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Agnidra
Moore
Type species: specularia Walker, Sri Lanka.
Synonym:
Zanclalbara Inoue (type species scabiosa Butler, Japan).
The
genus was revised by Watson (1968). The species are buff, yellowish brown or
yellowish grey, with typical 'hooktip' shape. The pattern is usually
characterised by pale, translucent patches medially, more extensive on the
forewing. The postmedial, when distinct, is double, oblique on the forewing. The
male antennae are usually bipectinate from the base to beyond the centre; those
of the female are usually uniserrate.
Diagnostic features of the male abdomen include: an eighth sternite with
characteristic lateral sclerites in most species; a variably shaped uncus from
bifurcate to entire or absent; socii well developed, usually narrow, tapering.
The valves are simple, often with slender processes, from the base of the costa.
In the female, the ovipositor lobes are sometimes together ring-like,
each with a small ventral lobe. The ductus bursae is elongate, broadening gently
into the bursa, which contains usually a longitudinally, scobinate, band-like
signum.
The genus contains ten Oriental species, only one of which is found in Sundaland, the rest being distributed through the mainland Asian tropics and
subtropics.
Sugi (1987) illustrated the larva of scabiosa in Japan. It is
rich pale brown, broadly variegated in a triangular pattern reminiscent of some
Notodontidae such as Cerura Schrank. The posture is also similar, with
the prolegs gripping the substrate and the anterior and posterior parts of the
body held away. The anal process is well developed, and the thorax is rather
swollen, with an obtuse conical projection dorsally on T3.
The host-plant recorded was Quercus (Fagaceae). Teramoto (1993,
1996) recorded additionally Castanea in the same family.
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