The Serrodes Guenée group
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Avatha discolor Fabricius
Noctua discolor Fabricius, 1794, Ent. Syst. III, 2: 50.
Avatha includens Walker, 1857, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 13: 1107.
Hypaetra trigonifera Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1411.
Hypaetra curvifera Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1412.
Hypaetra complacens Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1414.
Ophiusa frontalis Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1434.
Achaea expectans Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 15: 1827.
Avatha discolor Fabricius; Kobes, 1985: 50.

Avatha discolor Avatha discolor


Diagnosis
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The species is variable, but the black areas are reduced to small triangles as illustrated or are absent. The hindwings are almost uniform, with only faintly diffuse paler banding, no distinct marks at the tornal angle. In the male genitalia the uncus is tapering rather than spurred.

Taxonomic note. A. minima Swinhoe (Philippines), based on a single female, is probably also a synonym of discolor.

Geographical range. Indo-Australian and Pacific tropics to as far east as Henderson I.

Habitat preference. The only three specimens taken in recent surveys have been from 1780m on G. Mulu. There is an older specimen without altitude data from G. Kinabalu.

Biology. The larva of this species may be one of those described by Bell (MS) for noctuoides as discussed below. The host plants recorded for discolor by Robinson et al. (2001) are from different sources: Nephelium, Sapindus (Sapindaceae); Callicarpa (Verbenaceae). Semper (1896-1902) recorded the larva from Callicarpa.

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