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Anticarsia
irrorata Fabricius
Noctua
irrorata Fabricius, 1781, Species Insectorum Appendix,
2: 506.
Noctua
sordida Fabricius, 1794, Species Insectorum III,
2: 50, praeocc.
Apistis
jocosa Hübner, [1823] 1816, Verz. bek. Schmett.,
p 271.
Ophiusa
rubricans Boisduval, 1833, Faune ent. Madag., Bourbon &
Maurice, Lep., p. 106
Thermesia
transducta Walker,
1865, List
Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 33: 1058.
Thermesia
consueta Walker,
1869, Char.
undescr. Lep. Het., p 93.
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Anticarsia
irrorata  |
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Diagnosis.
The facies is more similar to that of Hypospila and Tochara species,
but the forewings are deeper with a slightly falcate apex and a subcostal angle
to the postmedial; the reniform is considerably enlarged. See also the generic
description.
Taxonomic
note. Though similar in facies to the type species (and also in pest
status and legume specialism), the male genitalia of irrorata
are
not close in structure. The uncus and tegumen are longer, slender rather than
robust. The valves are longer, shaped somewhat like a parallelogram rather than
ovate, and lack the slightly angled setose ridge in the centre of the valve.
However, the female does indicate a relationship with gemmatalis,
sharing the longitudinal band of sclerotisation in the ductus and base of the
bursa (though much smaller) and a similar signum though again smaller,
consisting of two small, slightly separated patches of scobination. Therefore
placement of irrorata
in
Anticarsia
is
probably correct but means further investigation. It is the type species of Azazia,
but the pantropical complex of species included in Anticarsia by
Poole (1989) requires revision before a more satisfactory generic classification
is possible.
Geographical
range. Old World tropics east to Queensland, the Marquesas and Rapa I.
Habitat
preference. Only a short series from Tenom in the lowlands of Sabah and an
old specimen without precise data from G. Marapok have been seen. The species is
a well known pest of leguminous crops.
Biology.
Bell (MS) reared the species in India (see also Moore (1884-1887) and Gardner
(1948a)). The larva is cylindrical with all prolegs present, those of A3 and A4
perhaps very slightly thinner but of full length. The head and body are pale
grass-green, the former marked laterally with darker green. There is a
yellowish-green-centred,
darker green dorsal line, and broader greyish green subdorsal lines on each side
of it. The latter incorporates the green spots that enclose the white chalazae
of the subdorsal setae. Below this is a darker green band and a further grey-marbled
band of ground colour. The spiracles are white with black rims, set within a
dull orange band that extends onto the anal prolegs.
The
larva lives beneath leaves of the host plant fully stretched, and has a strong
looping motion despite the full set of prolegs. The species is characteristic of
open country and cultivation in S. India and can be a pest of cultivated legumes
throughout its range.
Robinson et
al.
(2001) noted records from Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae), and Andropogon,
Oryza,
Paspalum
and
Saccharum
(Gramineae),
but also a preponderance of records from Leguminosae: Cajanus,
Cicer,
Cyamopsis,
Glycine,
Lablab,
Mucuna,
Phaseolus
and
Vigna.
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