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Phycidopsis
Hampson
Phycidopsis
albovittata Hampson
Phycidopsis
albovittata Hampson, 1893, Illustr. typical Specimens Lepid. Heterocera
Colln
Br. Mus. 9:16.
Sentana
violascens Gaede,
1930: 620, syn. n.
Phycidopsis
albovittata Hampson;
Kiriakoff 1968: 29.
Diagnosis. A small species akin to Porsica in general appearance but with
the forewing costa edged narrowly with dark brown; posterior to the costal edge
is a longitudinal pale silver-grey area that grades darker dorsad into a broad,
dull purplish grey area along the dorsum.
Taxonomic notes. Gaede's holotype of violascens was taken from a S. Indian series
reared by T.R.D. Bell. The genitalia of a male from this series were found to be
identical to those of albovittata. Sentana Gaede therefore sinks to Phycidopsis
Hampson syn. n., as the above taxa are the relevant type species.
Javan and Sumatran males differ in genitalia, especially uncus
structure, from typical Indian ones (see Figs.), as do those from Sulawesi. When
further material is available it may be possible to describe these as
subspecies. Bornean males might be expected to resemble those from Sumatra.
Geographical range. Sri Lanka, India, Sundaland, Luzon, Sulawesi.
Habitat preference. Unknown; there is only a single Bornean female, from
Balipapars (?Balikpapan).
Biology. The life history in India is known (Bell MS). The mature larva is
typical of the Gargetta group but much more slender, with longer
stematopods; the body is 30 mm long, the stematopods of equal length, thin,
divergent and able to be spiralled over the basal half by the larva. The head is
round, slightly bilobed dorsally, smooth, white, with a maroon band down each
lobe, and with rather long, pointed black hairs. The body surface is glossy,
invested with hairs as long as the diameter of the body, erect, black, arising
from minute green tubercles. The colour is dull green with a subdorsal maroon
line that is broader over the thorax but often broken posteriorly; the maroon
line is bordered by a faint white line below. The spiracles are small, black,
and there is a spiracular line visible. There is a 'pulsating' dorsal line. There
are ventrolateral maroon blotches on the thoracic legs and similar ones
associated with the anterior two prolegs.
The young larva is thin, threadlike, white in colour. It sits on the
under-sides of leaves and on sticks and twigs where it is perfectly
camouflaged.
Initially it eats small windows or holes in the leaves of the
host-plant, Antidesma (Stylaginaceae); later it eats from the edge of a
leaf, lying along the eaten portion which is usually taken to the midrib from
the base upwards. It either lies stretched or looped centrally with the tails
erect. Pupation is in a loose silken cocoon under the surface of the earth.
The adult holds the wings tightly scrolled round the body in cylindrical
fashion when at rest.
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