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Arna bipunctapex
Hampson
comb. n.
Somena
bipunctapex Hampson,
1891, Illust. typical Specimens lepid. Heterocera Colln Br.
Mus., 8: 57.
Euproctis bipunctapex Hampson;
Holloway, 1976: 46.
Diagnosis. The forewing facies has two black dots in the yellow apical patch and an
immaculate yellow patch at the tornus.
Taxonomic note. Schintlmeister (1994) included A. atomarina van Eecke stat.
rev. & comb. n. (Java, Sumatra) as a synonym of bipunctapex:
it is distinct, though closely related. The hindwings are entirely pale
yellow without grey shading, and the greyish projection between the marginal
yellow patches of the forewing does not reach the margin. The uncus is less
acute and the valves are less produced apically (Fig 92).
Geographical range. Indian Subregion to Taiwan and Sundaland.
Habitat preference. The species has been taken from the lowlands to
1620m, but is possibly more common in the lower montane forest zone in the
region of 1000m.
Biology. The larva was described by T.R.D. Bell (MS) and illustrated by Wang
(1993). It is pale brown, with narrow white dorsolateral bands and a slightly
darker brown dorsal line. The secondary setae are long, white. There are
conspicuous oval black marks dorsally on slightly raised areas of the first two
abdominal segments, and in later instars the dorsolateral rows of
verrucae are also distinctly darker, together with a squarish black patch
dorsally towards the posterior.
Bell (MS) indicated that the tubercles on A1, A2 and A8 were formed by
the coalescence of the subdorsal pair of verrucae on these segments. The
verrucae are black, with sessile, star-like white scales or hairs, and
bristle-like white setae. He described the colour as yellowish greenish with a
subdorsal white line and a similar lateral one, with weaker ones in supra- and
subspiracular positions. The thoracic and subspiracular verrucae are more
orange.
Bell noted the larvae were gregarious throughout their existence, living
and feeding closely packed together: the illustration in Wang supports this.
Pupation is in a tough, thin, closely woven, light brownish-yellow cocoon, spun
amongst leaves or in a bark crevice.
Wang referred to hosts in the families Ebenaceae, Elaeocarpaceae,
Euphorbiaceae (Sepium), Hamamelidaceae, Lauraceae, Moraceae, Oleaceae,
Rosaceae and Theaceae. Other records (Bell; Pholboon, 1965; Hutacherern &
Tubtim, 1995; unpublished IIE records) are: Terminalia (Combretaceae);
Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae); Careya (Lecythidaceae).
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