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Garella
scoparioides
Walker comb. n.
Corticata scoparioides Walker, [1863]1864, J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 7:
53.
Dendrothripa
rufipuncta
Hampson, 1896, Fauna Br. India, Moths, 4: 527,
syn. n.
Characoma
excurvata
Prout, 1922, Bull. Hill Mus. Witley, 1: 212,
syn. n.
Diagnosis. This is a small, rather brownish grey species with a somewhat
punctate postmedial and a distinctly paler longitudinal zone subcostally.
Confusion with G.
nilotica
Rogenhofer comb. n. is most likely where the two species overlap (Africa
and possibly Indian Subregion). In nilotica the colour is a darker grey
without brown, and there is a common variant with a darker basal zone to the
forewing. In nilotica the uncus is shorter, more strongly bulbous and
bilobed apically, and lacking the flanking setose pads.
Taxonomic note.
The Indian taxon rufipuncta Hampson has
been placed as a synonym of
G.
rotundipennis
Walker (see below) in the past (e.g. in Poole, 1989) but is referable to
scoparioides.
G. rotundipennis
rotundimacula
Gaede (ex Strand) may be referable to nilotica.
Geographical range. Probably Old World tropics; ranges from Indian Subregion
east to Queensland, Fiji and Samoa. It is likely that records of nilotica
from Indonesia eastwards (e.g. Robinson, 1975) are of this species.
Habitat preference. The species is infrequent. It has been taken (three
specimens) in dry heath forest in the lowlands of Brunei and montane forest
between 900m and 1790m (five out of six specimens on the limestone G. Api during
the Mulu survey).
Biology. Given the confusion over the taxonomy of this species, it is
unclear whether the host records of Mathur (1942) for rotundipennis are
referable to this species or nilotica; they are unlikely to relate to
true rotundipennis, discussed below. The larva was described as finely
mottled brown and dull yellow with black head and legs. Pupation is in a closely
woven silk cocoon constructed in a leaf fold.
The host plants recorded were Terminalia (Combretaceae), Erythrina
(Leguminosae) and Helicteres (Sterculiaceae).
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