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Somena
Walker Gen. rev.
Type species: scintillans Walker, India.
Possible synonym: Trichia Nietner (type species exigua Nietner,
Sri Lanka), as discussed under similis Moore.
The facies of some species resembles that of some in Orvasca Walker
and Nygmia Hübner, but the characters of the male genitalia
differ. The wing venation is generally similar, except vein M2 is lost in the
hindwing. Loss of M2 is also seen in the next genus and Sphrageidus Maes.
The male genitalia lack the diagnostic characters of Orvasca, but
are distinguished by a broad, weakly bifid uncus and valves that are divided
over the distal half, the two arms running parallel to each other or only
slightly divergent. The aedeagus apex sometimes has a short spur, but the vesica
is unadorned.
The female genitalia have the ductus short, cylindrical, sclerotised,
with a constriction before expansion into a long, sausage-like bursa with a
bicornute signum at the distal end. The ostium is set at the distal end of a
shallow but large, pocket-like structure.
The biology of the type species and of similis may be confused in
the literature, as the species are very similar. However, a larva
attributed to scintillans was described by Sevastopulo (1938) as having
dorsal swellings on A1 and A2.
The limits of the genus are unclear. Only the species referred to here
have been recognised as Somena so far.
The host-records combined for the complex are numerous (Sevastopulo,
1938, 1940; Pholboon, 1965; Browne, 1968; Hutacherern & Tubtim, 1995;
unpublished IIE records) and include: Anacardium, Mangifera (Anacardiaceae);
Berberis (Berberidaceae); Terminalia (Combretaceae); Gynurus (Compositae);
Coriaria (Coriariaceae); Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae); Aleurites,
Hevea (Euphorbiaceae); Castanea, Quercus (Fagaceae); Acacia,
Cassia, Dalbergia, Pithecellobium, Sesbania, Tamarindus (Leguminosae); Lagerstroemia
(Lythraceae); Gossypium (Malvaceae); Ficus (Moraceae); Eugenia
(Myrtaceae, boring in fruits); Rosa (Rosaceae); Citrus (Rutaceae);
Salix (Salicaceae); Tamarix (Tamaricaceae); Gynurus (Compositae).
Some of these may also represent misidentifications of other species, such as in
the next genus.
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