tathodelta Hampson
Type
species: purpurascens Hampson.
The
facies in this genus is as described for the type species below. The male
antennae are strongly fasciculate. The labial palps have the third segment
small, directed obliquely downward relative to the somewhat rectangular second
segment.
In the
male abdomen, the eighth sternite is of the framed corematous type, and the
tergite has a narrow, V-shaped sclerotisation that diverges distad. In the
genitalia, there is a slight scaphium. The valve is narrow, tongue-like, with a
small spur directed over the ventral margin at one third. This spur arises at
the distal end of the sacculus and also from a trapezoidal area of thickening
transverse to the valve. The saccus is strong, apically acute. The aedeagus
vesica is somewhat globular but with scobinate lobes distally, and a row of
seven or eight robust cornuti centrally.
The
female genitalia have the ostium at the anterior of the eighth segment. The
ductus is lightly sclerotised and divided into two parts separated by a short,
membranous constriction: a fluted, slightly scobinate basal part; a longer
(x1.5) section that expands slightly to a subbasal junction with the corpus
bursae. The corpus bursae is elongate with a slight central constriction and,
near the junction with the ductus, a small, round, thickened and slightly
corrugated lobe or appendix bursae. The whole bursa is invested with a dense
covering of minute spines to about four fifths, where these give way to a slight
scobination.
Bell
(MS) described the larva of the type species in India. The larva lacks prolegs
on A3, and those of A4 are only half the size of the rest. A8 is slightly tumid.
The body is green, the head glossy, whitish green, with brown markings. The pupa
lacks a bloom. The description was based on preserved material reared by
assistants.
The host
plant was Allophylus (Sapindaceae).
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