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Actias Leach
Type species: luna Linnaeus.
Synonyms: Echidna Hubner (praeocc.; type species selene Hubner);
Tropaea Hubner (type species luna Linnaeus); Plectropteron
Hutton (type species
dianae Hutton =
selene); Argema Wallengren (type species mimosae Boisduval,
S. Africa);
Angas
Wallengren (type species mimosae); Sonthonnaxia Watson (type
species
maenas
Doubleday); Proactias Arora & Gupta (type species sinensis
Walker, China).
This genus is best defined by the structure of the hindwing tail, incorporating
the anal and cubital veins and vein M3, thus being supported by four veins. This
character brings together all American, Asian and African pale green
'moon-moths'. Within this general theme there are variations In wing ocellus
formation, the position of brown markings, and in the structure of the
genitalia: the valve is usually deep, bilobed; the uncus is bifid; the saccus is
usually long. In the two species discussed below selene has a domed,
serrate uncus whereas maenas has a pair of horns dorsally; maenas
has a complex series of spurs on the lower lobe of the valve, and the saccus is
extremely long. A. maenas has one radial vein (anterior branches of Rs)
less than A. selene (Arora & Gupta, 1979). Nassig & Peigler
(1984) included both these species in Actias. If the group is to be
subdivided, this is best done following a study of it as a whole in terms of
derived characteristics rather than the somewhat ad hoc treatment it has
received to date.
The larvae of selene and maenas are very similar in structure
and coloration as discussed below; those of African taxa appear from the
descriptions in Gardiner (1982) to be comparable also. The European monotypic
genus Graellsia Grote shares the adult tailing character, but the larva
is significantly different in appearance (Gardiner, 1982: plate xi) and is
restricted to Pinus. Only a full study will indicate whether separation
of this genus from the rest is justified or whether the more longitudinally
striate appearance of the larva and the wings of the adult is a highly
apomorphic development towards crypsis in the striate environment of pine
foliage.
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